# Is Batman Singing In Tagalog? And Can Anybody Translate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 25, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847 "2016-09-25T18:13:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/1 "2016-09-25T18:13:17Z")

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Warning- This video contains Batman, Robin, Penguin, and the Joker singing in what I assume is Tagalog. Once seen, it cannot be unseen

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jd_AZuBjEIw/hqdefault.jpg "Bizarre Filipino Batman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd_AZuBjEIw)

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/2 "2016-09-25T19:54:49Z")

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I thought this would be easy. The song is “Let’s go to the hop”, so plugging that into Google Translate …

What? I don’t see Tagalog listed. Hmmm.

I tried translating into Spanish and that didn’t match the chorus at all.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/3 "2016-09-25T20:08:35Z")

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That’s not really Batman.

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/4 "2016-09-25T20:27:11Z")

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It seems to be a clip from “Alyas Batman en Robin”

Here’s the trailer:

  
The trailer shifts back and forth between Tagalog and English. The songs seem to be in Tagalog, with a lot of words borrowed from English.

Looks like an entertainingly bizarre film.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/5 "2016-09-25T21:26:28Z")

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**Moderator Action**

Film and music? Let’s send this over to Cafe Society (from GQ).

And let me echo the warning in the OP. What is seen cannot be unseen. 😛

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/6 "2016-09-25T22:14:00Z")

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It’s an exhortation to bad guys to turn over a new leaf and be good. Yes, even the “Joker” is singing that. No, it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense even if you do understand it.

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**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/7 "2016-09-25T22:26:32Z")

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I was struck by the number of people listed in the credits. Certainly no one could criticize the filmmakers as being reluctant to acknowledge contributions to the finished work!

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/8 "2016-09-25T22:49:32Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> I thought this would be easy. The song is “Let’s go to the hop”, so plugging that into Google Translate …
> 
> What? I don’t see Tagalog listed. Hmmm.
> 
> I tried translating into Spanish and that didn’t match the chorus at all.

Tagalog is listed as Filipino, it’s alternate name.

Here’s “Let’s go to the hop” in Filipino.

> [@](#):
>
> \*Well, maaari mong rock ito maaari mong gumulong ito  
> Maaari mong itigil at maaari mong maglakad-lakad ito sa hop  
> Kapag ang record ay nagsisimula spinnin ’  
> sumayaw sa iyo kapag ikaw manok sa hop  
> Gawin ang dance sensation na sweepin 'sa bansa sa hop
> 
> Sabihin pumunta sa hop  
> Sabihin pumunta sa hop (oh baby)  
> Sabihin pumunta sa hop (oh baby)  
> Sabihin pumunta sa hop
> 
> Halika sa, sabihin pumunta sa hop  
> Well, maaari mong ugoy ito maaari kang mag-ukit ito  
> Maaari mong talagang simulan upang ilipat ito sa hop  
> Saan ang jockey ay ang smoothest  
> At ang musika ay ang pinaka-cool na sa hop  
> Ang lahat ng mga cats at chicks maaaring makakuha ng kanilang mga kicks sa hop  
> Sabihin pumunta!\*

I hope this helps.🙂

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/9 "2016-09-25T23:16:47Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> Tagalog is listed as Filipino, it’s alternate name.
> 
> Here’s “Let’s go to the hop” in Filipino.
> 
> I hope this helps.🙂

Informative, except that’s not what they’re singing. See my previous post. I’m not motivated enough to sit through the video again to do a transcription.

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/10 "2016-09-25T23:40:17Z")

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> [@mbh](#):
>
> It seems to be a clip from “Alyas Batman en Robin”
> 
> Here’s the trailer:
> 
>   
> The trailer shifts back and forth between Tagalog and English. The songs seem to be in Tagalog, with a lot of words borrowed from English.
> 
> Looks like an entertainingly bizarre film.

The end movie can not possibly live up to that trailer.

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/11 "2016-09-26T00:05:04Z")

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Yeah, I can understand a lot of what they’re saying, so it must be some sort of Creole or Pidgin language. Either that, or their English is just really, \*really \*accented!

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**Author:** ![Chimonger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@Chimonger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimonger)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/12 "2016-09-26T00:08:07Z")

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Watching the whole video, seems most superheroes are there, including a dwarf Spidy.  
Filipino language is Tagalog, I think.  
I don’t speak it, but with the sprinkles of English, it’s pretty clear they have written their own lyrics for their event, fitted to popular tunes [At The Hop, and, Surfin’ Safari]; the original lyrics are not used at all.  
Even not understanding the lyrics, it’s all great fun; probably even funnier if we could get a good translation in the description. 😃 …I needed some innocent humor today!

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/13 "2016-09-26T00:59:27Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> Yeah, I can understand a lot of what they’re saying, so it must be some sort of Creole or Pidgin language. Either that, or their English is just really, \*really \*accented!

It’s Filipino (Tagalog) combined with lines in straight English, about 50/50.

> [@Chimonger](#):
>
> Even not understanding the lyrics, it’s all great fun; probably even funnier if we could get a good translation in the description. 😃 …I needed some innocent humor today!

I’m sure the lyrics in your head are better than what they’re actually singing.

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**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/14 "2016-09-26T04:07:26Z")

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Sorry for the delay.

I realize they are singing to the tune of To The Hop. But those of you suggesting they are just singing To The Hop in another language are wrong. So very, very wrong. The line “Let’s be afraid of G-d!” does not appear in To The Hop.

To those who say “That is not Batman!”, I say he’s a better Batman than Clooney ever was.  
Finally, to those who say

> [@](#):
>
> I’m sure the lyrics in your head are better than what they’re actually singing.

Possibly- but I want a translation!

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/15 "2016-09-26T04:18:40Z")

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Here is a pretty faithful translation:

:D:D

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/16 "2016-09-26T11:07:21Z")

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In the interests of fighting ignorance (and I was sufficiently bored), here’s a transcription of the lyrics along with their translation, if they weren’t in English:

> [@](#):
>
> Kung kayo’y isang salbahe - _If you’re a villain_\*  
> and you are so very naughty  
> You dirty rat  
> (You very dirty rat)
> 
> Pwede ba kayong magbago - _You can still change_  
> at hindi pa nahuhuli ang lahat - _It’s not too late_
> 
> Let us (Unintelligible) kumpare\*\*  
> what the world needs now is love, you rat
> 
> Let’s be good na brad\*\*\*  
> Let us not be bad  
> Let’s be good na pards\*\*\*\*  
> Let’s be afraid of God  
> Aah, let’s believe in love
> 
> Kung kayo’y may kasalanan - _If you have sinned_  
> madalas magwala at magkalat - _often lost control and thrown things about_  
> Ang dali-daling magsori - _It’s easy to say, “I’m sorry”_  
> at ang feeling pagkatapos ang sarap - _And you’ll feel great afterward_

The rest of the lyrics repeat what was already sung.

\*Literally, savage but villain works better in context  
\*\*From Spanish compadre, friend or companion  
\*\*\*From English brother  
\*\*\*\*Also from Spanish compadre

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**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/17 "2016-09-26T16:31:02Z")

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> [@Terminus\_Est](#):
>
> It’s Filipino (Tagalog) combined with lines in straight English, about 50/50.

Colloquially known as “taglish”. My wife likes to watch Filipino movies. They range from maybe 90% Filipino / 10% English to about 50/50, sometimes changing languages mid-paragraph. The Filipino papers I see here in the US do the same. Mostly Filipino, with some English mixed in. From my time visiting, I’d say most speech is about 80/20 in Manila (and even more Filipino or local dialects in the provinces), though most will be able to have an English conversation…some better than others.

Constitutionally, Filipino is the official language of the Philippines. English is also considered a national language, as was once Spanish. Filipino, for all intents and purposes, is tagalog rechristened, though there are many influences from the many other languages and dialects spoken throughout the Philippine Islands. Tagalogs are a distinct ethnic group in the Philippines, the largest I think. Officially, they wanted a distinct name for the language, separate from the ethnic group.

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/18 "2016-09-26T19:11:41Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> That’s not really Batman.

Someone put Jean Paul Valley in a movie?!

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**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/19 "2016-09-28T02:44:50Z")

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Thank you **Terminus Est**!

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-batman-singing-in-tagalog-and-can-anybody-translate/766847/20 "2016-09-28T10:12:03Z")

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Did the lyrics live up to your expectations?

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