What are my favorite things (in Japanese, in a song)

November 25, 2011 6:51 AM

Does anyone know of a translation of Mari Natsuki lyrics for "My favorite things" or the lyrics in Japanese that I can plug into Google translate?

I've always liked My Favorite Things by Mari Natsuki ever since hearing it on a Japan Pop compilation back in the late 90s. I know she mentions delicious tobacco, mascara, and a few other things, but I've always wanted to know what she was singing about.

I would love it if anyone could point me to the lyrics in Japanese so I can mash them into google translate or find the lyrics translated.

Thanks.

posted by sciencegeek to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Best answer: I could only find some of the lyrics, not the whole song.

いちばん好きなのは煙草を吸うこと
あなたがいつも吸ったジプシーの絵の描いてある
両切りの美味しい煙草
昔の女優のようにくわえ煙草で
煙が目にしみて
そして私は涙を流す
別に気にしない
あなたが帰るまで今日も泣いて暮らす
今日も泣いて暮らす・

Smoking cigarettes is my favorite thing
The delicious double cut cigarettes that you always smoked, with the picture of a gypsy
With the cigarette between my lips like an actress from long ago
The smoke stings my eyes
Then I cry
I don't especially care
Until you come home I'll keep crying
I'll cry again today
posted by Sar at 7:50 AM on November 25, 2011

Best answer: I tried to transcribe it from Youtube. I'm not sure that I'm 100% right on the lyrics, but if I'm not I'm pretty close.

First the verse that Sar translated, and then:

一番好きなのはお化粧をすること
時間をかけて口紅引いて
目の下にマスカラつけて
昔の女優のように悲しい台詞を鏡につぶやく
そして私は涙を流す
マスカラが落ちてきて
あなたに嫌われて
今日も泣いて暮らすの

Putting on makeup is my favorite thing
Taking time to draw the lipstick across,
Putting mascara under my eyes,
I murmur tragic lines into the mirror like an old-time actress.
Then I cry, and the mascara comes off
Hated by you, I'll cry again today

Then the verse that Sar translated repeats, then:

一番好きなのは毛皮のコート
昔きまぐれにあなたが買ってくれた
安物の毛皮のコート
昔の女優のようにコートの下は裸で
夜風が身に沁みて
そして私は涙を流す
こうして街歩いてあなたはいないのに
今日も泣いて暮らすの

My fur coat is my favorite thing
The cheap fur coat that you bought me on a whim
Naked underneath the coat like an old-time actress,
With the night wind stinging my body
Then I cry
I walk the town like that
Even though you're not there
I'll cry again today
posted by Jeanne at 4:32 PM on November 25, 2011

Response by poster: I had heard of the awesome power of metafilter but never experienced it quite so fully until now. Thank you Sar and Jeanne.
posted by sciencegeek at 5:14 PM on November 25, 2011