Un murmullo

V never used to believe me I was truly in love with her. She always said one day I'd get my things and disappear into that world I seemed so enamored with. Words couldn't convince her. The song did.

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posted by micayetoca (14 comments total)

Also, today is my band's 7th anniversary and I wanted to mark the date. The fiddle is played by Portland's favorite: Michael Ismerio.
posted by micayetoca at 8:16 PM on April 16, 2007

Your songs are pretty, they sound like historical treasures. The vocal needs to come forward in the mix. The background vocal is maybe a bit pitchy here and there, but there’s a charm to the whole recording. It’s a nice melody. How about another translation? The last song you posted had such interesting lyrics. I hope you keep posting these great songs.
posted by edlundart at 3:28 PM on April 17, 2007

Hey, I hope when you say "they sound like historical treasures" you don't mean that they sound like they were recorded with early 20th century equipment and no regard for the laws of acoustics.

The lyrics are quite silly and based around a phonetic pun: the chorus says "mi novia eres tú" (it's you who is my girlfriend) and that "tú" which means "you" is used to do the too-doo-doo-doo-doo.

So, basically the words say:
"you say that I'm like a river,
and you are like a bud on its shore
you only watch me as I go
and leave behind a whispered hum.

My girlfriend is not the road/riverpath
it's you who is my girlfriend
You, you, you (this is the too-doo-doo-doo-doo part),
it's you who is my girlfriend

Before I met you
the feeling I used to have
was not similar to thirst
it resembled more of a drought
before I came to meet you
my nights didn't end in a dawn.

My girlfriend is not the nighttime
it's you who is my girlfriend
You, you, you (the too-doo-doo-doo-doo part),
it's you who is my girlfriend.


And thank you for your very kind words, edlundart. They are very much appreciated.
posted by micayetoca at 3:52 PM on April 17, 2007

It's great hearing your voice, man. Is this a waltz? It's silly, but this makes me think of dancing with my girl. This really has a great folk feel. I love it!
posted by snsranch at 4:13 PM on April 17, 2007

I love the NotInEnglish tab and hope to contribute again soon to it.

Again, great song. Definitely bring those vocals forward!!! They are tantalizingly soft.
posted by ORthey at 5:32 PM on April 17, 2007

Your lyrics are truly fantastic. Very lyrical. There is a Swedish singer-songwriter I love, Lisa Ekdahl. She has a couple of jazz albums where she sings in English, but her main body of work is in Swedish (I'm Norwegian, so I understand what she's singing...). Her song lyrics often have a timeless beauty to them; your (translated) lyrics remind me a little bit of hers. I meant "historical treasures" in the best way. Your lyrics and your sound are both timeless and somehow... pure.
posted by edlundart at 10:15 PM on April 17, 2007

snsranch: yep, it's a waltz. Mexicanized a little bit. I tried to copy the feeling that old Lydia Mendoza recordings used to have. Unfortunately, I don't have a voice like that.

ORthey: thx a lot. And yeah, that NotInEnglish tag is a-growing, isn't it? we gotta keep it well fed.

edlundart: thx an awful lot. I almost didn't translate the lyrics here, I thought sending them in an email to you since you asked, because it's hard to make translations match the original, I'm really glad you liked them. And thank you again for your kinda words. I tend to feel like I'm the worst musician posting songs here, what with the quality of you guys, and words like that have a great effect. Muchas gracias.
posted by micayetoca at 9:40 AM on April 18, 2007

of course "kinda words" should be "kind words." Wonder why they don't put a preview button somewhere.
posted by micayetoca at 9:43 AM on April 18, 2007

This is beautiful, Micayetoca.
I love the fiddle with the guitar, it's perfect.
posted by chococat at 8:23 PM on April 19, 2007

I tend to feel like I'm the worst musician posting songs here,

WHAT? No fucking way man! I'm not gonna start naming names (might have to include myself...) but you are far from the "worst" musician posting here!

And this little number is very charming. Nice to hear you sing!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:28 PM on April 20, 2007

You're a wonderful musician, and your lyrics even in translation are lovely. There are few feelings that equal hearing a beautiful song that's been written for you. I'm glad you got the girl.
posted by melissa may at 2:34 AM on April 21, 2007

hey chococat, thx a lot. Yeah, the fiddle was indispensable for this one. It took a while to record it because Michael is touring Mexico at the moment and never had free time at the same time as our vocalist (who recorded him). Michael is a great fiddler and his band is very good (you can check it out by clicking on his name in the first comment in the post).

And flapjax at midnite. Hey, if not musician, I'm definitely the worst singer. That's why I tend to post the songs that the other guys in the band sing. I'm glad you liked this one. I should fix those harmonies though. One can never end, can one?

And melissa may. A million thx. It's been nice to receive such good feedback. And yeah, luckily enough I got the girl. She is rumored to be head over heels now.
posted by micayetoca at 11:01 AM on April 21, 2007

I should fix those harmonies though.

Well, now that you mention it, yeah, there's a couple of moments where the line between charmingly appropriate out-of-tuneness and 'just-a-litte-too-outta-tune' becomes a little blurred.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:46 PM on April 21, 2007

Just in case anyone was interested in hearing the fixed version, here it is. It's the same song but now the harmonies are in tune!
posted by micayetoca at 6:02 AM on May 2, 2007