A little taste of MENUDO MAGIC

Hey, everyone!

This is my first stab at translating any song on my own--and the end result is somehow appropriate considering what we've gone through after Sandy Hook.

Before we go on, a bit of explanation:

This originally appeared as an all-Spanish tune on A Todo Rock, a 1983 album by Puerto Rican boy group Menudo. (Famous for 1985's "Hold Me", if you're not aware.) The song, entitled "Una buena razón", was the last new addition to our smoothed-out Marigot Magic playlist hours ago. (I had to get a new Latino track, or else I'd betray the lineup's diversity factor. Last time, it was Daddy Yankee with "Gasolina".)

After I found the lyrics online and parsed them through Google Translate, something popped into my head: What if Menudo released it in English? I spent around three hours trying to capture the essence of the original track (and synced up with the vocals as best I could).

Below is what I came up with, translated entirely in English (save for a Spanish bit that remains intact):

All my life, I've seen this fear and delusion
Life is short--if only more could plead
I believe in love
I believe in friends
Every night I sing
Every night I pray
One day, peace is all we'll need

Peace, good will towards men
Peace throughout all the Earth
Show us a good reason
(Oh oh oh)
Why God gave us all our worth
(Oh oh oh)
Those clothes and all those sonnets
All those girls who wear their bonnets

And smiles and laughs all around
And doves in flight way above
I've got a good reason
(Oh oh oh)
To spread the message of love


Una canción
Que habla de amor
Una canción
Llena de amor


I've got a good reason
(Oh oh oh)
To spread the message of love
(Oh oh oh)
Those roses, kisses--oh, dear
Not enough--we must make sure there's

No more war or chaos
No more borders to cross
Love conquers all, day or night
(Oh oh oh)
Children of God, let's unite

Peace, good will towards men
Peace throughout all the Earth
Show us a good reason
(Oh oh oh)
Why God gave us all our worth
(Oh oh oh)
Those clothes and all those sonnets
All those girls who wear their bonnets...

[hr/]

And for comparison's sake, the original version:

Tengo pocos años y una ilusión
Una vida entera por vivir
Creo en el amor
Creo en la amistad
Digo en mi canción
Como en oración
Que en el mundo haya paz.
Paz entre los hombres
Paz para la tierra
Una buena razón, oh oh oh
Para creer en dios, oh oh oh
Un poema, una mirada
Una niña enamorada
Risa entre los hombres
Risas en la tierra
Una buena razón, oh oh oh
Para entregar mi amor
Una canción
Que habla de amor
Una canción
Llena de amor
Una buena razón, oh oh oh
Para entregar mi amor, oh, oh, oh
Una flor, una caricia
Unos besos sin malicia
Ya no habrá más guerras
Ya no habrán fronteras
Porque el amor triunfo, oh oh oh
Son en la creación

If you're interested, "Show Us a Good Reason" (as I call it) is track #7 on "Disc" 12 of Marigot Magic. (Not that you'll see an official release of that unless I become really famous; get rich on Wall Street; meet Donald Trump; or get hired by the RIAA or one of its members).

In case you haven't heard yet, the second draft of the novel is available, live on Drive. (Google Drive, that is.)

Adios, guys. ¡Have fun!