Robert H. from GARLAND, TX Reviewed on 3/6/2022...
Great EP with alternate versions of LP tracks.
CD Reviews
OK, his Spanish isn't perfect, but the album's still great
Jennifer Stevens | Richmond, VA USA | 11/25/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this years ago on cassette and more or less wore it out. To this day, I enjoy the Spanish version of "Fragile" more than his English version.I agree with some others that Sting's delivery in Spanish leaves something to be desired. But it ain't all THAT bad, particularly for someone who's not a native speaker. The purists will always be irritated by it. But I happen to enjoy listening to Sting sing in Spanish because I can understand the lyrics better. He annunciates each word more so than a native Spanish speaker would.Melodically, some of the songs sound like they were made to be sung in Spanish. Listening to "Fragil/Fragilidad," with its delicate guitar, I can almost imagine the Spanish countryside. And it goes without saying that "Ellas Danzan Solas (Cuecas Solas)" is awesome in the language of the people about whom Sting is singing. Also, having lived in Chile for two years myself, this song is particularly moving; even though the dictatorship is long over, its residual effects are still ever-present.I just wish Sting had left off "Si Estamos Juntos" ("We'll Be Together") -- it sounds misplaced among the other songs. I would've much preferred "History Will Teach Us Nothing" or even "Be Still My Beating Heart."P.S. Contrary to what another reviewer said, "danzar" IS a word in Spanish, a synonym for "bailar". I suspect this word was used as it probably sounds better lyrically than "bailar" does, even if it is less commonly used."
From those who Spanish is our first language...
Victor H. Sanchez | New York | 10/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is clear to me that what Sting wanted to do, translating some of the songs of "Nothing but the Sun" (just 5 to be precise, and Fragile is translated in both Spanish and Portuguese), was to give an opportunity, to those who don't speak English, to experience what the album is all about. The translations are as literal as possible, which could be a good or bad thing. Good for the people who, for example, have NBTS and love the melodies, but don't understand bologna of what he's saying. Bad for people like me, who know the language (sort of...) and wanted something new. Either way, I have to admit that S. really obtained exactly what he wanted from the album (from what I see). And last but not least, who is this guy who wrote that "Danzar" doesn't exist in Spanish? I just wanted to give him an advice:
Don't talk about things you don't know about!!! Thanx"
Danzar is a word
09/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To "a music fan from virginia", the word "danzar" is a spanish word that can be found in any spanish diccionary. Danzar means "to dance", and a fine dancer would be "Danzador/Danzadora".
Bailar also means Dance, but in a more informal way."
Touching
Oswald Muerner | Bern, Schweiz | 01/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Four Spanish versions and one Portuguese Version of songs of the album ?... Nothing Like The Sun". The translation seems to be worked out well. The songs are personal, sensitive and touching. The voice of Sting is not only in English unique."