This is a short exercise for myself in trying to translate something to a beat. The song is ハッピーシンセサイザ in Japanese, which is basically straight-up “Happy Synthesizer” in English. You’ll notice I changed it to “Happy New Synthesizer” in the translation, however. This is because the forced katakana-i-zation of the word “synthesizer” means it gets an extra syllable, and to sing it naturally you really needed that extra beat. I could have translated it as “My Happy Synthesizer,” but starting with an “m” seemed really weird.
So, to make it sound normal to the original, I let it start with “happy,” and then made something of a sideways pun at the word “synthesizer” - in Japanese, “shin” can mean “new.” The katakana-i-zation of the word “synthesizer” = “shinsesaiza.” So, I used that “shin” to make the “new” of the translation I have down below.
There are other changes between the meanings of Japanese and English, but I’m not going to go through them all. Basically, the translation I have is a rough approximation of the Japanese meaning and my attempt to make it make some sense in English and still be more or less singable. So, go ahead and listen to the Japanese, and sing each little bit in English, and have fun! u w u/
For the original, check nico: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm12825985
or YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poiZSEjQBgw
or watch my favorite dancer dance to it with Maykiki: http://youtu.be/PDv7MXuhRgQ
Also, apologies to any and all watchers for this exceedingly long post. ;;
Happy New Synthesizer
ハッピーシンセサイザ 君の 胸の奥まで
Happy new synthesizer Straight to your heart
届くようなメロディ 奏でるよ
I feel this melody will play Right to you
儚く散った淡い片思い
Scattered feelings Unrequited love
笑い話だね 今となれば
It’s a funny thing to say When I look back at it now
見る物全て 輝いて見えた
Everything seemed to glow When I saw you that night
あの日々がキレイに 笑ってるよ
It was so gorgeous then While you were laughing
我慢する事だけ 覚えなきゃいけないの?
Is it really required for me to remember such things as patience?
「大人になって頂戴ね?」 ならなくていいよ
“Would you just act your age?” Isn’t something I’ll say
知らない事ばかり 知らないなんて言えなくて
Everything that you don’t know It’s okay to stay like that
「大変お似合いで」 ウソついてゴメンね
“You look good under stress” Sorry for saying a lie
ハッピーシンセサイザ 君の 胸の奥まで
Happy new synthesizer Straight to your heart
届くようなメロディ 奏でるよ
I feel this melody will play Right to you
つまらない「たてまえ」や ヤな事全部
That boring public face Everything that you hate
消してあげるから この音で
I’ll erase it all for you With this song I made
何の取り柄も無い 僕に唯一つ
There’s no page for me Yet there’s this one and only
少しだけど 出来る事
What can I do? Well It’s just a small thing
心躍らせる 飾らない 言葉
It’ll make your heart dance Words that aren’t just garnishment
電子音で伝えるよ
With electric chords I’ll send them to you
好きになる事 理屈なんかじゃなくて
Being able to like you It wasn’t born from theory
「こじつけ」なんて いらないんじゃない?
There’s no need to say, yeah “That’s so far-fetched,” right?
時代のせいと 諦めたらそこまで
That it’s all the age’s fault That I should just give up already
踏み出さなくちゃ 何も始まらない
Don’t stomp it out so soon That way nothing will ever start
「ゴメンね夜遅く 寝るところだったでしょ?」
“Sorry for calling so late Were you about to go to sleep?”
「驚いた 私もかけようとしてた」
“What a sweet surprise I was just about to call”
心の裏側をくすぐられてるような
The inside of my heart This ticklish fluttering
惹かれあう2人に 幸せな音を
For us two to be attracted It’s surely a happy sound
ハッピーシンセサイザ ほらね 楽しくなるよ
Happy new synthesizer See what I mean? It’s getting fun
涙拭うメロディ 奏でるよ
A melody to wipe your tears I’m playing for you
強がらなくたっていいんじゃない? 別に
You don’t have to act so strong There’s no need; it’s okay
自分に素直になればいい
You can be a little meek To yourself now and then
何の取り柄も無い 僕に唯一つ
There’s no page for me Yet there’s this one and only
少しだけど 出来る事
What can I do? Well It’s just a small thing
ちょっと照れるような 単純な気持ち
A little bit of light to shine A simple sensation
電子音で伝えるよ
With electric chords I’ll send them to you
ハッピーシンセサイザ 君の 胸の奥まで
Happy new synthesizer Straight to your heart
届くようなメロディ 奏でるよ
I feel this melody will play Right to you
つまらない「たてまえ」や ヤな事全部
That boring public face Everything that you hate
消してあげるから この音で
I’ll erase it all for you With this song I made
何の取り柄も無い 僕に唯一つ
There’s no page for me Yet there’s this one and only
少しだけど 出来る事
What can I do? Well It’s just a small thing
心躍らせる 飾らない 言葉
It’ll make your heart dance Words that aren’t just garnishment
電子音で伝えるよ
With electric chords I’ll send them to you
ハッピーシンセサイザ ほらね 楽しくなるよ
Happy new synthesizer See what I mean? It’s getting fun
涙拭うメロディ 奏でるよ
A melody to wipe your tears I made for you
強がらなくたっていいんじゃない? 別に
You don’t have to act so strong There’s no need; it’s okay
自分に素直になればいい
You can be a little meek To yourself now and then
何の取り柄も無い 僕に唯一つ
There’s no page for me Yet there’s this one and only
少しだけど 出来る事
What can I do? Well It’s just a small thing
ちょっと照れるような 単純な気持ち
A little bit of light to shine A simple sensation
電子音で伝えるよ
With electric chords I’ll send them to you