VOA慢速英语2014 2013年流行音乐的得与失

 

2013: Pop Music Hits and Losses 2013年流行音乐的得与失

Welcome to American Mosaic¹ from VO Learning English. I'm Katherine Cole.

We play music every week on this show, but we still can’t report on all the albums released or all the artists who produce good work in one year. So, here is Jim  Bertel with our 2013 issue of “Music We Missed.”

We reported on Lorde, the 16 year old sensation² from New Zealand.

We also told you about Vampire³ Weekend’s “Modern Vampires⁴ in the City,” and Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories.” Both albums are at the top of several 2013 best  albums lists. This year, we played new country star Kacey Musgraves, established country star Keith Urban, and remembered artists who died in 2013 -- including jazz  great George Duke and rock legend Lou Reed⁵.

But we did not play music from one of the biggest albums of the year -- “Yeezus” by Kanye West. It went to the top of music charts in thirty countries, including the  United States. It went gold within two months of its release, meaning it sold half-a-million copies.

Kanye West had a big year personally as well -- he became a father when reality star Kim Kardashian gave birth in June to a baby boy they named North.  The two became  engaged a few months later.

Right now the artist is facing some legal action in connection with “Yeezus.”  His song “Bound 2” contains some singing by Ricky Spicer.  Mr. Spicer recorded  “Bound” with the group Ponderosa Twins Plus One around 1970 when he was just 12 years old.  He says Mr. West sampled, or used parts of, his work without permission.

Singer-songwriter Janelle Monae released her second studio album this year.  “Electric Lady” can also be found on many 2013 favorites lists.  It continues the  “Metropolis” story, a series of musical works expected to take place in seven parts. 

Here is Janelle Monae with the album’s title track.

Finally, we play The National.  The five member band has been recording⁶ since 2001 and has released six studio albums. 

Their 2013 album is called “Trouble Will Find Me.” 

We leave you with The National performing “This Is The Last Time” from the album “Trouble Will Find Me.”

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 sensation   

n.感觉，感知力，激动，轰动

参考例句：

• He lost all sensation in his legs through cramp.他的腿部因抽筋而失去知觉。
• Seeing him again after so many years was a strange sensation.那么多年以后又见到他，是一种不可思议的感觉。

3 vampire   

n.吸血鬼

参考例句：

• It wasn't a wife waiting there for him but a blood sucking vampire!家里的不是个老婆，而是个吸人血的妖精！
• Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampire.由于听过许多有关吸血鬼的传说，孩子们晚上不敢去睡觉。

4 vampires   

n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门

参考例句：

• The most effective weapon against the vampires is avampire itself. 对付吸血鬼最有效的武器就是吸血鬼自己。 来自电影对白
• If vampires existed, don`t you think we would`ve found them by now? 如果真有吸血鬼，那我们怎么还没有找到他们呢？ 来自电影对白

5 reed   

n.芦苇，芦丛，簧舌，簧片

参考例句：

• The river banks were overgrown with reed.河岸长满了芦苇。
• They inhabit reed huts built on stilts above the water.他们住在建于水中木桩之上的芦苇草屋里。

6 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。