环球英语 — 284：Middle Eastern Pop Idol

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 2
Have you seen the popular television show, Pop Idol³? It started in Britain, but there are local versions⁴ all over the world. Spotlight even did a program about it!
Voice 3
Who will be the winner? Who will be your next idol?
Voice 2
Young singers performed in front of judges. People watched with excitement. Watchers at home voted for their favourite performer. Judges gave the winner a recording⁵ deal. The singer could produce a CD. Then the public could hear the singer on the radio. Many of the winners became famous.
Voice 1
In other countries the show has developed in a very different way. The shows mix tradition and modern culture! In today’s Spotlight we look at two exciting shows in the Middle East.
Voice 2
The words you are hearing are from a Nabati poem. This way of writing dates back to the fourth century. It is native to the Bedouins - an ancient Arab people group. The Abu Dhabi Authority⁶ for Culture and Heritage⁷ wanted to bring this poetry to the twenty first century. So they launched⁸ ‘Million’s Poet’ - a poetry Pop Idol. International media group Pyramedia Ltd produced the show. Abu Dhabi television first broadcast the show in November, 2006.
Voice 1
Young people travelled across the Arab world to take part. They read their own words - using the Nabati form. They competed for the winning prize of one million [1,000,000] dirma - around two hundred thousand [200,000] dollars! Judges also gave the winner a printed book of their poems. As well as this, the winner’s poems were put into song. The show was a huge success. And so producers decided⁹ to make another series!
Voice 2
Million’s Poet is an interesting mix of tradition and modern culture. The show set looks similar to the western Pop Idol. There are bright lights and tall beautiful presenters¹⁰! But behind this, is tradition and culture. The judges are experts in Nabati poetry. The show is a huge success. Around seventeen million [17,000,000] people watch it. They vote for their favourite poetry reader to win. They send text messages from their mobile¹¹ telephones.
Voice 1
In particular, the show is a huge success among countries in the Arabic Peninsular¹² - countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. These countries have a tradition of writing Nabati poetry. But not all Arabic countries share this tradition. So, the Abu Dhabi Culture Authority launched a second show - ‘Prince of Poets.’
Voice 2
Prince of Poets permits many more Arabic speaking countries to enter. More people know the subject - classical Arabic poetry. Judges consider different kinds of poems. But they must all be in this classical Arabic form. The show is a chance to unite different Arab poets. They meet and perform together in a recording studio in Abu Dhabi.
Voice 1
Prince of Poets and Million’s Poet are both successful shows. The shows appeals to the culture of its watchers. The shows are not copies of the ‘Western’ Pop Idol. One of the show’s producer’s said that this is why shows have failed before. In the past, television producers have tried to use the same shows as in the West. But the interests and culture are very different. So these shows were not a success. The poetry shows use the idea of Pop Idol. But they use it in a way that pleases the Arabic nations. They centre on poetry.
Voice 2
Poetry is an important part of Arabic culture. This way of writing is an art form. It is able to produce deep emotions in its listeners. The winner of the first Prince of Poets series was Abdelkareem Maatouk.
Voice 1
He speaks of the history of his home country, the United Arab Emirates. And he speaks of his love for his country.
Voice 2
Another performer was Rawdha Al Haj. She was the only woman to reach the final. She is from Sudan. Tamim Al Bargouthi was another popular entry. He is Palestinian. He came fifth in the show. But he was the favourite among many in the Arab world. His performance was very exciting. Palestinian newspapers reported unity¹³ among two opposing Palestinian political groups Fatah and Hamas. Their television stations encouraged people to vote for Tamin. Tamin’s most popular poem is ‘In Jerusalem.’ It tells of a day he spent there. It talks about the beautiful history of the city. And it tells of his sadness that the holy place is divided. He talks about his forgotten people. And he shares his personal opinion of the situation.
Voice 3
‘Oh you history writer what happened to not include us?
You old man, read again, write again, mistakes you have made.
You, crying behind the wall, foolish you are!
Your Arab eyes should not cry. You should know that in the holy city, all people are in the holy city.
But I see nobody there - except you.’
Voice 1
The poetry shows of the Middle East seem a long way from the first, British Pop Idol. This centred on being famous and having riches. In the Middle East, poetry writers have used the show to express their deepest feelings about their home country, land and people. With beautiful words they sing or write of their history and culture. They tell of their hopes and desires for future change. They use their words to make people think, question, hope - dream. The poetry shows of the Middle East will encourage people in other countries. They may see that a voice can be very powerful. It can bring much more than just money and fame. It can bring hope and change. It can affect and influence a nation.
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

4 versions   

n.译本( version的名词复数 )；版本；（个人对事件的）描述；（原物的）变体

参考例句：

• There are two versions of the game, a long one and a short one. 这游戏有两个版本，一长一短。
• When both versions of the story were collated,major discrepancies were found. 在将这个故事的两个版本对照后，找出了主要的不符之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

6 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

7 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

8 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

9 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。

10 presenters   

n.节目主持人，演播员( presenter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Each week presenters would put the case for their favourite candidate. 每个星期主持人推出他们最喜欢的候选人。 来自互联网
• Karaoke was set up to allowed presenters to sing on the stage. 宴会设有歌唱舞台，可让出席者大演唱功。 来自互联网

11 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

12 peninsular   

n.住在半岛上的居民adj.半岛（状）的（居民），形成半岛的

参考例句：

• The Strait of Johor separates Singapore from Peninsular Malaysia. 新加坡和马来西亚半岛之间隔着柔佛海峡。 来自互联网
• They never signed a peace treaty after the conflict on the Korean Peninsular in the 1950s. 自1950年在朝鲜半岛冲突之后，他们从未签定和平条约。 来自互联网

13 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。