How Do You Do, Ms. Chin Chin Chu?
I just stumbled onto this incredibly infectious old school Bollywood number via the ever-excellent WFMU blog. The story behind the slinky chanteuse, Helen Richardson, is interesting as the song is catchy.
Any Hindi speakers with a moment to spare out there willing to translate the song's lyrics into English for me?
Any Hindi speakers with a moment to spare out there willing to translate the song's lyrics into English for me?
Mera naam chin-chin-chu
Chin-chin-chu baaba chin-chin-chu
Raat chaandni main aur tu
Hello, mister, how do you do?
Baaba..baaba
Baabuji main chin se aayi chini jaisa dil laayi
Singaapur ka yauvan mera shanghaai ki angdaayi
Dil par rakh le haath zara, ho jaaye na paagal tu
Mera naam chin-chin-chu
Oh baabuji main aur aap, kitna achchha huwa milaap
Tujhko dekh tabeeyat bhadki, alaadin ki main hu ladki
Phunk du mantar chhu chu chu, sindbaad the sailor tu
Mera naam chin-chin-chu
posted by djdrrrtypoonjabi at 5:33 AM
7 Comments:
Film: Howrah Bridge
Composer: O P Nayyar
Much respect to Geeta Dutt. Even the great Asha Bhosle counts her as one of her influences.
Below is a very sketchy translation.
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My name is Chin-Chin-Chu
Just me and you babe on this starry night.
Then she proceeds to get into specifics.
Her awesomeness was assembled in various parts of SE Asia.
Sweetheart from China. There's a play on "chini" (means Chinese and sugar)
Youth from Singapore
Angdaayi (hate to call it a yawn) from Shanghai
You and me mister, we've got a good thing together. You make me all hot and bothered.
Some random biz about her being Alladin's daughter.
Magic words and shazam. You're Sindbad the sailor.
My name is Chin-Chin-Chu
--------------------------------------
Pretty deep and meaningful stuff this.
Why do I hate freedom? Because I'm a frothy-mouthed raving pinko bastard!
But to answer your other question, yeah I'm into Stones Throw stuff. It seems from my cursory examination of your blog that you're from the Bay area, which makes sense. I actually saw a Stones Throw lineup at the CMJ festival in NYC a few months ago. Lotta hot mics that night--Madlib, Wildchild, Medaphor, Guilty Simpson, the incomparable Percee P. Hot shit.
Is your music posted on the web somewheres?
Shodan - Haha, Thanks for that "verbatim" translation: I'm sure "hot and bothered" has always been a popular lyric phrase in old Bollywood. I don't know about you, but I've been whistling that tune all month. Any other musical suggestions you might have for me?
Cointelpro - DJ Drrrty Poonjabi is timeless, shapeless, and traverses through many supramundane spheres. That said, I do have been known to kick it in the Bay. I recently put out a demo, but I'm refraining from posting any of it while I shop it to different labels. However, you can peep one of my mashups DJ Drrrty Poonjabi - Papa Kehte Hain I Wanna Fuck You Like a Muppet Baby.mp3 or email me (my address is in my avatar image) and I'll send you some Def Jux/Stones Throw sounding stuff soon.
Have you heard Koushik? He's on Stones Throw, keepin' it real for all the macacas out there.
Here's my broken-hindi translation:
My name is Chin-Chin-Chu
Chin-chin-chu mister, that's Chin-chin-chu
You and I under this moonlit night
Hello, mister, how do you do?
Hey mister, hey mister...
Mister, I come from China and I've brought a Chinese/Sweet heart with me
Youth from Singapore and fingers from Shanghai
Put your hand on my heart, you will go crazy with desire
My name is Chin-Chin-Chu.
Oh Mister you and I, how great is it that we met,
After seeing you I'm feeling lovesick,
I am Aladdin's girl,
Say the magic words, Chu chu chu,
You are Sinbad the Sailor,
My name is Chin-chin-chu.
Thanks anon. Your post inspired me to listen to the song another seven times in row.
I have to admit, I thought Helen was pretty ridiculous when I first watched her. She grows on you, though, I have to admit.
I love your mash-ups too, btw. I heard one when I was listening to Abhi & Amardeep from SM on a Houston radio show.
Here's a translation:
My name is Chin Chin Chu
This moonlit night, you and I
Hello, mister, how do you do?
Sir, I've come from from China
With a heart sweet as sugar
My youth is from Singapore
My ways are from Shanghai
Rest your hand on your heart, or it may go crazy
O sir, you and I
We make a great couple
You've pleased my heart
I'm a creation of God
I could chant a spell
And turn you into Sindbad the Sailor
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