Anggun Cipta—the most popular French singer of Indonesian descent—has released yet another version of her Eurovision entry “Echo (You and I).” That’s right. Just weeks after uploading a duet with Danish heart throb Niels Brink, Anggun is back with the official English-language version of the song. It’s not a straight translation from French to English, and the re-working has sucked the song of its soul. The original French version asked some pretty good questions, our favorite being: “We move forward—but what are we running after?” The English version, on the other hand, makes less sense and involves much more forced rhyming: “Running wild through the air that I breathe/ They can’t stop, wanna choose to believe.” Okay, yeah, whatever that means.
Anyway, you can listen to the new version below along with the English lyrics. What do you think? Isn’t it way better in French?
English lyrics to “Echo (You and I)”
You and I
You and I
Thousands of years and counting under our feet
Somehow our story’s still incomplete
‘Til there’s a story for you and for me
Thousands of dreams are buried while we’re asleep
‘Cause everything seems too hard to reach
Don’t tell me I’m a fool to believe
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, through the dark
I see you and I, there is you and I
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, in my mind
I see you and I, there is you and I
Thousands of fears are growing in a heartbeat
Running wild through the air that I breathe
They can’t stop, wanna choose to believe
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, through the dark
I see you and I, there is you and I
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, in my mind
I see you and I, there is you and I
There is you and I
There is you and I
Reach and you’ll feel the fire burns within me
Don’t ever let it go, can’t you see?
That there’s a place for you and for me
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, in my mind
I see you and I, there is you and I
In my dreams, in my dreams
In my heart, in my mind
I see you and I, there is you and I
take a shower if u can find clean water because everything about u stinks no offense ok
Nowhere near the French version. I love the original, the melody is stuck in my head every time I hear it, awesome writing. This version just loses it.
I think it isn’t : They can’t stop, wanna choose to believe.. but it’s They can’t stop what I’d choose to believe.
It’s quite good — better than some writing that originates in English — and I do like the way it pushes English off its natural rhythm without sounding forced — but the original is indeed better.
The typical writer in English would have omitted the second “for” in “for you and for me,” losing the couplets’ asymmetry and liveliness.
Hm… maybe lyricists should try writing English songs in French first ^_^
You have to admire her dedication (even if not the legs apparently!). I give in… I think i am adding it to my Gym work out list… Its just a bit random, or out of rhythem, or too much or something for me actually to love the song or listen to it a few times, it confuses me if im honest… So i dont enjoy it as much as i could if it wasnt so much thinking if the songs fits as i want it too or it should. Im not even sure i understand that last scentence… SEE… She… Read more »
She will keep it in frenglish for eurovision. This english version is only for her international version of her re-released album.
Keep it in franglais!!! The rhythm is all off in English!!
This song has to stay in Frenglish!
Great lyrics, the story of this song completing each other with the french one.
I think Anggun herself write down this lyric.
I actually find it more full-bodied than the French version. True the couplet you mentioned is a bit off, but it’s still good. It’s a proper hit, I hope it will be! A summer hit on lock.
Cool song, easy listening and full spirit, bravo!