A Czech song - Modrá je dobrá

Discussion in 'Culture' started by rsalc1, Jun 6, 2009.

  1. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    This was a fairly easy translation exercise for me :)
    I am only missing 2 words and have a couple of questions at the end.
    Here is the Youtube video.

    ŽLUTÝ PES - MODRÁ JE DOBRÁ LYRICS
    Modrá je planeta, kde můžeme žít
    Modrá je voda, kterou musíme pít
    Modrá je obloha, když vodejde mrak
    Modrá je dobrá, už je to tak.

    Blue is the planet where we can live
    Blue is the water which we must drink
    Blue is the sky, when the cloud goes away
    Blue is good, that’s it.


    Modrá je Milka - ta naše kráva
    Modrá je prej v Americe tráva
    Modrá je údajně i polární liška
    Senzačně modrá je moje vojenská knížka.

    Milka is blue, our cow
    In the US, grass is supposed to be blue (referring to "blue grass" music)
    Supposedly the polar fox is blue, as well
    Sensationally blue is my military card


    Jako nálada když zahrajou poslední kus
    Modrá je naděje láska i moje blues
    Je to barva, kterou mám prostě rád
    Modrá je dobrá, už je to tak.

    Like the feeling (you get) when they play the last song
    Blue is hope, love and also my “blues”
    It’s the color that I simply like
    Blue is good, that’s it


    Modrá je Raketa - ta moje holka
    modrá je vzpomínka na Mikyho Volka
    velká rána je modrej přeliv
    modrý voko má i černej šerif

    Blue is Rocket, my girl
    Blue is the memory of Miky Volek
    A big _____ is blue _____
    And the black sheriff has blue eyes


    Jako nálada když zahrajou poslední kus
    Modrá je naděje láska i moje blues
    je to barva kterou mám prostě rád
    modrá je dobrá - už je to tak

    Like the feeling (you get) when they play the last song
    Blue is hope, love and also my “blues”
    It’s the color that I simply like
    Blue is good, that’s it

    Is "ta naše kráva" = "naše kráva"
    Is "ta moje holka" = "moje holka".
    Is "ta" used for emphasis?
     
  2. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    Great translation!

    Few comments:

    Modrá knížka:
    "blue book" - colloquial name for certificate whose owner was evaluated as unable to be enlisted to military service for health reasons
    (very desired during communist times, when military service was mandatory)

    Milka:
    Chocolate brand with blue(violet) cow as mascot
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milka

    velká rána je modrej přeliv
    big hit is blue hair color -> blue hair color is big hit

    černej šerif
    colloquial name for member of private security agency
    they often have black uniforms
     
  3. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    eso: thanks for the comments!
    Oh yes, I know Milka.
    In fact in early May I took a picture of a huge Milka advertisement mural in a metro station in Prague.
    :lol:
     
  4. Jana

    Jana Well-Known Member

    "Modrý voko" means "black eye" here, i.e. a bluish-black bruise around the eye; in Czech is it also called "monokl" = monocle, single eye-glass.
     
  5. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    That was a great translation, René.
    Even with the 'v' and 'ej' sound designating prazský dialect.

    Vrátil jsem se domů s dvěma modrými očima, ale necítím se příliš špatně.
    Druhý chlap měl dvou modré oči a rozbitý nos.

    Milka... Připomíná mi to, že když jsem byl v Hauftbanhoff ve Frankfurtu, byla tam velká značka nad místem, kde přijižděli a odjižděli vlaky...Mon Cheri.... je to také značka čokolády.
    Bylo to ale dřív, než se modrý přeliv stal velkou ránou. :D
     
  6. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    Mon cheri is stil out there :)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_Cheri
     
  7. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    So the company is still producing chocolates.
    I wonder if the big sign is still overhead main Frankfurt train station.
    I was there in the second half of the seventies.
    Měli také brotchen a knotwurst. Velmi chutná.
     
  8. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Hm, "Mon Cherie" vypadají jako moc chutné čokolády.:D

    Mimochodem, nemůže někdo odpovědět následujíćí otazky?

    Is "ta naše kráva" = "naše kráva"
    Is "ta moje holka" = "moje holka".
    Is "ta" used for emphasis?

    Díky předem.
    René
     
  9. bibax

    bibax Well-Known Member

    Ten/ta/to někdy ukazuje na osobu či věc známou, něčím proslulou (i/zejména nechvalně). V hovorovém jazyce velmi časté.

    Naše kráva opět utekla. (konstatování)
    Ta naše kráva už zase utekla. (patrně je svými útěky proslulá)

    Náš syn propadl z matematiky.
    Ten náš blbec už zase propadl z matematiky.

    Ti naši politici to zase vymňoukli. Ti naši politici se zase vycajchnovali.

    Compare with Latin demonstrative ille (= that).

    Socrates ille = ten slavný Sokrates
     
  10. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Díky za vysvětlení. Už rozumím :)
     
  11. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    “Rána” means “hit”, but it is not something in fashion, it is something what “hits you into the eyes”.
     
  12. Ctyri koruny

    Ctyri koruny Well-Known Member

    I'm sure someone has pointed this out before.. but milka is purple...


    Great song though! I will learn it!


    They have these strange ads now where they put a radio playing bird-songs into a bus stop.
    "One piece and you're there" I forget the Czech.. something like "Jeden kosek a jste tam" with a big picture of a little cottage in the alps with clogs sitting outside its door.

    I always adored milka on holidays but now that i can have it every day i prefer Studenska or plain old Cadburys.
     
  13. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Yes, Milka is purple... she just turned blue for the song :)

    During my recent trip to Prague I found, at a local supermarket, an ice cream called Hercules (or something like that): vanilla on the inside covered with chocolate fudge on the outside.
    I ate it every day during my stay in Prague ;)
     

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