VOA常速英语2007年-Alicia Keys Rediscovers Herself With New CD, 'A

By Larry London
Washington
03 December 2007
 

Alicia Keys is living her dream. She's been honored with nine Grammys, 11 Billboard¹ Music Awards, three American Music Awards and countless² other accolades³. Alicia has just released her fourth album, "As I Am", that like her first three CDs, reached number one on the Billboard Album Chart. With two motion pictures and her new CD, Alicia has had a very busy year. Alicia Keys visited VOA's Larry London when she recently stopped in Washington.

After graduating as valedictorian from the prestigious⁴ Professional Performing Arts School in New York at the age of 16, Alicia Keys signed a record contract with the So So Def label. Although she wrote a song for the film Men In Black, her own music never attracted much attention. It was not until J-Records executive Clive Davis discovered her in 2000 that her career would take off.

One year later, after signing with J-Records, she released her first CD, Songs In A Minor⁵. That album featured the hit "Fallin'", that remained atop for the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks. That year Keys earned the Billboard Female Artist of The Year Award. Alicia talked about making As I Am.

She says the process took time.

"It took time. In addition to the film, personal life and family and things that are important to nurture⁶ and continue to grow with," she said. "I really locked down, closed out the world. I went into my studio for eight months and I created this music. It's so incredible and I'm so excited about it."

The new CD includes collaborations with many talented performers, including John Mayer and Linda Perry.

"That's the other thing about this album. I really kind of took myself out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to work with people I have always admired but we never worked together before. Things like this create a variety of sound and a way to stretch. It's insane. I can't wait for you to hear the music," said Keys.

With her first three albums reaching the top of the charts, and As I Am, debuting⁸ at number one in the first week after its release, Keys said she did not feel a lot of pressure to repeat her earlier success with the fourth album.

"I'm not. Honestly I don't worry about that. Of course, I work really hard, and I hope that the world loves the music as much as I do," she said. "But to me that's the most important thing, that people are affected⁹. They are moved. They are touched. They feel what I am saying, and have a connection to it."

Alicia Keys made her acting¹⁰ debut⁷ this year in Smokin' Aces¹¹ opposite Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta, and Andy Garcia. Her second film this year was The Nanny Diaries with Scarlett Johansson.

Keys has already agreed to star in a third film.

"There's one with Halle Berry that she is producing," she said. "It's about an incredible woman named Philippa Schuyler who was raised in the 1940s. She was half-black and half-white, an amazing and brilliant classical pianist. During that time, it was difficult for her to play classical piano in the venues¹² that would allow it. She struggled to find her place in the world to find where she belonged, being such an incredible composer of classical music but not being accepted at that time. It's a very riveting¹³ story, and something we are still developing, so I hope it comes together soon."

Keys has been honored with 80 music industry awards since 2001. She says she has given them to her manager because she would feel strange keeping them at home.

"I would like to have a very normal life - take it easy. I like to push myself by becoming a better person and not by statues," she said.

Only 27 years old, Alicia Keys' career is just beginning. She says she is living her dream.

"I am definitely living a dream, and I'm so grateful for it," she said. "Every day I'm thankful for the things that I'm able to do. It's definitely hard work, don't get it wrong. It's not like everything's easy. I love it, and when you love something as much as I love this, it's like a joy to be able to experience that."

Keys will begin a world tour in Europe in February 2008. But for now, she continues what she calls the "Buzzshow Tour", performing in small venues around the U.S.

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 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。

3 accolades   

n.（连结几行谱表的）连谱号( accolade的名词复数 )；嘉奖；（窗、门上方的）桃尖拱形线脚；册封爵士的仪式（用剑面在肩上轻拍一下）

参考例句：

• Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

4 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。

7 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。

8 debuting   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• New debuting analog thermostat welding machine, easy to operate. 新登场模拟式调温电焊台，操作简单。
• With the new tablet device that is debuting next week, Apple Inc. 苹果公司的新型平板电脑将于下周发布。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 aces   

abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球

参考例句：

• The local representative of ACES will define the local area. ACES的当地代表将划定当地的范围。 来自互联网
• Any medical expenses not covered by ACES insurance are the sole responsibility of the parents. 任何ACES保险未包括的医疗费用一律是父母的责任。 来自互联网

12 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

13 riveting   

adj.动听的，令人着迷的，完全吸引某人注意力的；n.铆接（法）

参考例句：

• I find snooker riveting though I don't play myself.虽然我自己不打斯诺克，但是我觉得它挺令人着迷。
• To my amazement,I found it riveting.但令我惊讶的是，我发现它的吸引人处。