Emre Aydın won MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 very recently with one of his favorite song, Afili Yalnızlık (Swaggering Loneliness, Ostentatious Loneliness). Word of ‘afili’ was renown with this song in Turkish, so it’s been hard to use single meaning of the word to express what it really means in Turkish context.

Afili English:
1. swaggering. showy. flashy. swanky /hkr.
2. ostentatious, showy, pretentious; bombastic, pompous; garish. swaggering, showy, flashy, swanky /hkr. slang swaggering, ostentatious, showy.

I would consider the song itself very hard to translate english with lots of metaphor and tough feelings. I’ve seen other translations on other forums for Emre Aydın Afili Yalnızlık song but I didn’t quite get the meaning from translations. Living in states for quite awhile, I think I translated somewhat better and closer to the original meaning.

You’ll find english translation and turkish original side by side.

Emre Aydın Afili Yalnızlık English Translation

I wish, I could die, I could die, I could die, right at this moment (Ölsem, ölsem, ölsem… hemen şimdi)
I wish, I could run away, I could go, I could run away, now would be the best ever (Kaçsam, gitsem, kaçsam… tam da şimdi )

Loneliness is so deep this time (Bu kez pek bir afili yalnızlık)
Full with hatred as much as a deceiving woman would have (Aldatan bir kadın kadar düşman)
Besides, with full of curses this time, doesn’t leave without pain (Ağzı bozuk üstelik… bırakmıyor acıtmadan)
Full with hatred as much as a crying woman would have (Ağlayan bir kadın kadar düşman)
Lots of traps this time (Tuzaklar kurmuş üstelik)
Doesn’t leave without pain (Bırakmıyor acıtmadan)

I’m diminishing with every breathe (Bitiyorum her nefeste)
I’ve seen it all (Ne halim varsa gördüm)
I ran after so much, exhausted now (Çok koştum, çok yoruldum)
Now, I faded away too. (Ve şimdi ben de düştüm…)

I cursed, I cursed, I cursed at world (Sövdüm, sövdüm, sövdüm… ben dünyaya)
Cursed at sorrows, streets, belonging to someone, people (Acılara, sokaklara, ait olmaya, insanlara)

Loneliness is so deep this time (Bu kez pek bir afili yalnızlık)
Full with hatred as much as a deceiving woman would have (Aldatan bir kadın kadar düşman)
Besides, with full of curses this time, doesn’t leave without pain (Ağzı bozuk üstelik… bırakmıyor acıtmadan)
Full with hatred as much as a crying woman would have (Ağlayan bir kadın kadar düşman)
Lots of traps this time (Tuzaklar kurmuş üstelik)
Doesn’t leave without pain (Bırakmıyor acıtmadan)

I’m diminishing with every breathe (Bitiyorum her nefeste)
I’ve seen it all (Ne halim varsa gördüm)
I ran after so much, exhausted now (Çok koştum, çok yoruldum)
Now, I faded away too. (Ve şimdi ben de düştüm…)

It wouln’t worth to strive at all (Değmezmiş hiç uğraşmaya)
No strength left in me to strive and strive (Bu kez mecalim yok hiç dayanmaya… dayanmaya…)

I’m diminishing with every breathe (Bitiyorum her nefeste)
I’ve seen it all (Ne halim varsa gördüm)
I ran after so much, exhausted now (Çok koştum, çok yoruldum)
Now, I faded away too. (Ve şimdi ben de düştüm…)

Emre Aydın – MTV Live Performance 2008

MTV Europe’s Favourite Act of 2008 – Emre Aydın