2007年VOA标准英语-Punk Rockers Good Charlotte Change Their Music

By Larry London
Washington
12 March 2007
 
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Good Charlotte Band
After selling 5 million albums and touring the world, edgy¹, street-smart punk rockers Good Charlotte delayed releasing their third album for one year.  In an interview with VOA's Larry London, bandleader Joel Madden says the new album "Good Morning Revival²" marks yet another new direction for a band that has surprised fans with a new sound for every album.

"Good Morning Revival's" first single "Keep Your Hands Off my Girl" shows Good Charlotte's new, leaner sound, a return to their punk rock roots.  The band waited a year before releasing their third album.

Joel Madden, Good Charlotte band founder³ explains the concept. "We're going to be reintroduced to the world. It's a new band, and it's a new thing. It's fresh and it's different. We needed to be away for a minute and let people take a breather and a break and get ready to hear something new."

Good Charlotte jumped into the top ten list in 2002 with "Lifestyles of Rich and Famous", a single from their second LP, an angry song mocking the media and poking⁴ fun at rap music's obsession⁵ with crime.

 
Joel Madden
Madden founded the band with his twin brother Benji, says they can't go on being angry young men forever. "When we were first introduced to the world it was with "Young and Hopeless," which is our second record. It was kind of angsty, really catchy⁶. I think, people, when they hear something, they want to hear that again, but recycling your sound is dangerous. You can't get stuck in a sound, and then you'll be done."

"Anthem⁷", another chart topper from the "Young And Hopeless" won the 2003 MTV Audience Award, and helped launch the band's world tour, which took them to Asia and Latin America, where fans surprised band members with their enthusiasm.

“It blows your mind, like, when you are playing in Chile and they're singing your songs louder than you, in perfect English. It's awesome⁸. It shows that music is (a) universal language. And, it's not necessarily only Good Charlotte, but it's the music. Kids become friends all over the world with each other on our website. It's cool. It is just music, man."

Despite the occasional friction⁹ that comes from working with his twin brother, Madden says the group works in harmony.

"We fight a lot, but we're best friends. At the end of the day, we do everything together.  All our biggest dreams are together. Even if we're fighting, we have to go on the stage and put on a show. We have to get along somehow, we've learned. Even if we fight, we love each other, it's not a big deal. We're best friends."

Good Charlotte's new album is titled "Good Morning Revival", marking the start of a new direction.

"It brings the songs together.  It shows where we're at in our career, kind of a new place for us.  We've grown a lot. It's a new start, as far as the music and everything about it. It's just fresh."

1 edgy   

adj.不安的；易怒的

参考例句：

• She's been a bit edgy lately,waiting for the exam results.她正在等待考试结果，所以最近有些焦躁不安。
• He was nervous and edgy, still chain-smoking.他紧张不安，还在一根接一根地抽着烟。

2 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

3 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。

4 poking   

n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
• He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

5 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

6 catchy   

adj.易记住的，诡诈的，易使人上当的

参考例句：

• We need a new slogan.The old one's not catchy enough.我们需要新的口号，旧的不够吸引人。
• The chorus is very catchy to say the least.副歌部分很容易上口。

7 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

8 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

9 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。