Depeche-mood : moody depeche-mode devotee 
MARTIN L. GORE: LAYS
You definitely, should avoid this book called “MARTIN L. GORE: LAYS” : a bilingual book in french and english about Martin L. Gore Lyrics.
The book itself is great, you can find original lyrics, and few illustrations, but the translations and writing skills of the author are missing the point, almost every time. It gives a very bad feeling to the lyrics written in english, and translations are almost not french, by times. Obviously the translator doesn’t feel comfortable with french, and maybe this authorized version should not be printed, if you consider it damages original work.
Here is two examples of what has been done :
Personal Jesus :
“Your own personal jesus, Someone to hear your prayers, Someone who cares.”
> Translation <
“Votre Jésus personnel à vous, Quelqu’un qui entende vos prières, quelqu’un qui s’intéresse à vous.”
It sounds weird, doesn’t it ?! Weird and pretty bad, too. In french , you can read : “Your own personal Jesus, yourself, Someone to hear your prayers, Someone interested in you”
Worst of all, sometimes, translations change sense and meaning and seems to avoid any poetic approach of the lyrics, for example in Never let me down. Lyrics in french “Ne me fais plus jamais faux bond.“ so far translation is ok, but then “ride” becomes “walk” in french, loosing track of the situation.
“I’m taking a ride, With my best friend, I hope he never lets me down again, He knows where he’s taking me, taking me where I want to be, I’m taking a ride With my best friend”
> Translation <
“Je vais en promenade avec mon meilleur ami. J’espère que jamais plus il ne me fera faux bond. Il sait où il m’emmène, il m’emmène, là où je veux me trouver. Je fais un tour avec mon meilleur ami.”
In the end, translated from french you get something like this :
“I’m going out for a walk with my best friend, I hope he will never let me down again, He knows where he’s taking me, taking me where I want to find myself, I’m going out With my best friend”
In fact they are many of the translations that are made without considering the context. If the goal was to give a better understanding of Martin’s lyrics, the goal is missed and like I said, it’s harmful.
Save 23 euros, don’t buy this book.
I don’t think Martin L. Gore knows about this, maybe he should.
P.s: I would advise the writer/translator to read : Musique d’ailleurs par Leonard Cohen, an awesome work, translated by: Jean Guiloineau
Wow that’s one hateful review! With all due respect, I do not believe your French is proficient… “S’intéresser à quelqu’un” does not mean “to be interested in somebody”… “Promenade” doesn’t mean “a walk”… Also, given the number of articles in the media right now where M.L. Gore endorses the book wholeheartedly, I wonder why you think it is possible that Gore is not aware of its existence… Gore, as opposed to yourself, speaks decent French… In any event, I just do not think it is physically possible for anybody to release his songs without his explicit approval… I think you as an individual probably have issues that have nothing to do with this book… You just are releasing your anger, and it is not helpful to Internet surfers… I purchased this book as well, and I was blown away by its quality… Where are you from? What gives you the impression you are qualified to analyze French? (consternation).
Virginie,
First of all, It’s not hateful at all.
I’m expressing myself about something, I wish could have been enthusiastic about.
Second, I don’t think we are going anywhere, I’m not a translator/writer, myself. I read a few books with lyrics on one side and translations on the other, and all I can tell you, is how sorry I feel when i read this book. It’s just miles away from Martin’s Gore approach.
One of my friends is a professional translator, she doesn’t know much about Depeche Mode, but she noticed, the work done wasn’t done by someone who has writing skills. Of Course, we can argue about a word or two, translations, etc.
But the most important thing, at least, to me, is the feeling the lyrics give you, and it’s just not there.
Maybe someone who’s work is to write (translate) would have been more appropriate.
At least, I see one good reason about this post: We disagree (which is healthy, I heard)
What I found interesting was the fact that the examples you included - all of ‘em - emphasize clearly the fact that your fluency in French is nonexistent, at best. I thought that was very interesting. Perhaps someone who actually knows the French language would have been better positioned to criticize the work that so many French people have been praising, don’t you think? Ignorance is never a constructive approach. What I thought was interesting also is the fact that you have such a vivid hatred for the person who went and put this book together? As a female, I can tell that there’s a pinch of “alpha male vs. alpha male”-type jealousy going on here, isn’t there? In any event, I wish people who had a positive opinion used the Internet to voice their opinion as well. Unfortunately, most blogs are maintained that individuals who have no life, and as a result, there are tons of negative, hateful opinions floating around. Perhaps it’s attributable to the overall “depression” environment we have been lately. Anyway, thanks for letting me voice my opinion. I appreciate it.
Virginie do you have any connection with the author of this book ?!
I don’t myself ! You were the first one to write a raving comment on Amazon.com.
Please, don’t talk to me about hatred while in this comment, you mention M. Hervé Baquedano as someone who is “assassinating the book”. Also I don’t really see what this sentence means “a pinch of “alpha male vs. alpha male”-type jealousy going on here” What are you talking about ?!
I’m just giving my point of view, If you do not agree, internet is an ocean…
Hey Virginie, pretty funny, but i found a comment you’ve done on Amazon.fr.
So, let me quote you : “I wish people who had a positive opinion used the Internet to voice their opinion as well. Unfortunately, most blogs are maintained that individuals who have no life, and as a result, there are tons of negative, hateful opinions floating around.”
Maybe you don’t have a Blog but you seem pretty good at negativity !!!
http://www.amazon.fr/product-reviews/B001RTP3Z0 - “La realisation de cette video est de type amateur. Mauvais montage ; image digitale a bas budget ; etc.”
Pretty surprising…