26 Sep 2009
Women who love women
One of my favourite songs was released by the Spanish group Mecano in late 1988. In spite of threats by the Catholic Church to excommunicate members of the group, and attempts to ban the song in several South American countries, Mujer contra mujer went on to be a big hit in all Spanish speaking territories. A French version of the song topped the French charts for seven weeks in 1990 and the Italian version also did very well .
This song was so groundbreaking because it took a social taboo and smashed it into little pieces. The song dealt the special love between two gay women. Originally written as a love story between a man and a woman in 1985, the composer decided to completely overhaul the lyrics and dedicate the song to a group of people he felt were very underrepresented in Spanish society - lesbians.
I dedicate this song to all lesbians and lovers of lesbians. I hope you like it. The translation is my own and it is a liberal translation in parts so that the words fit the music.
You can see the video (banned in the Dominican Republic for hinting at homosexuality) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBzwGW-3k&feature=PlayList&p=FEF5DCE0F2233C85&index=0&playnext=1
Women who love women
What’s so special about them?
Just two women holding hands together
Later on it becomes clear
When they do it underneath the tablecloth
When in private, with nothing left to lose,
Touching, feeling, their hands are free to choose
A love that they have to hide
Although naked, there's nowhere to hide it.
They pretend to be just friends
When they go out for a walk around the town
One of them thinks the deception is wrong
The other feels: "We have to play along".
And what outsiders think is neither here nor there.
Who can stop doves from soaring and diving
From coming in to land together?
Women who love women.
It's not really up to me
To be the one who throws the first stone at them
In the wrong place and wrong time,
If I found their lips locked in the living room
I don’t think I would even dare to cough
If it shocks me, they’re better off alone.
And one by one, they’ll turn my stones into a wall.
Who can stop doves from soaring and diving
From coming in to land together?
Women who love women.
One of them thinks that hiding it is wrong
The other feels: "We have to play along".
And what outsiders think is neither here nor there
Who can stop doves from soaring and diving
From coming in to land together?
Women who love women.
Who can stop doves from soaring and diving
From coming in to land together
Women who love women.