It´s All Right = (Todo) Está Bien

It´s All Right by Marlango

This is one of my favorite songs by a Spanish group.   The lead singer of Marlango is Leanor Watling who you might know more as an actress from movies like Hable Con Ella, My Life Without Me and many, many more. 

The first thing that I would like to point out   (destacar) is that the term "all right" is commonly confused by natives and students with the word "already" (ya) when it comes to the spelling.   Because of this many people write "alright" which is NOT CORRECT ACCORDING TO THE GRAMMAR POLICE."  You will see "alright" in many places, especially dialogue, but if you are taking an official examination I recommend that you use "all right" which is still the "most correct" form.   All right" (todo bien) is a great way of saying "Todo está bien."  Or you might use the more colloquial "It´s/That´s cool." or "It´s/That´s OK." when saying "Está bien." as in "No problem." BTW (by the way/por cierto), Americans actually DO say "no problemo" and some might really think that they are speaking Spanish. ;)

Another interesting piece of vocabulary for English learners in this song is the term "weird" which is a more colloquial form of "strange" used a lot, especially by Americans.  There is also the term "weirdo" which is like a "friki".   For example, "He looks like a weirdo with those sunglasses and that crazy hair." 

Spanish speakers can also learn a fine point of English grammar from this song.   Notice (fíjate en) the words "Tigers know their stripes" which translates to Spanish as "Los tigres conocen sus rayas."   I have my theories about what they mean (ellos quieren decir) with this sentence (see my comments at the end) but the important thing for students is to realize (darse cuenta) that in English when we TALK ABOUT SOMETHING IN GENERAL we DON´T USE THE ARTICLE.  I would say, "I like pizza."  NOT "I like THE pizza."  This is not a big error, most people will understand you anyway (de todas formas), but for those of you who want to speak as correctly as possible, try to remember the rule.  

Finally, in the song you will find the term "to screw" which means "to have sex with" or the more vulgar "to fuck" (DANGER, OFFENSIVE TO MANY PEOPLE).   Nowadays saying "Screw you!" isn´t really too offensive.   A possible equivalent in Spanish would be: "Vete a la porra!" 

OK, here are the lyrics:

It´s All Right by Marlango 

Tigers know their stripes
Los tigres conocen sus rayas
Tigers know their game
Los tigres conocen su juego
But we are all so busy
 Pero todos estamos tan ocupados
Thinking people look at us
 Pensando que la gente nos mira
We miss the miracle in their eyes
Perdemos el milagro en sus ojos

And tigers also do a little act
Y los tigres también montan su numerito
When they know they are being checked out
Cuando se dan cuenta de que los están mirando
But you are not being studied
 Pero no te están observando
No, you are not being judged
 No, no te están juzgando
There is no BBC crew waiting for you to screw*
No hay nadie de la BBC esperando (a que les jodas/ a que les impresiones/a que les seduzcas)
(*this is a very ambiguous expression that could have numerous interpretations)

So come on and do your little dance
Así que venga, haz tu numerito
Do your little dance for me
Baila un poquito para mi
There's everything you need to do
Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little, little, little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí**
(**I know you would probably never say this in Spanish but I want to show the literal meaning in English)


There is choreography in traffic jams
Hay coreografía en los atascos
A weird poetry in people walking by
Una poesía rara en la gente que camina/pasa andando
There is music in the streets
Hay música en las calles
And harmony in machines
Y armonía en las máquinas
There's every thing I need to do
 Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí


So come on and do your little dance
Así que venga, haz tu numerito
Do your little dance for me
Baila un poquito para mi
There's everything you need to do
Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little, little, little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí

And tigers also stop at traffic lights
Los tigres también se paran en los semáforos
Tigers know their game
Los tigres conocen su juego
But we are all so busy
 Pero todos estamos tan ocupados
Thinking people look at us
 Pensando que la gente nos mira
We miss the miracle in their eyes
Perdemos el milagro en sus ojos

So come on and do your little dance
Así que venga, haz tu numerito
Do your little dance for me
Baila un poquito para mi
There's everything you need to do
Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little, little, little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí

There is choreography in traffic jams
Hay coreografía en los atascos
A weird poetry in people walking by
Una poesía rara en la gente caminando (por la calle)
There is music in the streets
Hay música en las calles
And harmony in machines
Y armonía en las máquinas
There's every thing I need to do
Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí

So come on and do your little dance
Así que venga, haz tu numerito
Do your little dance for me
Baila un poquito para mi
There's everything you need to do
Hay tienes todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little, little, little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí

There is choreography in traffic jams
Hay coreografía en los atascos
A weird poetry in people walking by
Una poesía rara en la gente que camina
There is music in the streets
Hay música en las calles
And harmony in machines
Y armonía en las máquinas
There's every thing I need to do
Hay todo lo que necesitas para hacer
A little dance for me
Un pequeño, pequeño baile para mí


Song notes:
The main idea in this song is much more interesting to me than a lot of your standard pop songs.   There are a lot of songs about being cool (ser guay) or being in love.  This one is a little different. 

Speaking in front of a group is one of the most common fears people have.   It is more difficult than many people think to act naturally in front of a group or even in front of another person.   In fact (de hecho), "acting" and "being natural" are really opposites if you think of acting as playing a role (interpretando un papel) so (así que)  this is one of those phrases that some might call an oxymoron (an expression that seems to contradict itself). Anyway, this song is a good reminder to everyone that the more we worry about how we look to others the harder it is for us to truly appreciate the present moment.   So if we really want to "seize the day" (carpe diem/aprovecha el día/aprovecha el momento) we have to try to concentrate on the present moment and quit thinking about (dejar de pensar en) what people are thinking of us.   I know, it´s  easier said than done (más facil decirlo que hacerlo).

Ya Gotta Have FAITH = You Have Got to Have FAITH

Ya Gotta Have FAITH = You Have Got To Have Faith = Tienes que tener fe.

 This song is another great example of connected speech, spoken English as it is pronounced naturally.   "Ya gotta" is a very common expression which is really "You have got to" which is equivalent to "You have to"  or  "Tienes que" in Spanish.   One important thing to remember if you use the expressions "gotta"(got to), "hafta"(have to), "wanna"(want to), "gonna"(going to), etc.  is that you should NOT say "I´m gonna to go." 

Some other interesting vocabulary words and expressions you can learn from this song include:

I guess = creo que/supongo que.  "Guess"  is literally translated as "adivinar" or "acertar" but it is also used a lot as an introductory phrase when you are not 100% sure of something or are giving your opinion like in the example:  

"I guess you´re tired after such a hard day." 

Supongo que estás / creo que estás / estarás cansado después de un día tan duro. 

nice = agradable, bueno, atractivo, and many, many more.  It works describing people, objects, situations, etc., a nice car, a nice house, a nice song, a nice dress.

give away = regalar.   This does NOT mean to give someone a gift/present in the normal sense of a birthday, Christmas, etc.   It is used, for example, when you have something that you don´t want or need, like some old books, that you give away to friends or to a charity organization.   Another way "give away" is used is when businesses give away free gifts as a promotion.   These are two of the most common uses of "give away" but check your dictionary and you´ll find even more different meanings. 

can´t help + gerund = can´t stop myself from + gerund = no puedo evitar.  For example,  I can´t help feeling nervous before taking an exam. Here is one of the most famous songs that uses this expression.

 

Faith by George Michael

Well I guess it would be nice

Bueno, creo que sería un placer
If I could touch your body

Si yo pudiera tocar tu cuerpo,
I know not everybody

Yo sé que no todo el mundo
Has got a body like you, uhh

Tiene un cuerpo como el tuyo.  

 

But I've gotta think twice

Pero tengo que pensarlo muy bien
Before I give my heart away

Antes de darte mi corazón.
And I know all the games you play

Y conozco todos los juegos a los que juegas
Because I play them too

Porque los juego también. 

Oh but I

Ah pero yo
Need some time off from that emotion

Necesito un descanso de esa emoción
Time to pick my heart up off the floor

Tiempo para recoger mi corazón del suelo
Oh when that love comes down

Y cuando ese amor se viene abajo
Without devotion

Sin devoción.
Well it takes a strong man, baby

Bueno, esto requiere un hombre fuerte
But I'm showing you the door

Así que ahí tienes la puerta.  

 

'Cause I gotta have faith

Porque tengo que tener fe.
I gotta have faith

Tengo que tener fe.
Because I gotta have faith faith

Porque tengo que tener fe, fe, fe.
I gotta have faith, faith, faith

Tengo que tener fe, fe, fe.

 

Baby

Cariño
I know you're asking me to stay

Sé que me estás pidiendo que me quede.
Say please, please, please, don't go away

Dices, por favor, por favor, por favor, no te marches.
You say I'm giving you the blues

Tú dices que te pongo triste

 
Maybe

Quizás
You mean every word you say

Tú eres sincero con cada palabra que dices
Can't help but think of yesterday

No puedo evitar pensar en el ayer
And another who tied me down to the lover boy rules

Y otra que me ató a las reglas del chico enamorado

 

Before this river

Antes de que este río
Becomes an ocean

Se convierta en océano.
Before you throw my heart back on the floor

Antes de que tu vuelvas a tirar mi corazón al suelo
Oh baby I´d reconsider

Ah cariño yo reconsidería
My foolish notion

Mi idea absurda
Well I need someone to hold me

Bueno, necesito alguien que me abrace
But I´ll wait for something more

Pero esperaré hasta que encuentre algo mejor

Yes I´ve gotta have faith

Sí  tengo que tener fe.
Uhh, I gotta have faith

Uhh,  tengo que tener fe.
Because I gotta have faith faith, faith

Porque tengo que tener fe, fe, fe.
I gotta have faith, faith, faith

Tengo que tener fe, fe, fe.

Notes on this song:
The video starts with the church music because "faith" is usually a word that is closely associated with the church and religion.   Here, however, it is the idea of having faith that the future will be OK and that the person in the song shouldn´t just go with the first person they meet but instead (sino) wait and have faith that they will find a better partner (pareja)  in the future.    I think that a lot of people are in bad relationships because they decide to stay with someone not because that person is their soulmate (media naranja) but instead (sino) because they are afraid of being alone and not finding someone else.    Here is a good example of a pop song that actually has thoughtful lyrics if you take the time to listen and understand them.   Personally I like the fact that this song reminds me not to worry too much about the future.   I just need to think about the here and now and trust that the future will be OK.

If ya wanna be my lover = If you want to be my lover

 

Wannabe by The Spice Girls

Wannabe is a great song for learning about the natural pronunciation of English by native speakers.  It is considered one of the catchiest (más pegadiza) songs in pop music.     The rhythm and the melody of this song can really help you improve your pronunciation and listening skills.  A "wannabe" is an "aspirante" or a "quiero y no puedo", someone who wants to be something, like a rock star, but isn´t yet.   It´s a derogatory term.   But in this song the title, "Wannabe" refers to the phrase "want to be" and in the song you hear over and over "if ya wannabe my lover" = "if you want to be my lover".    By studying these common contractions of spoken English, called connected speech, non-native English speakers can improve their listening skills (habilidades) a lot.   Other common words in connected speech include:

gonna = going to      I´m gonna go to the movies.
hafta = have to   
shoulda = should have
woulda = would have
coulda = could have
lotta = lot of
watcha = what are you

Also in connected speech the "h" at the beginning of some words like "him" or "her" is NOT pronounced.   So "Where is he?" will sound like "Where is ´e?" and "I like her." becomes "I like ´er." Even the "th" sound can disappear like in the example: "Tell them to come." which in connected speech would be:  "Tell ´em to come."  Although most native speakers use connected speech when speaking they usually write the words completely except for sometimes in songs, novels or comics.   Remember, you don´t have to use connected speech when you are speaking but you need to understand it so that when native speakers are talking to you in a natural way you know what they are saying.

Another important thing in this song is the expression "tell me what you want"  which is "dime lo que quieres" in Spanish.   Most intermediate students know that "que" is usually "what" at the beginning of a sentence in questions like "What is that?"  (¿Qué es esto?) but they often forget that "lo que" is also usually translated as "what" in the middle of sentences such as in (como en) the sentence:   "I like what you are saying." (Me gusta lo que estás diciendo.)  

"Wannabe" by The Spice Girls

Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, 

Yo te diré que es lo que quiero, lo que realmente realmente quiero,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
Entonces dime lo que quieres, lo que realmente realmente quieres, 

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
Te diré lo que quiero, lo que realmente realmente quiero,

So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
 Entonces dime lo que quieres, lo que realmente realmente quieres,

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha.
Yo quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero realmente realmente realmente quiero zigzaguear 

If you want my future forget my past,
Si quieres mi futuro, olvida mi pasado,

If you wanna get with me better make it fast,

 Si quieres estar conmigo mejor hazlo rápido

Now don't go wasting my precious time,  
Ahora no desperdicies mi precioso tiempo,

Get your act together we could be just fine
Si lo realizas, juntos podemos estar bien
 

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
Te diré lo que quiero, lo que realmente realmente quiero,

So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
 Entonces dime lo que quieres, lo que realmente realmente quieres,

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha.
Yo quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero realmente realmente realmente quiero zigzaguear

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends (gotta get with my friends)

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que llevarte con mis amigos  

Make it last forever friendship never ends, 

Hazlo durar para siempre  la amistad nunca acaba

If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give, 

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que  dar,  

Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is.
Tomar es muy fácil, pero así lo es.

What do you think about that now you know how I feel,  
Qué piensas de eso, ahora que sabes cómo me siento 

Say you can handle my love are you for real,  
Di que puedes con mi amor, ¿Eres de verdad?

I won't be hasty, I'll give you a try
No tendré prisa, te daré una oportunidad. 

If you really bug me then I'll say goodbye.
Si realmente me molestas entonces te diré adiós

Yo I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, Yo te diré que es lo que quiero, lo que realmente realmente quiero,

So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
 Entonces dime lo que quieres, lo que realmente realmente quieres, 

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha.
Yo quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero, quiero realmente realmente realmente quiero zigzaguear 

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends (gotta get with my friends)

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que llevarte con mis amigos  

Make it last forever friendship never ends, 

Hazlo durar para siempre  la amistad nunca acaba

If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give, 

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que  dar,  

Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is.
Tomar es muy fácil, pero así lo es.

So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me you gotta listen carefully,
Entonces la historia está aquí de la A a la Z, si tú quieres estar conmigo escucha cuidadosamente  

We got Em in the place who likes it in your face,
Nosotras tenemos a "Em"  en el local a quien le gusta lo fuerte

we got G like MC who likes it on an...
Tenemos a G como MC a quienes les gusta en un...

Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady,
Fácil V no es gratis, ella es una verdadera dama, 

and as for me you'll see,
Y como a mí, ja ja, tu verás 
  

Slam your body down and wind it all around 
Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo y da vueltas alrededor 

Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo y da vueltas alrededor 

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends (gotta get with my friends)

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que llevarte con mis amigos  

Make it last forever friendship never ends, 

Hazlo durar para siempre  la amistad nunca acaba

If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give, 

Si quieres ser mi amante, tienes que  dar,  

Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is.
Tomar es muy fácil, pero así lo es.

 

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta,
Si quieres ser mi amante tienes que, tienes que, tienes que,

you gotta, you gotta, slam, slam, slam, slam
tienes que, tienes que, arrójate, arrójate, arrójate. arrójate

Slam your body down and wind it all around  
Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo y da vueltas alrededor 

Slam your body down and wind it all around.
Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo y da vueltas alrededor  
Slam your body down and wind it all around.
 Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo y da vueltas alrededor  

Slam your body down zigazig ah
Arroja tu cuerpo al suelo zigzaguear   

If you wanna be my lover. 

Si quieres ser my amante.

Editor´s Note:
Although I am not a big fan of commercial pop music there are some songs that are not that bad.     This song has an infectious melody and in a scientific study it was the most recognizable of all the songs played for the subjects.