Elisapie - Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)
from: inuktitut, 2023
In a distant land, known as ‘le grand nord’ here in Quebec, Elisapie Isaac grew up in Salluit, Nunavik. While as remote from western world as one can be, rock and roll made the long voyage to her small village and was salve to a tough and often unjust world.
For her new album Inukitut, Elisapie recalls and interprets ten formative rock classics translated into her native Inuktitut. I hear both the innocence and trauma of her teenage years in these surprising and delicate re-tellings. Rather than covering these familiar songs, she uncovers alternate voices and sounds that I could not have imagined.
Start with Uummati Attanarsimat (Blondie’s Heart of Glass), but don’t stop there.
Thanks to Danielle Sauvé for alerting me to this amazing artist.
-Bill Boehm-
“Nallinivu alianalaurmat
Uummati attanarsimat
Piujuq taannalariujuritsugut
Qaujijara nalliniirurtuq
Nallinivu atjiqarani
Isumatsianarunnaisuni
Taannaujuritsugu tautunnanga
Naammangimmat nalliniirurma
Tagali
Qaujijunga qanuilanganginama
Nalunaluarmali taqanarsimat
Asiujinianguunirlu piujuugani
Pinguaqarasugavit
Nallinivu alianalaurmat
Uummati attanarsimat
Piujuq taannalariujuritsugut
Qaujijara nalliniirurtuq
Asiupaa
Pinguarigavinga ijiqqajairama
Aturavinga tamaungainaartisarnanga
Ingirraurarunnasunu aah
Nallinivu alianalaurmat
Sunauvva piulangangilaq
Piujuq taannalariujuritsugu
Qaujijara nalliniirurtuq
Tagali
Qaujijunga qanuilanganginama
Nalunaluarmali taqanarsimat
Asiujinianguunirlu piujuugani
Pinguaqarasugavit”
“Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind
Once I had a love and it was divine
Soon found out I was losing my mind
It seemed like the real thing, but I was so blind
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind
In between
What I find is pleasing and I’m feeling fine
Love is so confusing there’s no peace of mind
If I fear I’m losing you. it’s just no good
You teasing like you do
Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind
Lost inside
Adorable illusion and I cannot hide
I’m the one you’re using, please don’t push me aside
We coulda made it cruising, yeah
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Yeah, riding high on love’s true bluish light
Ooh, oh, ooh, oh
Ooh, oh, ooh, oh
Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing only to find
Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind
In between
What I find is pleasing and I’m feeling fine
Love is so confusing there’s no peace of mind
If I fear I’m losing you it’s just no good
You teasing like you do
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, da, da, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
”