Viisukuppila

Ever laughed/cried/despaired at the ridiculously translated ESC entries?
Ever waited in terror how badly they'll manage to destroy your favorite song in the process?
Ever complained how difficult it is to write lyrics in Finnish?
Or maybe you'd just like to try something different for a change?

Whichever the reason, you're most welcome to try your hand at Viisukuppila's first ever

Translation Contest



First, let's have a quick overview of the contest for the experienced:

What? Write a singable English translation for 1-2 Finnish preselection songs.
How? Send your lyrics to me via a private message or by e-mail at ufopoli@hotmail.com.
When? Thursday 26.2. at noon at the latest
Something else? All threads related to this contest will be in English for the benefit of potential entrants from abroad.

The songs to choose from are:

• Jari Sillanpää - Kirkas kipinä
  Remu - Planeetta
  Riikka - Meren
  Tapani Kansa - Rakkautta on, rauhaa ei
  Tiara - Manala

For participants not conversant in Finnish, I have provided direct translations of all five songs to give an impression what the original texts are about.

- - -

Then on to the more detailed version. The purpose of translation contests is not to see who can make the most exact direct translation but the topics are free for the writers to choose. However, compatibility between the music and the lyrics is something that is rarely completely overlooked, either.

Also, whereas in the case of an artist actually recording a cover track there are usually some liberties taken when it comes to the arrangement, in our contests the original melody is to be followed. The reason is simply that in plain written form, it's impossible to tell what the author has intended if the lyrics don't conform to the notes.

Each participant is required to participate in the voting (or lose points equal to the maximum single score). The voting period commences right after the deadline and will be announced in a separated thread. Also non-participants are welcome to cast their vote.

The entries are typically judged for their content, technical quality and atmosphere. After voting, each voter is welcome to express his or her opinions in more detail in a separate commenting thread. Every commenting effort will be rewarded with access to the constantly updating scoreboard.

Feel free to ask further questions about the contest either in this thread or by sending me a message

UFOPOLI kirjoitti:How? Send your lyrics to me via a private message.

You need to register at Viisukuppila to send private messages and you can do that at http://www.viisukuppila.fi/phpBB3/ucp.p ... ge_lang=en

Would it be a bad idea to accept entries by e-mail too?

Timoteus kirjoitti:Would it be a bad idea to accept entries by e-mail too?

Ah yes, I just thought about that myself. I wouldn't be a bad idea at all

Where can we find the original Finnish lyrics? They seem to not more be on YLE's site.

(I forgot to save them while they still were there. )

They are still there and linked to by UFOPOLI. Click on next to each song title.

I also have a backup in case they should be removed some day soon.

Oh, that's right. Well linked. Thanks. Excuse my question

But how come it has been impossible to approach them from other parts of YLE's site...

Huilumies kirjoitti:But how come it has been impossible to approach them from other parts of YLE's site...

The links are cunningly hidden, that's probably why you haven't found them. They're at the end of each participant's page.

Five more days remain to submit your work.

I decided to extend the translation deadline due to a request as well as the fact that the voting period will also be longer than usual because during the conventional time for announcing the results, I'm (hopefully) on a transcontinental flight. The new deadline is Wednesday 25.2. at noon and the results will be announced on Sunday 8.3. I'll also update the opening message accordingly.

Oh, by the way:

Could we perhaps extend the deadline by one more day? I am giving a research talk in a few hours from now and preparing it consumed all my time... But I would love to take part in this one.

Thank you.

nkorppi kirjoitti:Could we perhaps extend the deadline by one more day? I am giving a research talk in a few hours from now and preparing it consumed all my time... But I would love to take part in this one.

Well, considering that we've already had a delay of several days and there still remains over a week for the voting period, I don't think one more day makes any difference, so let's consider it granted. Thursday 26.2. at noon it is, then. And this time, to be absolutely clear the time is in EET

EDIT: