Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
soberano (in this context)
English translation:
(but) they call the tune / they're in charge
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Jul 15, 2013 20:13
10 yrs ago
4 viewers *
Spanish term
soberano (in this context)
Spanish to English
Other
Music
Hi everyone,
This is taken from an interview with a dramatic performer who works in a popular, cabaret-style Spanish nightspot:
Interviewer: ¿El elenco de artistas en el 'club ABC' siempre es el mismo o varía cada año?
Interviewee: Casi siempre se quedan las personas que el director ve conveniente.
Interviewer: ¿Cómo es el público del 'club ABC'? ¿Receptivo? ¿Difícil?
Interviewee: Yo lo veo un público receptivo, pero soberano.
Él tiene el derecho a elegir, y además así se plantea, porque no se termina de cocer un número hasta que no se ve la respuesta que recibe.
Does 'soberano' here convey the idea that the audience members are independent, and free to make up their own minds about the show?
All help is greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Jack
This is taken from an interview with a dramatic performer who works in a popular, cabaret-style Spanish nightspot:
Interviewer: ¿El elenco de artistas en el 'club ABC' siempre es el mismo o varía cada año?
Interviewee: Casi siempre se quedan las personas que el director ve conveniente.
Interviewer: ¿Cómo es el público del 'club ABC'? ¿Receptivo? ¿Difícil?
Interviewee: Yo lo veo un público receptivo, pero soberano.
Él tiene el derecho a elegir, y además así se plantea, porque no se termina de cocer un número hasta que no se ve la respuesta que recibe.
Does 'soberano' here convey the idea that the audience members are independent, and free to make up their own minds about the show?
All help is greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Jack
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +5 | (but) they call the tune / they're in charge | Charles Davis |
4 +1 | independent-minded | George Rabel |
4 +1 | knows what's what / fussy / demanding | Noni Gilbert Riley |
Change log
Jul 23, 2013 08:18: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+5
39 mins
Selected
(but) they call the tune / they're in charge
I think "soberano", applied to an audience, means this: they're the boss. The audience is king. You can actually say the audience is sovereign. Look at all these results:
https://www.google.es/search?num=100&q="audience is king"&oq...
https://www.google.es/search?num=100&q="audience is sovereig...
I wouldn't use those here, though "they're king" is a possibility. But rather than independent (not influenced by the views of others), I think the idea is that that they hold and exercise supreme power.
I would be rather inclined to say "they call the tune", as in the saying "he who pays the piper calls the tune", as it is a set phrase with the right meaning but also carries an element of wordplay: if the audience doesn't like a tune, they don't play/sing it.
Here's a reference which points towards the meaning I'm suggesting:
"El público soberano
No debería asombrarnos que el público mande. Ha ocurrido siempre aunque no con la rapidez y el alcance de la actualidad. Primero fueron los emperadores en el circo. Los espectadores, con sus aplausos y gritos, salvaban la vida de los gladiadores [...]"
http://lector.kioskoymas.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
https://www.google.es/search?num=100&q="audience is king"&oq...
https://www.google.es/search?num=100&q="audience is sovereig...
I wouldn't use those here, though "they're king" is a possibility. But rather than independent (not influenced by the views of others), I think the idea is that that they hold and exercise supreme power.
I would be rather inclined to say "they call the tune", as in the saying "he who pays the piper calls the tune", as it is a set phrase with the right meaning but also carries an element of wordplay: if the audience doesn't like a tune, they don't play/sing it.
Here's a reference which points towards the meaning I'm suggesting:
"El público soberano
No debería asombrarnos que el público mande. Ha ocurrido siempre aunque no con la rapidez y el alcance de la actualidad. Primero fueron los emperadores en el circo. Los espectadores, con sus aplausos y gritos, salvaban la vida de los gladiadores [...]"
http://lector.kioskoymas.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "What an inspired answer. Thanks so much, Charles. "
+1
3 mins
independent-minded
They will not react kindly to performances that fall below their expectations
+1
39 mins
knows what's what / fussy / demanding
An audience of capable recognising quality when they see it, not ready to put up with any old performance.
They may even be rather demanding, not just knowledgeable but also not willing to take underpar performances.
They may even be rather demanding, not just knowledgeable but also not willing to take underpar performances.
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