I am J.R.R. Tolkien

The above statement is (unfortunately) a hyperbole, I have to admit.  I am in fact, only Anne Hobson of many colors, a wizard(ess?).  However, in the context of Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, we are all "God" [THOU ART GOD!] and seeing as Tolkien is the equivalent of a "God" figure in my reality then, by transitive property of overextended logic, I AM J.R.R Tolkein.

The reason for making such a wild claim is as follows:  I made up my own language.  For my end of the year arabic project, I chose to translate "I Want it That Way" by the Backstreet Boys into colloquial Levantine Arabic and perform it to the program.  I chose this culturally insensitive song because I view world-famed American pop and rock songs and bad dancing as their own separate international languages that I am conveniently fluent in.  Tomorrow will consist of bad dancing, American  pop gone Arab and me dressed up like a Backstreet Boy--or what I have imagined one to dress up like.  In other words, I will be wearing a suit with shades--a visage somewhere between James Bond and the Blues Brothers.  This is my tryout for Arab's Got Talent.  Who knows, I may even break out some oriental dance moves. The completion of this project signifies that I know "I Want It that Way" in 3 different languages (Sparabic), and this must mean I am fluent, right State Department?  The following is a compilation written in "Anne", which is mostly a failed attempt at transliterating arabic into english.  Enjoy... and if you wish to sing along, here is a standard quality karaoke version with some random men as back up singers.

Arabic Transliteration:

AYWAA

 YEAHH

Inti nari

You are my fire

Raghbatee waheedah

 My only desire

Sadoghnee lema baghool

 Believe me when I say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

 I want it that way

Bis ehna AAlmeen bAeedan

But we are two worlds apart

Ma booSal ala galbkee

I'm not reaching to your heart

Lema bTgoolee

When you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

 I want it that way

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes booejA galbee

This is only a heart ache

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes      ghelDatee

This is only a mistake

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Ma bidi basmAa bTqoolee

I don't want to hear you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

I want it that way

Inti nari

 You are my fire

Raghbatee waheedah

My one desire

Aywa, bArif taakhr al wacht

Yes I know the time is gone

Bis Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

But I want it that way

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes booejA galbee

This is only a heart ache

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes      ghelDatee

This is only a mistake

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Ma bidi basmAa bTqoolee

I don't want to hear you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

I want it that way

Hella bashoof bnurkud bAeed

Now I see that we are running away

Min alTareekat kaanaa abul  AYWAA

From the way that it was before, YEAAA

Almasaaafeh mish mohima

The distance is not important

Bidi agool

I want to say

Inti jowa galbee

You are inside my heart

Inti nari

You are my fire

Raghhbatee waheedah

My only desire

Inti, inti, inti, inti

You are, you are, you are, you are

Ma bidi asmAlik

I don't want to hear you...

Hada bes booejA galbee

This is only a heart ache

Hada bes      ghelDatee

This is only a mistake

Ma bidi bsmAA bTqoolee

I don't want to hear you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

I want it that way

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes booejA galbee

This is only a heart ache

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes      ghelDatee

This is only a mistake

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Ma bidi basmAa bTqoolee

I don't want to hear you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

I want it that way

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes booejA galbee

This is only a heart ache

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Hada bes      ghelDatee

This is only a mistake

Koolle laesh

Tell me why

Ma bidi basmAa bTqoolee abedon

I never want to hear you say

Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

I want it that way

Li anee Bidi aeesh ala kaefee

 Cuz I want it that way

THIS IS THE ARABIC VERSION I CAME UP WITH...

بدي اعيش على كيفي

إنت ناري
رغبتي و احدة

صدقني لما بقول
بدي اعيش على كيفي

باس إحنا عالمين بعيدين
ما بوصل على قلبك
لما بتقولي
بدي اعيش على كيفي

قولي ليش
هده باس بوجى قلبي
قولي ليش
هده باس غلظتي

قولي ليش
ما بدي اسمع بتقولي
بدي اعيش على كيفي

إنت ناري
رغبتي و احدة
أيوا, بعرف تأخر الوقت
باس بدي اعيش على كيفي

 قولي ليش
هده باس بوجى قلبي
قولي ليش
هده باس غلظتيقالي ليش
ما بدي اسمع بتقولي
بدي اعيش على كيفي

هلأا بشوف بنركض بعيد
من الطريقة كانا ئبل
المسافة مش مهمه
بدي اقول
إنتي جوا قلبي

إنت ناري
رغبتي و احدة
إنت, إنت, إنت, إنت

ما بدي اسمع

هده باس بوجى قلبي

هده باس غلظتي

ما بدي اسمع بتقولي

بدي اعيش على كيفي

قولي ليش

هده باس بوجى قلبي
قولي ليش
هده باس غلظتي

قولي ليش
ما بدي اسمع بتقولي

بدي اعيش على كيفي

 

قولي ليش

هده باس بوجى قلبي
قولي ليش
هده باس غلظتي

قالي ليش ما بدي اسمع ابدأ
بدي اعيش على كيفي

لأنني بدي اعيش على كيفي

I did my best to preserve the meaning (because this song is saturated with quality meaningful lyrics :/ ) rather than do a word-for-word translation.  This required me to change the original lyrics.  For example "(you are) deep down inside of me" became "you are inside my heart" and "now I can see that we're falling apart from the way that it used to be" became "now I see we are running away from the way that it was before".   Insha'Allah I will break a leg tomorrow.