I debated long and hard about this post, but then I decided that although it goes against a lot of the rules that I have set on 6000 miles… , they were my rules anyway and it would be fine to bend them a little.
If you’re me.
This approach has worked for monarchies and governments for many years and I don’t see why I shouldn’t give it a quick go.
Just this once. Until next time.
So – step forward Die Antwoord, which is Afrikaans for “The Answer”.
They’re a foul-mouthed 3-piece hip-hop/rap group straight outta Brooklyn. No, not that Brooklyn, the other one – the one near Maitland in Cape Town.
And while they are rather rude and surely not 4 real, they’re also rather amusing and pretty entertaining – the Afrikaans version of Goldie Lookin Chain, innit.
With that explicit lyrics warning in full force – you can now head over to their website, where you can listen to their new album (out next month) and enjoy the dulcet tones of rapper Ninja, vocalist Yo-Landi Visser and the beats of the lovably cuddly DJ Hi-Tek.
Track 2, Wat Kyk Jy? (literally “What are you looking at?”) is a particular favourite of mine and I have attempted a quick translation of the chorus – an exchange between the inquisitive Ninja and the somewhat defensive Yo-Landi – from the guttural Afrikaans into English for the benefit of my readers:
What are you looking at?
Absolutely nothing.
What are you looking at?
Cat.
What are you looking at?
Go away.
What are you looking at?
You sewing machine.
Bi-lingual readers will already have worked out the intricacies of that little dialogue. Perfection.
There’s a lot more to hear as well, including colabs with the currently ubiquitous Jack Parow, Fokofpolisiekar and others.
Just don’t play it when the kids are around, ok?
7 Comments
But do you like it?
Emil > Absolutely. And I learn a new word every day.
So there is a down side, too.
Was the translation understandable?
Die Antwoord has some hectic beats and lyrics, one of my favourites is “Enter the ninja”, music video is really cool for that song aswell.
The translation is pretty spot on!
Die Antwoord does capture the essence of Tant Stienie from Brooklyn very well
*whisper: I like it too. A. Lot.
Zefmeister > But then, you would say that.
Enter the Ninja is definitely a close second to Wat Kyk Jy.
Emil > Thanks. Although I feel that foreign readers will be (thankfully) bewildered by the reference to the sewing machine.
~Falls around laughing~ I’m loving the sewing machine reference!
Is it a “Elna Naai masjien”? 
Jirre that’s a catchy tune.
.-= Tara´s last blog ..Oh, a horse. =-.