[Hotel California] There's no way the Japanese cover is fantastic, right? Hotel California / The Eagles Cover
//Summary - Level-B2//
This article discusses a Japanese cover and translation of Hotel California by The Eagles, emphasising the challenges of capturing the original song’s emotional depth and layered meanings in another language. The translator aimed to stay true to the lyrics’ literal meaning while expressing their poetic ambiguity. The song is renowned for its multifaceted interpretations and symbolic language, including “spirits” (which can refer to both alcohol and the soul), as well as metaphors that convey themes of temptation, entrapment, and materialism. Detailed explanations of key phrases highlight these hidden meanings. The mysterious female figure may represent a hostess, a guest, or even the hotel itself, contributing to the song’s surreal and haunting atmosphere.
[Hotel California] There's no way a Japanese cover of the song is fantastic, right? Hotel California / The Eagles Cover
It's been ten years since I attempted to translate the English lyrics as literally as possible, in natural Japanese, and in a way that would allow me to sing the original song with the same emotions. However, I still have a long way to go.
The double meaning is often talked about in this song. For example, the word "spirits," which refers to alcohol, also carries a hidden meaning related to the spirit of the era. It's not necessary to be so particular about it, but I think it's more interesting if the words in a song have a hidden meaning.
If the words can be interpreted in various ways, rather than just two, the listener can imagine what they like and create their own story, making the song more personal. If you can proudly say that this is actually what it means, you can feel like you're the only one who knows it, and you can feel closer to the song.
I feel that the lyrics of famous songs have so much meaning that each person thinks that this is their song. And as many stories intertwine throughout a single song, the overall meaning of the song deepens even more.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
= 夕暮れ砂漠ハイウェイ 髪に冷たい風
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
= むっとくるコリタス たちのぼる熱気
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
= かすかに遠く見える またたくともし火
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
=重いあたま かすむ目
I had to stop for the night
= さがす 今夜の宿
There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell
= 彼女が立つドアウェイ ひびくミッションベル
And I was thinking to myself,
= この行きつく先は
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell’
= 天国いや地獄なのか
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
= 彼女つけるキャンドル 部屋につづく道
here were voices down the corridor,
=どこからか聞こえる
I thought I heard them say...
=誰かのささやき
Welcome to the Hotel California
=ようこそ ここへ ホテルカルフォルニア
Such a lovely place Such a lovely face
= 素敵な場所 すてきな部屋
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
= ごゆっくり どうぞホテルカルフォルニア
Any time of year, you can find it here
= 一年中 くつろげます
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz
= 彼女の心ティファニー そしてメルセデスベンツ
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
= あなたのプリティプリティボーイ蕩けるようなフレンド
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
= ダンス踊るコートヤード 夏の汗甘く
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
= 思い出をつくるため それとも忘れるため
So I called up the Captain,
= 僕は呼ぶよ キャプテン
Please bring me my wine’ He said,
= お願い 僕のワイン 彼が
We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine
=「そのお酒(スピリット)はありません もう６９年から」
And still those voices are calling from far away,
= そしてまたあの声が響く 遠くから
Wake you up in the middle of the night
= 真夜中に目が覚める
Just to hear them say...
= そのささやき
Welcome to the Hotel California
= ようこそ ここへ ホテルカルフォルニア
Such a lovely place Such a lovely face
= 素敵な場所 すてきな部屋
They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
= こころゆくまで ホテルカルフォルニア
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
= お楽しみの 秘密の場所
Mirrors on the ceiling,
= 嵌まる シーリング
The pink champagne on ice And she said
= クシャンペンのアイス 彼女が
’We are all just prisoners here, of our own device’
= だの囚われびとね 欲にくらんだわたしたち」
And in the master’s chambers,
= そしてマスターのチャンバース
They gathered for the feast
= うたげ集うひと
They stab it with their steely knives,
= つきたてるナイフ
But they just can’t kill the beast
= 死なない けだもの
Last thing I remember, I was
= そして最後の記憶 それは
Running for the door
= 走りめざすドア
I had to find the passage back
= 探さなきゃ 帰り道
To the place I was before
= もと来た場所に
’Relax,’ said the night man,
= 「ご安心ください」 とナイトマン
We are programmed to receive.
= 「万事承っております」
You can checkout any time you like,
=「チェックアウトはご自由に
but you can never leave!
= でも出口はありません」
Explanation
1.
colitas:
This is a slang word from Spanish that seems to refer to marijuana.
2.
The Mission Bell:
Generally, it refers to a church bell, but it is thought to refer to the bell that angels ring to guide the deceased to heaven. It overlaps with the brass bell on the hotel counter at the hotel reception.
3.
Plenty of room:
Note that room is not plural. It is not a matter of number. We can provide you with a room that will fully satisfy you.
4.
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis:
A nice surprise is used in the same way as a surprise party (a party that is prepared in secret and surprises the person on their birthday, etc.), and it seems to be a secret that will surprise them. So bring your alibis means that you should prepare an alibi to cover it up.
5.
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device:’
(We are all prisoners of our own device.)
This means that we are obsessed with materialistic desires and forget what is essential as we feast every night at the hotel. This theme also runs throughout the entire song.
6.
spirit:
When referring to alcohol, it relates to strong distilled alcohol and is not usually used for wine. Here, it implies that another meaning, “spirit,” has been lost.
7.
The master’s chambers:
Is the master the owner of the hotel, the manager, the managing director, or even God? Chambers is plural, but singular. It usually refers to a judge’s private office. This is where personal legal consultations are conducted. Here, it is implied that what takes place in the room is related to hidden justice.
8.
Relax,’ said the night man:
The night man refers to the night receptionist. Therefore, relax would be more appropriate (don’t worry).
9.
We are programmed to receive.:
A reception is used in the same way as a reception room, meaning to greet guests at the reception desk. Being programmed to do means always doing or thinking about doing something without making any special effort.
1Q. Who is she?:
R. She is like a room attendant, a hostess, or a prostitute. She is also like an angel or a devil. In the second verse, she can be taken as a rich guest. Is "she" the hotel itself, as a whole, with many overlapping images?
* The lyrics skillfully use double meaning to depict the illusion and reality of a decadent life.
[Hotel California] There's no way the Japanese cover is fantastic, right? Hotel California / The Eagles Cover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYO9yTzA-ng
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09839DpTctU
Hotel California - Eagles | 1994 MTV Live (with Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je254xHe4dI
[Learn English with Western Music] Hotel California / Eagles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaK3VGkrN3k
[How to Sing Western Music] Eagles - "Hotel California" Explained in Furigana!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weO5OOTGHUk&t=588s
Add info)
[Translation: Hotel California (final version) | Eagles] I attempted to translate the video of the Las Vegas Sphere performance featuring Don Henley's singing voice. Please take a look at the description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN2If80v6VE
[Video description]
As I explained at the beginning of the video, I have translated the lyrics of "Hotel California" based on the idea that, considering the historical context, they convey two distinct messages.
① A warning against the loss of the purity of music being consumed by business, leading to a business model controlled by a large, pyramid-like ruling class.
② A warning against the dangers of the hippie ideology that became a big wave around 1970.
The Eagles supervised the live video, and I believe it effectively conveys the song's meaning.
Sadly, you can't escape from the ruling class even if you try, and this situation repeats itself over and over again.
Add info No2)
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G-YQA_bsOU
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water (from The Concert in Central Park)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwRt6J32o
Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Japanese Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqADL0gfGF0
