Apologies for the punny title (which translates as ‘The World of Mondegreens’)- you know I can’t resist a punny title, especially when it gives me a chance to show off my remedial French.
So for those who don’t know, a mondegreen is essentially a misheard lyric. Here are some I’ve got going on recently.
Havana by Camila Cabello: In which the word ‘Havana’ is replaced by ‘Banana’.
Original: Havana, ooh na-na (ay)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ay)
There’s somethin’ ’bout his manners (uh huh)
Havana, ooh na-na (uh)
(Thanks for the lyrics, google).
Translation: Banana, ooh na-na (ay)
Half of my heart is in Banana, ooh-na-na (ay, ay)
He took me back to East Banana, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Banana (ay)
There’s somethin’ ’bout Bananas (uh huh)
Banana, ooh na-na (uh)
Les Etoiles by Melody Gardot: Being already a pretty big MG fan (Shout out to the soignee yet depressive ‘Burying My Troubles’) I was primed. And then I got to Paris.
That’s right, Les Etoiles became Les Epaules, or ‘the shoulders’. But not in a sexy way, but in a ‘the French eat shoulders’ kind of way.
Cocaine by Eric Clapton: PLANTAINS!
Someone get me a lobotomy…
List Mimsy 