Lost in Google Translation, Volume Two

This is an old game I used to play back in the days of BabelFish: testing its automated language translation services by putting a bit of text through a variety of languages and looking at the end result, which had invariably been chewed up beyond recognition. The results often had a mysterious poetry to them, in fact, but were clearly nonsense.

Google's translation service is, I must admit, light years ahead. So much so, in fact, that a single test of translating text from English into Language X and then back again would result in text 95% identical to the original. So no good, then. Instead, I subject texts to a translation through five languages before reconverting it to English. The results are, well, much more abstract.

Each selection here is a verse from a popular song (with slight modifications to grammar and punctuation to make complete sentences) translated through five different languages before being reconverted to English. Your job is merely to look at the results and see if you can't guess which song you're currently viewing, lost in Google Translation.

The answers to each are contained immediately below them, hidden behind a spoiler tag. Click to reveal.

#2 I like the wind through the trees. Sampingku night was so. months, but the sun stayed uniongoze. He accepted my idea, but I did not know what to do. Right next to the body wajahku I felt rambling. I am not in his eyes: in my group. Only a fool believes he can do what they need to hear. I like the wind.

» #1 - Click for the answer. «

"She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=1325904&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

She's like the wind through my tree. She rides the night next to me. She leads me through moonlight only to burn me with the sun. She's taken my heart, but she doesn't know what she's done. I feel her breath on my face, her body close to me. I can't look in her eyes: she's out of my league. Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs. She's like the wind.

#2 Today is your day going. Now, in some ways, you must understand you can do. I do not believe that he does feel for the moment. Word Street is the heart of the high fever is back. I have never heard before, but never doubt I am going to die. I do not believe that he does feel for the moment. The closure, all the lights are published menyilaukan. I want to say much, but I do not know how.

» #2 - Click for the answer. «

"Wonderwall" by Oasis.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=2086865&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

Today is gonna be the day that they're going to throw it back to you. By now you should have somehow realized what you've got to do. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. Backbeat, the word was on the street that the fire in your heart is out. I'm sure you've heard it all before, but you never really had a doubt. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. And all the roads we walk along are winding, and all the lights that lead us there are blinding. There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how.

#2 Me and false. My mother, father, you should come. I attack the world. I am rolling shakes bad for you. Liam. Pink monkey bird And I tell you an indication of the brain breakdown. See for yourself. Ray put gun to my head. Press your space face close to me, I love you. dream mud Wed, oh yeah, and escape.

» #3 - Click for the answer. «

"Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=1007962&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

I'm an alligator. I'm a mama-papa coming for you. I'm a space invader. I'll be a rocking rolling bitch for you. Keep your mouth shut. You're squawking like a pink monkey bird, and I'm busting up my brains for the words. Keep your electric eye on me babe. Put your ray gun to my head. Press your space face close to mine, love. Freak out in a moonage daydream, oh yeah.

#3 Last good. When your hands up. Click on get their own way in life. The day will come. their lives, why people like How to choose? Last good. Last good. ends. Last good. That our time is one hour. Now is the time here. Waiting for my life, my life forever. Yellow is the color of the sun. I have to hide. Always, often in my life, my life here. Yellow is the color of the sun.

» #4 - Click for the answer. «

"Keep On Movin'" by Soul II Soul.

http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=410098934&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1

Keep on moving. Don't stop like the hands of time. Click clock, find your own way to stay. The time will come one day. Why do people choose to live their lives this way? Keep on moving. Keep on moving. Don't stop, no. Keep on moving. It's our time, time today. The right time is here to stay. Stay in my life, my life always. Yellow is the colour of sunrays. I hide myself from no one. I know the time will surely come when you'll be in my life, my life always. Yellow is the colour of sunrays.

#5 I think the future of our children. The best way to learn. beauty all to themselves. Providing tools for pride. Many laughed when my children need reminding. Both are looking for heroes. We need people to see. need to do: I had the opportunity to meet and quiet, so I learned to my faith.

» #5 - Click for the answer. «

"The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston.

http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=370127505&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be. Everybody's searching for a hero. People need someone to look up to. I never found anyone who fulfill my needs: a lonely place to be, so I learned to depend on me.

#6 We say about that. Me, Not me, another day of driving themselves, I'm getting ready to do so. I love the same? Al, get me I will continue a day or two. So, my little things go without saying, but it seems like life is slowly leaving teaching. Say: nothing is more important than to be. Al, get me I will continue a day or two.

» #6 - Click for the answer. «

"Take on Me" by a-ha.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=1451670&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

We're talking away. I don't know what I'm to say; I'll say it anyway: today's another day to find you shying away. I'll be coming for your love, OK? Take on me, take me on. I'll be gone in a day or two. So, needless to say I'm odds and ends, but that's me stumbling away, slowly learning that life is OK. Say after me: It's no better to be safe than sorry. Take on me, take me on. I'll be gone in a day or two.

#7 Oh, my friends are regular remove dirt and Liege, but my dad his "can not bother me to give them. World will not end. He for me a man who Talcs as foot foot, people like my son. Amount of care. Or hand of a man my son. ".

» #7 - Click for the answer. «

"Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=1599245&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

Oh, how you tried to cut me down to size, telling dirty lies to my friends, but my own father said "Give her up, don't bother. The world isn't coming to an end". He told me, walk like a man, talk like a man, walk like a man my son. No woman's worth crawling on the earth, so walk like a man, my son."

#8 All the old graves of a file from the sand dance do not you? If they fast, they fell like dominoes for you. 'M Nile marketing and all those invested. Golden crocodiles C their simple mud. Variety of hookah pipe "that really inanikumbusha, Oh yeah. This, indeed, reminds us." Egypt, such as foot.

» #8 - Click for the answer. «

"Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=1599261&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

All the old paintings on the tombs, they do the sand dance, don't you know? If they move too quick, they're falling down like a domino. All the bazaar men by the Nile, they got the money on a bet. Gold crocodiles, they snap their teeth on your cigarette. Foreign types with the hookah pipes say, 'Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh.' Walk like an Egyptian.

#9 If you still hear my joy, but I think you all are my conscience, I guess. If I'm Walking shoes and when my friends for your entertainment and Flowers suggest that wind is concerned, I feel I can not. What is a fright. I do not bother me at all. 51, captain of irregular solitaria Tobacco Research Community and play until dawn. Now, I can do nothing for you.

» #9 - Click for the answer. «

"Flowers on the Wall" by the Statler Brothers.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=426550&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

I keep hearing you're concerned about my happiness, but all that thought you're giving me is conscience, I guess. If I were walking in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none while you and your friends are worrying about me, I'm having lots of fun counting flowers on the wall. That doesn't bother me at all. Playing solitare till dawn with a deck of fifty one, smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo. Now don't tell me I've nothing to do.

#10 Sometimes it is established all love a man with a good and sad and it is not difficult to know a good time to do, but if you love him and forgive him even harbor to understand. If you love it. Geugahaneun he was 12 years more recently proud. It is a cold lonely night to wait for a hot and is only two officers. Husband Tribune and the world would you know that you love it. You can all love. Arising from your man.

» #10 - Click for the answer. «

"Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.

http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyid=1401033&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID

Sometimes its hard to be a woman giving all your love to just one man: you'll have bad times, and he'll have good times doing things that you don't understand, but if you love him you'll forgive him, even though he's hard to understand. And if you love him, be proud of him, because after all he's just a man. Stand by your man, give him two arms to cling to and something warm to come to when nights are cold and lonely. Stand by your man and tell the world you love him. Keep giving all the love you can. Stand by your man.