Japan visit - Oct 19, 2011 | Classical-Crossover.co.uk Forums

Japan visit - Oct 19, 2011 Apr 21, 2014 20:10:52 GMT

Post by kari on Apr 21, 2014 20:10:52 GMT

Jackie's visit on TV Show in Japan

Unfortunately the original video has been removed and this video is the only version from the TV show

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from Friday Bridge:
"A mystery of seriously great importance is finally solved! I found an English translation of the "Very Cute" video posted by "Jackie Evancho Fan Channel". That was the video of her visit to the Japanese show "Attorney's Waiting Room", where she eventually sang O Mio Babino Caro to their great surprise.

The following translation was provided by "jetleealt" on YouTube in a series of 29 short posts and includes a number of excellent cultural explanations. The translation was out of order, so I reassembled it for everyone."

Jetleealt wrote:

Hello all. I wrote the translation in the original poster's first video. Of course, he/she edited it and all comments were of course therefore erased as well. Had some free time on my hands and thought I'd post the translation once more. Hope you enjoy.

First, some background is necessary. This is a typical Japanese Variety Show. The guest panel is made up of comedians (the loud ones), actors/models and various other "talento" -- celebrities. Show seems quite frenetic but actually, it's really normal for this kind of variety show. It's tame compared to some actually!

The young host himself is a comedian/actor and the hostess is just a straight presenter. Ok, so when Jackie first comes out, the word you hear repeated over and over is "Kawaii" which means Cute. Japanese are obsessed with ALL things cute. It pervades the whole society with cute mascots and such for virtually everything. So when beautiful young Jackie comes out, they scream that she is soooo CUTE!

The host then tells Jackie that he thought she was a real life fairy/pixie (ala Tinkerbell, etc.) because she is so cute. A panel member then agrees and says, "She's a REAL fairy/pixie!!" Then a comedian screams out "Berry Cute!!".. which is funny to the audience b/c he is attempting to say she's cute in English.

The host then asks if Jackie is nervous being in front of all these people. Jackie replies.

The next bit is REALLY hard to explain.. not lose something in translation. The guy in the glasses and red tie says "Mama yo".. which basically means "momma's here, or if literally translated, "I'm your mommy". Ok, some background is necessary. He is basically a well-known child psychologist and writer of child psychology books. It's well-understood he[ personally leads an alternate life style].... The host then does a great job of moving things along... and everyone laughs.

Then a comedian (in a great transition away from the awkwardness) asks if Jackie has a favorite of all the foods she's tried in Japan. Jackie answers. What she is describing I'm sure is what's called Yakiniku.. which is strips of raw beef you cook yourself and pick and eat right off the grill. Unbelievably delicious. Jackie uses the word "steak" so the Host very funnily says, "Is it possible she's come all the way to Japan and her favorite food here is...... steak?" Everyone laughs because "steak" to Japanese of course means the same thing it does here.. like a thick cut of rib-eye, porterhouse, etc. and is a very, very American food image. So she came all the way from America..and her favorite food in Japan.. is "steak"? Hence the laughter.

Then the comedian on the top right says something really funny. He says, "How about Gyoza no Ooshou".. which is a chain of fast foodish Japanese potsticker restaurants. Really good I can attest.. but ZERO chance that young Jackie would have gone to eat there. It'd be like a if the situation was reversed and some guy asked, "Have you been to Der Weinerschnitzel?" Everybody cracks up and his fellow comedians "hit" him on the arm and tell him to "cut it out, idiot!". The Host then says, "Pinpoint sugimasu" which means, "that's too specific/local/pinpoint fool!" The comedian then says "the Tenshin-han (literally Angel Rice.. no doubt in honor of the angel Jackie) is tasty as hell there!".. and everyone says.. "yeah, yeah.. it is good but.. shut up!". Ha ha.

The host then says, just for your information, though she's only 11 years old, Jackie has had record sales of 30 oku man (roughly $30million). Everyone says "EHHH!!".. which is the basically, What?/Wow!/ rolled into one. The comedian on the upper left then says, "But, you know, it's not about the money..". The host then says, "Yes, I really don't think money is the important thing either".. to which the comedian says to him "But you're the one that brought it up!" To which the host demures incredulously, "Huh... you're saying it was me who brought it up? Wasn't it one of the audience members who brought it up??. haha. Someone says, NO, it wasn't an audience member!

The host then says, "Is it really true that Jackie will do us the honor of singing for us today?" The hostess then says, "Everyone please enjoy Jackie singing the Italian opera song "My Father" for us". The dubbed narrator basically says the same thing as the hostess.

Jackie sings [O Mio Babino Caro, while eyes pop and jaws drop].

Everyone then first says over and over, "wonderful". Then they also say "AMAZING". Interesting but I've seen some comments that see the audience not coming to their feet as a bit rude. Having lived in Japan for 15 years, I never thought that when I first saw this video. Trust me when I say that everyone was overwhelmed/awestruck by Jackie's performance and not rising to their feet had NOTHING to do with impression of the performance. Cultures vary..

Several panel members and the host then say they had goose bumps. The lady then says, "It was an Angel singing!" to which the host says, "It was an Angel singing, said the Japanese Old Maid". I know what you're thinking but this is NOT cruel. She is also a comedian and her "role" in this and many other variety shows is to be the willing butt of jokes. Jackie says thank you to her and she says, "OH.. she looked right at me!" They then get serious for a moment to praise Jackie..

The male comedian says, "The amazing thing is that even though she is only an 11 year old child, she conveys the feeling of love, of loving somebody, so strongly through her singing". The host then asks Jackie if she has some image, some thought that she thinks about when she is singing. Jackie answers. Everyone is super-impressed with her answer. The host says, "wow, god comes down to sing with her".

Including the requisite accompanying sappy music, the "mama" guy with the glasses says if you continue to have such a wonderful outlook on life and take [care] of yourself, your tomorrow, next 5 years, 10 years (your future) will be so wonderful". (It's common for a show like this that has a child psychologist for that show, etc. to give advice to a child that is on the show). He then says, "Wow.. I really like this little girl sooo much". Basically, he's saying she is such a beautiful/wonderful little girl. Then, as the cheesy music funnily, abruptly stops, the female comedian then says, "I think we have all become better people just for having listened to her!".. as everybody laughs at her. In the background, a comedian says, "Yes, yes, I know what you mean!".

The host then says, "Today, for giving us the honor of visiting our show and singing for us, I've bought you this small token of our appreciation. It's a present from you from me, Jackie."

And in the FUNNIEST comment of the day, the comedian says "Yo, yo, it's Angel Rice in there, huh??!!" Everyone cracks up. In the background, you can hear the host, in a funnily fake-p'od voice, say, "NO!.. it isn't!". Jackie says, "Kawaii, Kawaii" in Japanese and the host very graciously compliments her that her Japanese is so good. Note: This is one of the BEST parts about Japan. They are so gracious and kind. They are generous with compliments almost to a fault. If you're able to use chopsticks, they will marvel at how well you use them. And if you know a few words, they'll tell you that you speak Japanese so well. Japan is awesome. Anyway, the host says that the Hello Kitty doll is completely hand-made and custom ordered just for Jackie. She says arigatou gozaimasu and everyone screams "Kawaii" for her having done so. (I think those of you reading this are starting to get a feel of how pervasive "kawaii" is in Japan??) Guests are happy that "She looks so happy. She looks like she really likes it". Comedienne asks, "Does Jackie love the character Hello Kitty?"..

And yet again, a guy says, "she is REALLY cute, isn't she!". A comedian then asks if any family members have come here today with her. When the camera shows her brother, everyone says, "Whoa! What a good looking boy!" The host asks her brother, "When Jackie sings, what do you think, how do you feel?" The female translator says, "it makes him tear up.. in a good way". Everyone is very taken, and a bit surprised by this. The male comedian says, "So cool, soooo cool!".. as he does the tear dropping gesture and the thumbs up. "Have you EVER done anything like that about your brother or sister!!?" Some explanation is necessary here. Japanese are a very, very reserved people. They do NOT show outward displays of emotion or affection readily. So, for a brother to be so open/not shy about how he feels about his sister, is utterly alien for Japanese. It is something they would NEVER do and why he thinks it's so cool and amazing for her brother to be doing that.

After that, some more cultural explanation is necessary. About once a year or so without fail, there is some physical gesture/saying/move/etc. that some actor/comedian/singing group will do that becomes super popular and has the WHOLE country mimicking it. Closest thing here would be.. hmm.. like the Macarena or something like that... except Japanese ones are just a short simple gesture/saying/move and not long there's no rhyme or reason to what becomes the super-hot hit gesture/movement/saying, etc. but most are white-hot popular for a about a year.. and then disappear completely. There are tons of "celebrities" who became famous for their one thing... and virtually disappeared after that. Some others, like this comedian putting his two-fingers to his upper lip with the wide-eyes (his move is called "choppito ne") are not as intensely popular in the short-term.. but are longer-lasting in that they sort of become part of general pop-culture knowledge that EVERYONE knows.

Ok, the show ends with everyone thanking Jackie for coming. The dubbed narrator says that her album "Dream With Me" is on sale now in stores everywhere. Alright everyone, I hope you enjoyed this translation. Have a good one.

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I am not sure if this blog writer has a better quality video copy from the TV show, but those still photos are quite high quality...
Check out video still photos and comments from this blog post:

blog.livedoor.jp/nuruhiro/archives/1155082.html

Photos

livedoor.blogimg.jp/nuruhiro/imgs/3/5/35a86d40.jpg

livedoor.blogimg.jp/nuruhiro/imgs/b/6/b65526cf.jpg

livedoor.blogimg.jp/nuruhiro/imgs/0/6/0655a313.jpg