VOA常速英语2007-Sum 41 Promoting 'Underclass Hero'

By Larry London
Washington
29 October 2007
 

With two live CD/DVD's, over ten singles, and millions of record sales worldwide, the band Sum 41 is on tour in support of its latest album, "Underclass Hero".  VOA's Larry London sat down with the band’s founder¹ and lead singer, Deryck Whibley, and the group's drummer, Steve Jocz, to discuss the new CD.

Sum 41 started 11 years ago in Ontario, Canada as the group Kaspir.  The name changed in 1996.

“The story is we started the band 41 days into the summer,” recalls² Deryck Whibley. 

“But we don't know if that was 41 days from June 21st or when school ended,” countered drummer Steve Jocz.

“I don't remember when it was, but,” began Whibley, “something like that,” finished Jocz.

The band’s choice of a title for their latest CD "Underclass Hero" has significant³ meaning.

“It was the title track and it also represents the process of this record,” explained Whibley. “Of really starting out at sort of a low point at the bottom of where we were trying to go with this idea and then you're coming through with the best thing we've ever done. All of it is really deeply personal. It's all things in my life.  Things that have happened to me growing up… just everything. It's just about how I feel about certain things… I guess.”

SUM 41's new single is called "Walking Disaster".

That's about being a certain age, like a teenager and being uncertain of your place in the world, not really understanding what your direction is,” said Whibley. “Leaving home only to find you end up living a life in a very negative way and realizing what you had before that was really right all along… and going back to that.”

Deryck Whibley is a songwriter and producer in addition to being the band’s lead singer and guitarist. He says it's difficult to find a favorite part of the process.

“I think -- I mean writing and performing is the best part but after a while you get tired of just writing and you want to perform.  Then you perform for a year every night, then you get tired of that and you just want to go back and make an album.  So, it just kind of goes back and forth⁴.  Then you decide you want to produce something for somebody else. It all depends on the time and how long you have been doing particular part of it.”

One recent collaboration⁵ with Deryck was that of his wife, pop punk singer Avril LaVigne.  He co-wrote and performed several songs for her current album.

He tells us, “They're like fast upbeat songs.  Steve played the drums on them.  It was a really easy process because we were doing our record at the same time and had everything already set up.  She [Avril LaVigne] was in the studio across from us and she wrote these two songs and asked if I would do them. I went in and Steve played [drums] and put the bass⁶ and guitars on and she sang it and it was done.

Despite losing their guitarist Dave Baksh in 2006 and changing management, Deryck feels this new CD is edgier⁷ and faster than their previous work. “Yeah, I think it is. I think it's more aggressive.  I mean more than anything we've ever done I think.  In every possible way, it's our best record.

Sum 41 remains⁸ on the road through the end of November in support of the new CD "Underclass Hero". 

Video courtesy of Island Def Jam Records

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 recalls   

回忆起( recall的第三人称单数 )； 使想起； 使想到； 勾起

参考例句：

• The sight recalls the days of childhood to me. 那情景使我想起了童年。
• Moreover, extensive use of voluntary recalls can undercut agency accountability. 此外，大量利用自愿撤回会削弱行政机关的责任心。

3 significant   

adj.相当数量的；意义重大的；意味深长的

参考例句：

• Your success today may be significant for your whole future.你今天的成功对你的整个未来可能是重要的。
• She cast him a significant smile.她向他投去意味深长的一笑。

4 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

7 edgier   

adj.不安的，易激怒的( edgy的比较级 )

参考例句：

• The Hill is an upstart competitor that's a little edgier. 国会山是一个有点边缘化的新晋竞争者。 来自互联网
• Despite the edgier aspects of his personality, Anakin possesses a guileless charm. 除去他性格中的边缘性，阿纳金拥有一种坦率的魅力。 来自互联网

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。