VOA标准英语2012--Adele Dominates Grammy Awards

Adele Dominates Grammy Awards

Adele’s Grammys included Album of The Year and Best Pop Vocal¹ Album for 21 and Record and Song of The Year, which she shared with her producer, engineers and co-writer, for the track “Rolling in the Deep.”

The singer showed that her voice is in top form just three months after vocal chord surgery, as she performed onstage for the first time since November. 

The Foo Fighters earned five Grammys, including Best Rock Album for Wasting Light and Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Walk.”

Bon Iver, a folk group headed by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, was named Best New Artist and earned a second Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.

The worldwide Grammy telecast began with a prayer for Whitney Houston, who died suddenly in her hotel room as she prepared to entertain at a pre-Grammy gala Saturday. 

“We’ve had a death in our family," announced The rap singer, LL Cool J, who hosted the award show. "And, so at least for me, the only thing that feels right is to begin with a prayer for a woman we loved, for our fallen sister, Whitney Houston.”

Throughout the show, there were reminiscences, including a soulful rendition of one of the singer’s classic ballads² by Jennifer Hudson.

“Whitney, we love, we love you,” Hudson sang.

There was little time to revamp the telecast, but Neil Portnow, president of the Recording³ Academy, which presents the Grammys, says the tributes added something important.

“Something that is uplifting, something that is inspirational, something that is healing, because we’re all hurting from this so much,” Portnow said.

Backstage, Hillary Scott of the country trio Lady Antebellum recalled Houston’s role inspiring her own music. Scott and her group earned the Grammy for Best Country Album for Own the Night. 

“I just admired her and her craft. I mean, it’s a God-given gift and it’s tragic⁴, Scott said. "It’s like there’s a hole in the heart of music, and I don’t know if it can ever be filled because she was just so unique and amazing.”

Whitney Houston won six Grammys during her career but faced problems with drug abuse. Authorities are investigating the cause of her death at the age of 48. 

1 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。

2 ballads   

民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴

参考例句：

• She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after another all evening. 她整晚一个接一个地大唱民谣和乡村小调。
• She taught him to read and even to sing two or three little ballads,accompanying him on her old piano. 她教他读书，还教他唱两三首民谣，弹着她的旧钢琴为他伴奏。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。