VOA标准英语2011--Adele's '21' Earns High Praise, Success

Adele's '21' Earns High Praise, Success

It's been three years since British singer Adele became an international superstar with her debut¹ album 19. She is achieving even more success with her sophomore² release, 21.
"Rolling In The Deep" was the debut single from Adele's second album, 21. She describes the song, which sold over 1.5 million digital copies in the U.S., as a "dark bluesy³ gospel disco tune⁴."
In early 2008, Adele was already popular on the British charts, but her music was slower to catch on in America. She got her big break in October of that year by performing her smash hit "Chasing Pavements" on an episode of the NBC variety show "Saturday Night Live." In 2009, Adele won the Best New Artist Grammy Award and "Chasing Pavements" brought her a second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal⁵ Performance.
Adele calls her musical style "heartbroken soul." She says, however, the songs on 21 not only deal with lost love, but also finding resolve in life's challenges.
Adele co-wrote 10 of the 11 tracks on 21. She also included a cover of "Lovesong," which was a 1989 hit for British rock band The Cure.
21 sold 350,000 copies its first week of release in the United States, and it took only seven weeks to become the first million-selling album of 2011. Adele also set records on the U.K. charts. She spent 11 consecutive⁶ weeks at Number One on the U.K. Albums chart, which is the longest run ever by a female solo artist.
Adele admits that she suffers from stage fright. "I don't like touring," she says. "I have anxiety attacks a lot." But, that fear won't keep her off the road. Adele begins a North American tour in Washington, D.C. on May 12. After wrapping up shows in late June, she'll head to London to begin a 16-date U.K. tour.

1 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。

2 sophomore   

n.大学二年级生；adj.第二年的

参考例句：

• He is in his sophomore year.他在读二年级。
• I'm a college sophomore majoring in English.我是一名英语专业的大二学生。

3 bluesy   

adj.布鲁斯乐的（一种摇摆乐）

参考例句：

• As a teenager I was obsessed ragtime, and bluesy guitar guys like Johnny Winter. 当我十几岁的时候我迷上了雷鬼，和JohnnyWinter那样的布鲁斯吉他手。 来自互联网
• Lips Accentuate your new bluesy beat in simply sensational LipSlicks Hint of Mauve. 为了强调新布鲁斯乐的节奏，涂上紫红色的唇彩是最自然的。 来自互联网

4 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

5 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。

6 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。