VOA标准英语2013--Florida Georgia Line Riding High with Recent Success

 

Florida Georgia Line Riding High with Recent Success

“Cruise” was the first single from the group’s debut¹ album, “Here’s To The Good Times.”  The album topped the Billboard² Magazine Country chart.  Last month, “Cruise” set a record on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart by spending a 12th week at Number One, longer than any other duo in the 69-year history of that list.  The track sold nearly 4.3 million copies to become the best-selling tune³ by a Country duo in the era of digital singles.

Florida Georgia Line is 27-year-old Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida and 26-year-old Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Georgia.  They met while attending Nashville’s Belmont University.  Following graduation, Kelley and Hubbard packed a car and traveled the United States playing their music anywhere they were hired.  Florida Georgia Line eventually caught the attention of record companies, and last year they signed with Big Machine Records’ Republic Nashville label.

The second big hit from “Here’s To The Good Times” was “Get Your Shine On.”  The duo’s Brian Kelley describes the songwriting session for the recent Number One Country Airplay track.

“That was one of my personal favorite days of writing that we’ve ever had," he said. "We wrote it about a year ago right before the Big Loud Shirt Christmas party.  Tyler came in with that hook ‘Get Your Shine On.’  He threw that out at us and Chris Tompkins and Rodney Clawson.  We were off to the races.  I mean, I think we wrote it in an hour and a half.  It’s one of those songs just like “Cruise” that came together really quick.  Every songwriter will tell you it doesn’t always happen like that. You really [have to] count your lucky stars and thank the songwriting Gods when it does happen quick[ly].”

The success of Florida Georgia Line’s first two hits brought the duo two Academy of Country Music Awards for Best New Artist and Best New Country Duo.

Florida Georgia Line will spend much of 2013 performing concerts throughout the United States.  In addition to appearances at summer festivals and local fairs, the duo has secured high-profile opening slots on Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan’s North American tours. 

Tyler Hubbard describes the appreciation⁴ Florida Georgia Line has for its fans.

“I can relate to them and it means a lot to us if they want to take that hard-earned money, whatever they do," he said. "We’ve both had jobs where a dollar goes a long way.  We might have been making eight or nine bucks⁵ an hour doing some really bad jobs we hated.  So, money’s still sparse⁶ and we still try to stretch it, but it’s cool to have fans spend money on a ticket or spend money on a CD or buy a T-shirt when you know 15 bucks could be two meals.  Yeah, it just goes to show how passionate⁷ our fans are and how much they believe in us and support goes such a long way and we never take that for granted.”   

Later this year, the duo will return to the recording⁸ studio to work on its second album.  In the meantime, they are watching the third single from their debut album, “Round Here,” climb the popularity charts.

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 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。

3 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。

4 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

5 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 sparse   

adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的

参考例句：

• The teacher's house is in the suburb where the houses are sparse.老师的家在郊区，那里稀稀拉拉有几处房子。
• The sparse vegetation will only feed a small population of animals.稀疏的植物只够喂养少量的动物。

7 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

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。