Irving Berlin

 

Broadcast: May 12, 2003
By Rochelle Gollust

VOICE ONE:
I'm Phoebe Zimmerman.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program People in America. Today, we tell about Irving Berlin. He wrote the words and music for some of the most popular songs of the twentieth century.
(MUSIC BRIDGE)
VOICE ONE:
Irving Berlin lived to be one-hundred-one years old. He died in nineteen-eighty-nine. During his long life, he wrote more than one-thousand songs. Many of his songs have become timeless additions to America's popular culture.
Irving Berlin's music helped spread that popular culture throughout the world. Berlin was born in Russia. But he captured¹ the feeling, the people and the customs of his new country. And he put those ideas to music.
Another composer1, Jerome Kern, once said of Irving Berlin: "He has no place in American music. He is American music."
VOICE TWO:
Most American children grow up hearing and singing some of Irving Berlin's songs. Two of the best known are linked to Christian² religious holidays. They are "White Christmas" and "Easter Parade."
Many Americans think the perfect2 Christmas Day on December twenty-fifth should be cold and snowy. Irving Berlin thought so, too. He wrote "White Christmas" in nineteen-thirty-nine. It was sung in the movie "Holiday Inn³" in nineteen-forty-two. "White Christmas" became one of the best-selling songs of all time. Here is Bing Crosby singing his famous version⁴ of "White Christmas."
《CUT 1: WHITE CHRISTMAS》
VOICE ONE:
lrving Berlin's song for the Easter holiday captures⁵ another American tradition. "Easter Parade" is about a tradition in New York City. There, on Easter morning, people walk up and down Fifth Avenue after church services to enjoy the spring weather. Women wear new hats and dresses. Berlin wrote the song for a musical play in nineteen-thirty-three. It was the main song in the musical film "Easter Parade" in nineteen-forty-eight. Here is Judy Garland singing "Easter Parade."
《CUT 2: EASTER PARADE》
VOICE TWO:
Irving Berlin was born Israel Baline in eighteen--eighty-eight in the Russian village of Temun. He was the youngest of eight children. His family was Jewish⁶. They fled Russia because of religious3 oppression4.
The Baline family came to America in eighteen--ninety-three. They did not have much money. They moved into an area of New York City where many other poor Jewish immigrants5 had settled when they moved to the United States. Israel's father died when the boy was eight years old. The young boy left his home to find work. First, he got a job helping⁸ a blind street singer. Then he began earning money by singing on the streets of New York. Later, he got a job singing while serving people their food in a restaurant. Israel taught himself to play the piano. But he could play only the black keys.
VOICE ONE:
Soon Israel began writing his own songs. He never learned⁹ to read or write music. He wrote his songs by playing the notes with one finger on the piano. An assistant wrote down the notes on sheets of paper. When the songwriter's first song was published, his name was spelled wrong. Israel Baline had become I. Berlin. Israel thought the name sounded more American. So he re-named himself Irving Berlin.
Between nineteen-twelve and nineteen-sixteen, Irving Berlin wrote more than one-hundred-eighty songs. By the time he was in his late twenties, his songs were famous around the world.
VOICE TWO:
Berlin became an American citizen in nineteen-eighteen. A few months later, he was ordered into military service. The United States was fighting in World War One. Berlin was asked to write songs for a musical about life in the military. He called the show "Yip Yip Yaphank." All of the performers in the show were soldiers. Many of the songs became popular.
After he served in the army, Berlin returned to New York. He formed his own music publishing company. He also established a theater for his musical shows near Broadway.
VOICE ONE:
Irving Berlin loved America for giving a poor immigrant⁷ a chance to succeed. He expressed his thanks for this success in his songs. One of these songs is "God Bless America." He wrote the song in nineteen-eighteen. But it did not become popular until Kate Smith sang it in nineteen-thirty-nine. She sang the song to celebrate Armistice¹⁰ Day, the anniversary¹¹ of the end of World War One. Many people feel "God Bless America" is the unofficial national song of the United States.
Berlin gave all money he earned from "God Bless America" to the Boy Scouts¹² and Girl Scouts of America. Here is Kate Smith singing "God Bless America."
《CUT 3: GOD BLESS AMERICA》
VOICE TWO:
The United States entered World War Two in nineteen-forty-one. Berlin agreed to write and produce a musical show called "This is the Army." It was a musical about life in the military. All the performers were soldiers.
The show was performed in many cities across the United States. It helped increase support for America's part in the war. It earned ten- million dollars for the Army Emergency Relief Fund¹³. "This is the Army" also was performed for the American troops at military bases around the world. Irving Berlin appeared in most of these performances. He sang the song he had written earlier. The song is about what he had hated most about being in the army. Here, Irving Berlin sings "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning."
《CUT 4:OH, HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING》
VOICE ONE:
After the war, Berlin continued to write songs for movies and plays. He wrote songs for more than fifteen movies from the nineteen-thirties to the nineteen-fifties. Many of the songs were used in movies starring the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger¹⁴ Rogers. Here is Fred Astaire singing a song that appeared in several movies, "Puttin' on the Ritz."
《MUSIC CUT 5: PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ》
VOICE TWO:
Irving Berlin also wrote the music for seventeen Broadway plays from the nineteen-twenties to nineteen-fifty. His most successful Broadway musical was "Annie Get Your Gun" in nineteen-forty-six. Irving Berlin retired¹⁵ in nineteen-sixty--two after his last Broadway musical, "Mister¹⁶ President," failed. He died in nineteen-eighty-nine. But the songs that he gave America will be played and sung for many years to come.
VOICE ONE:
This Special English program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis. Our studio engineer was Sulaiman Tarawaley. I'm Phoebe Zimmerman.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another People in America program on the Voice of America.

1. composer [kCm5p[uz[] n. 作家，作曲家
2. perfect [5p[:fIkt] adj. 完美的，理想的
3. religious [rI5lIdV[s] adj. 信奉宗教的，虔诚的
4. oppression [[5preF[n] n. 压迫，镇压
5. immigrant [5ImIgr[nt] n. 移民，侨居

1 captured   

俘获( capture的过去式和过去分词 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 inn   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店，小饭店

参考例句：

• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
• We stayed in a small village inn,right off the map.我们住在一家偏僻的乡村小店里。

4 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

5 captures   

俘获( capture的第三人称单数 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• King Arthur himself captures the beast and cuts off its head. 亚瑟王亲自捉住怪物，并砍下它的头。
• His book captures exactly the ethos of Elizabethan England. 他的书准确地描绘了英国伊丽莎白时代的风土人情。

6 Jewish   

adj.犹太人的，犹太民族的

参考例句：

• The coin bears a Jewish symbol.硬币上有犹太标记。
• They were two Jewish kids;I was friendly with both of them.他们是两个犹太小孩；我同他们都很要好。

7 immigrant   

adj.(从国外)移来的，移民的；n.移民，侨民

参考例句：

• Life in the USA was very hard for almost every new immigrant.美国的生活几乎对每一个新移民都很艰难。
• I'd like to obtain some information about applying for an immigrant visa.我想取一些申请移民签证的资料。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

10 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

11 anniversary   

n.周年(纪念日)

参考例句：

• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
• Today is my parents'30th wedding anniversary.今天是我父母结婚30周年纪念日。

12 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。

13 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

14 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

15 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

16 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。