VOA标准英语2013--The Band Perry Scores Big with 'Pioneer'

The Band Perry Scores Big with 'Pioneer'

The title track from the sibling¹ trio’s first chart-topping collection was inspired by a journey across the United States.  Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry drove from Nashville to California to record the project with legendary² producer Rick Rubin.  The band credits Rubin with improving the songs they had written for “Pioneer.”  But, in the end, they returned to Nashville and worked with Dann Huff, who has produced hit records for such artists as Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Rascal³ Flatts. 

During the 18 months The Band Perry spent working on “Pioneer,” Kimberly and her younger brothers Reid and Neil faced some challenges. 

“We had so many questions about our future, both personally and professionally," Kimberly said. "We also had to let go of fear and trust the boldness that has always informed our creative decisions.” 

Kimberly and Neil explained what the new album means to them.

“We understand that sometimes when we hear that word, there’s a tendency to feel that it’s very antiquated⁴ or out of date, when in fact, ‘Pioneer’ couldn’t be any more of a modern word than it is," Kimberly said. "I mean, it’s about discovery. There is still so much left to be discovered. Yes, in the world around us, but especially a personal discovery. And the three of us learned so much about ourselves and each other and our music in the making of ‘Pioneer’.”

"And with that too, we had an image in our head as we were writing the music for ‘Pioneer’; we had an image of a marching band, an army marching forward," Neil added. "Always the forward motion and if you look on the cover of the album, the three of us are kind of leaning forward. We have very purposeful facial expressions and we wanted that to come across as well.”

The album's lead single, “Better Dig Two,” shot to the top of the Country Airplay chart where it spent two weeks earlier this year.  The million-selling track became the fastest-rising radio hit of the trio’s career.

Since the release of its 2010 self-titled debut⁵ album, the band has graduated from performing in small clubs to arenas⁶.  Playing larger venues⁷ allowed them to add more of a rock edge to their sound.

On May 31, The Band Perry begins a North American tour with Rascal Flatts.  Also in the group’s upcoming plans is its first headlining tour, set for 2014.

The Band Perry is now climbing the Country charts with the new single “Done.”  Kimberly and Reid describe the fun they had in the studio while recording⁸ that song.

You know, as long as I’m dancing, I can sing that song in the right way," Kimberly said. "So I will say there was a lot of, of course under lock and key never to be seen outside of the vocal⁹ booth, but a lot of dancing going on around ‘Done.’

“She definitely felt the lyrics¹⁰ to that song,” Reid added.

“Yeah, I bring the spitfire in The Band Perry,” Kimberly replied. 

1 sibling   

n.同胞手足(指兄、弟、姐或妹)

参考例句：

• Many of us hate living in the shadows of a more successful sibling.我们很多人都讨厌活在更为成功的手足的阴影下。
• Sibling ravalry has been common in this family.这个家里，兄弟姊妹之间的矛盾很平常。

2 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

3 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。

4 antiquated   

adj.陈旧的，过时的

参考例句：

• Many factories are so antiquated they are not worth saving.很多工厂过于陈旧落后，已不值得挽救。
• A train of antiquated coaches was waiting for us at the siding.一列陈旧的火车在侧线上等着我们。

5 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。

6 arenas   

表演场地( arena的名词复数 )； 竞技场； 活动或斗争的场所或场面； 圆形运动场

参考例句：

• Demolition derbies are large-scale automobile rodeos that take place in big arenas. 撞车比赛指的是在很大的竞技场上举行的大型汽车驾驶技术表演。
• Are there areas of privacy in the most public of arenas? 在绝大部分公开的场合中存在需要保护隐私的领域吗？

7 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 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。

10 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。