LÄNGTANS SÅNG

Abstract

This essay aims to describe the process of translating songs from Russian langu- age to Swedish, from my perspective as both translator and singer. A selection of songs that span over the period 1969–2020, from a variety of popular genres, are presented and discussed. Depicting the journey from impulse to recording, trans- lation challenges such as rhythm and rhyme, cultural references, interpretation and preservation of deliberate vagueness are dealt with, in addition to humming as a crucial part of song translation, and the performance as the final deciding factor. My personal driving forces for translation and cultural mediation, namely passion, longing, and friendship are central themes. Finally, the essay breaches upon the impact of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 on my translation activity and my desire to present Russian songs to a Swedish audience.