Friday 21 September 2012

Perfect Subtitles



This week Libdems struggled to explain Nick Clegg's apology over his tuition fees policy.  Paddy Ashdown's radio interview was particularly excruciating to witness.

According to the Telegraph Mr Clegg and his allies believe that the statement might give him a chance to start reconstructing his public image.

It was my intention to criticise his speech but my efforts would not surpass those of the subtitle writer who has accurately translated for me.

13 comments:

JRB said...

Throughout my three score years and five, I have always been surrounded by the companionship of pets.

Each little charming cuddly creature has been the source of much joy, amusement and occasional tears.
But there comes a moment when the passage of time stands against it; when its mental faculties begin to fade and it looses control of its actions.
It is then, that deep within your heart of hearts you realise that the time has come to say goodbye. That the final kindness you can do for your charming cuddly little friend is to put it out of its misery.

That time has come for Mr Clegg.

I just hope that someone at the forthcoming LibDem conference will do him the ultimate kindness and have him humanely removed.

(re videos – the singing version is also fun - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDjRZ30SNo&noredirect=1)

Macheath said...

For extra amusement, try watching the Lib Dem party election broadcast on youtube with the audio transcript on (icon at the bottom left of the screen).

I can't work out whether it's a deliberate act of sabotage or simple run-of-the-mill transcription errors, but the result is well worth the effort.

Macheath said...

Sorry; link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTLR8R9JXz4&feature=player_embedded

Incidentally you might like to keep an eye out for the man who walks past Clegg twice (1.13 and 1.18) - economising on extras, perhaps.

Macheath said...

Sorry - link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTLR8R9JXz4&feature=player_embedded

The transcript has been improved since then (sort of) but I still have some of the original version in a post here:

http://newgatenews.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/nick-cleggs-adventures-in-poetry.html

subrosa said...

Many thanks for the links MacHeath. I love the input to the video 'buy English clothes'. Did you see it? Superb.

Macheath said...

I liked the bit just before that, where 'we can pay for fairer taxes' becomes 'we can pray for fair taxes', which, on balance, actually seems more likely.

There's also an interesting moment where the same man walks past Clegg twice in quick succession (1.13 and 1.18), suggesting they were rather short of extras.

J. R. Tomlin said...

Great translation! I've been a bit caught up in US politics lately, bemused by Mitt Romney calling half the US population lazy scroungers. Why it made me feel like a Scot! ;)

Did I ever mention the term "anorak" was invented for me personally? I'm like a double or maybe triple anorak! Go me. LOL

subrosa said...

Aye indeed Macheath I noticed that too.

I must admit I didn't see the 'accessory' and will view it again. Have sent the link to a reluctant libdem voter to see if I can convert her to seeing sense about independence. :)

subrosa said...

Jings Jeanne, I've regarded you as an adopted Scot for a while. :)

Anorak? I wear nothing else. (I get your meaning though).

Macheath said...

Re anoraks - I don't make a habit of that sort of thing, but PEBs are fraught with explicit symbolism and expressly designed to be deconstructed, just as a group of spin doctors (or, more likely a focus group) will have decided on location, attire and tone for Nick Clegg's apology.

Macheath said...

PS, Comments are rubish for conveying tone of voice; I do have a sense of humour too, honestly! :-)

J. R. Tomlin said...

Thank you kindly, Subrosa. I am happy to be adopted by such great people!

subrosa said...

A pleasure Jeanne. Do hope you also had a look at Macheath's link.

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