VOA标准英语2013--Country Newcomer Cassadee Pope Settles into Music Career

 

Country Newcomer Cassadee Pope Settles into Music Career

Last year, Florida native Cassadee Pope became the first female winner of “The Voice.”  The former rock singer has settled in to her new career in Country music.

“Wasting All These Tears” is the debut¹ single from Pope’s first solo album, “Frame By Frame.”  The track made a Top 10 debut on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and opened at Number One on iTunes’ Country list.  “Frame By Frame’s” Number One entry on the Country Albums chart makes her only the second newcomer to debut in the top spot this year.  Kacey Musgraves also accomplished² that feat³ with “Same Trailer Different Park.”

Before launching her solo career, Pope spent five years singing lead vocals⁴ in the rock band Hey Monday.  Although she’s enjoying her work as a solo artist, she admits there are times she misses her former bandmates.

“Being in Hey Monday as opposed to being solo has its differences, but for the most part, it’s very similar," she said. "I am still creating music with other people.  I’m collaborating⁵ with songwriters and producers.  It’s not my band, but they are still human beings that I’m collaborating with.  I’ve created really, really great chemistry with my band right now.  They’re not ‘in the band’ per se, and we’re not writing together and all of that, but we are creating a sound, my live show together.  So, there’s a really great vibe with them on stage, even now.  But I do miss the guys every once in a while.”

Pope switched musical direction from rock to Country after appearing on the third season of “The Voice.”  The 24-year-old singer was coached on the reality show by Country superstar Blake Shelton.  For her final performance on “The Voice,” Pope sang “Over You,” a 2012 Number One Country duet for Shelton and his wife Miranda Lambert.

Pope says she has always been a fan of Country music and is grateful that the Nashville community has welcomed her.  She says a highlight was having the opportunity to open shows on Rascal⁶ Flatts’ North American “Live and Loud Tour.”

“Touring with Rascal Flatts has been such an eye opener.  I mean, they have always been this unit and they’ve always had such a unique sound and they’ve stuck to it all these years," she said. "It makes me feel like, as long as I stick to me, and I do my thing, I will eventually get there.  They’re such an inspiring group to watch every night.  They’re so, so talented.  They’re the nicest guys in the entire world.  They walk around backstage and interact with us, so that’s all I can ask.  As long as they are nice to me and they took me out, that’s all I could ask for.”

Pope involved her fans in the making of “Frame By Frame” by letting them choose the cover.

In conjunction with its recent release, Country Music Television launched a six-episode documentary series that followed Pope’s rise to fame.

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 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

3 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

4 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

5 collaborating   

合作( collaborate的现在分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• Joe is collaborating on the work with a friend. 乔正与一位朋友合作做那件工作。
• He was not only learning from but also collaborating with Joseph Thomson. 他不仅是在跟约瑟福？汤姆逊学习，而且也是在和他合作。

6 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。