英语名人堂：席琳·迪翁

席琳·迪翁（Celine Dion），1968年3月30日生于加拿大魁北克省，加拿大歌手。

1980年，12岁的席琳·迪翁步入歌坛，15岁时推出首支法文单曲，1990年，推出首张英文专辑《UNISON》。1996年为美国亚特兰大奥运会演唱了主题曲《The Power of The Dream》。1997年为电影《泰坦尼克号》献唱片尾曲《My Heart Will Go On》，并获得第70届奥斯卡最佳电影歌曲奖。2008年5月22日，席琳·迪翁在巴黎接受法国总统萨科齐亲自颁发的Legion d'Honneur骑士勋章。2013年，席琳·迪翁受央视春晚邀请担任表演嘉宾，与宋祖英合唱中国民曲《茉莉花》；同年发行专辑《Love Me Back To Life》。

 

Celine Dion is a superstar in both French and English. She is one of the most talented and successful artists of her generation. In May 2008, she received France’s highest award, but her beginnings were slightly more humble¹. She was the youngest of 14 children born to poor parents. Music was a key part of family life and her earliest dream was to be famous.

 

When she was eighteen, at a Michael Jackson concert, she decided² she wanted to be a star like him. She needed a change of image and had cosmetic³ and dental surgery. She also had English lessons to polish her accent for singing songs in English. Her English debut⁴, the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought her to the world’s attention.

 

Dion has spent two decades making hit albums in English and sticking to her roots by singing in French. She says she is a French singer who occasionally records in English. Her 1995 release ‘D’eux’ is still the best-selling French album of all time. She continues to perform regularly and is today regarded as one of pop music's most influential⁵ female vocalists.

 

Dion is also a clever businesswoman. She has branched out into different areas to market her name. She started and then sold a successful restaurant franchise⁶. She then signed a profitable deal with perfume giant Coty to release her own line of fragrances⁷. She also supports many charities worldwide. She has achieved her childhood dream and helped countless⁸ people along the way.

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

6 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

7 fragrances   

n.芳香，香味( fragrance的名词复数 )；香水

参考例句：

• The bath oil comes in various fragrances. 这种沐浴油有不同的香味。
• This toilet soap lathers so nicely and has several fragrances. 这种香皂起泡很多，并且有好几种香味。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。