VOA标准英语2009年-Swift, Aldean, Chesney Dominated Count

Although overall album sales dipped almost nine percent in 2009, one Country star in particular didn't contribute to that slowdown. Here's a look back on the year in Country music, and the remarkable¹ success of Taylor Swift.

Mary Morningstar | Washington 21 December 2009

 
Photo: AP
Country artist Taylor Swift poses with Video of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year awards during 43rd Annual Country Music Awards in Nashville, 11 Nov 2009

Taylor Swift tops an astounding³ 17 Billboard⁴ year-end charts, including the Hot 100 Airplay Songs list, for her Number One single, "Love Story."  She was also named Artist of the Year, and her Fearless album tops the Billboard 200 and Country Albums year-end charts.  In 2009, Taylor performed her first headlining tour, which sold out in every city.  Her mantle⁵ was filled with awards during the year.  They included two Academy of Country Music trophies⁶, five BMI songwriting honors, five Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and five American Music Awards.  Taylor made history for being the first Country artist to win an MTV Music Video Award, and, at 19-years-old [at the time she won the award], became the youngest artist to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award.  Despite all the fame and celebrity⁷ that has come her way, Taylor says it's important to stay grounded.

"It's really cool to walk into public places, like a mall or something like that, and have people just go nuts," she said.  "I used to dream about that when I was a little kid.  But, as far as how I view myself, I never want that to change, because you just can't believe in all the hype that people say about you.  You're still just a person.  So, that's kind of how I've always looked at myself."

Jason Aldean's 'Wide Open'

Jason Aldean tops three of Billboard's year-end charts.  His 2009 Number One hit "Big Green Tractor" is Number 10 on the year's Top Country Songs list.  The track was the second single from Jason's Wide Open album to reach Number One during the past year.  Aldean recently announced that he's extending his "Wide Open" tour into 2010.

Keith Urban's 'Defying Gravity' CD

"Sweet Thing" by Keith Urban was the ninth most popular Country song of 2009.  It was the debut⁸ single from his latest album, Defying Gravity, which became his first release to top the Billboard 200.  Keith says the album reflects the positive direction of his life.

"I'm very grateful for where I'm at in my life," Urban said. "We went in to record this album, and it turned out to be a very uplifting and very joyous⁹ record."

Kenny Chesney's 'Lucky Old Sun' CD

Kenny Chesney's Sun City Carnival¹⁰ Tour was the highest-grossing Country tour of 2009.  Kenny has sold more than one-million concert tickets for seven consecutive¹¹ years.  Although he won't be performing a full tour in 2010, Kenny plans to appear at a few Country music festivals throughout the year.  Kenny, Rascal¹² Flatts, and Brad Paisley are the only Country acts listed among the overall Top 25 tours of 2009.

In 2009, the Country industry said goodbye to several artists, including 61-year-old Dan Seals, who died of complications from cancer.  Country fans also mourned the deaths of Jimmy Boyd, Hank Locklin, Vern Gosdin and former Grand Ole Opry manager Hal Durham.

Brooks¹³ & Dunn's 'Red Dirt Road' CD

Country music news headlines included the break-up of Brooks and Dunn after 20 years performing as a duo.  Garth Brooks, on the other hand, emerged from retirement¹⁴ in December.  He's booked to play four shows on weekends through February at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.  The solo engagement could continue until 2014, when he'll reunite with his band to perform a world tour.

In November, Lady Antebellum won the Country Music Association Award for Vocal² Group of the Year.  The band's win ended Rascal Flatts' six-year reign¹⁵ in that category.  Lady Antebellum also won the CMA's Single of the Year honor for the Number One Country song of 2009.
 

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

3 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

6 trophies   

n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖

参考例句：

• His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

8 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。

9 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

10 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

11 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

12 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

13 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

15 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。