
This translation of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked sung by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande aims for a natural-sounding Spanish while capturing the emotional weight and nuance of the original English lyrics. The translator's choices reveal a focus on:
Maintaining the dramatic flow: The translation doesn't just swap words; it keeps the rhythm and pacing of the song as close as possible. This is crucial for preserving the impact of the musical numbers. The use of parallel sentence structures (e.g., repeated phrases like "Espero que estés satisfecha") enhances this.
Accuracy in conveying meaning: While poetic license is used (as is necessary in translation), the core message—Elphaba's defiance, Glinda's concern, the conflict between them, and Elphaba's ultimate embrace of independence—remains intact. The translator effectively captures the subtle shifts in tone between the spoken and sung sections.
Capturing the character voices: The translator understands the distinct personalities of Elphaba and Glinda and reflects their different viewpoints in the word choices and sentence structure. Glinda's lines often sound more conciliatory and worried, while Elphaba's are more determined and rebellious.
Cultural appropriateness: The language used is modern Spanish, easily understood by a wide audience. The translator avoids overly formal or archaic language that might sound unnatural or disconnect the listener from the emotion of the song.
Handling idiomatic expressions: Translating idioms directly is often impossible. The translator finds Spanish equivalents that convey the same meaning and emotional impact. For example, the translation of phrases like "defying gravity" is handled cleverly, maintaining the powerful imagery. The choice of "ilimitada" (unlimited) also successfully captures the feeling of boundless freedom.
In essence, the translator didn't just create a literal word-for-word translation. Instead, they acted as a skilled interpreter, conveying the essence of the song's emotional arc and the characters' internal struggles in a way that resonates with a Spanish-speaking audience. The success lies in its faithfulness to the spirit, not just the letter, of the original.