VOA标准英语2014--Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Jan. 25

 

Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Jan. 25

We’re featuring the five most popular songs in the Billboard¹ Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending January 25, 2014

This week’s new song isn’t new at all: it first appeared last September. Why the wait? That’s still to come; first, let’s open in fifth place, where A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera hold steady with “Say Something.” As a child, Christina regularly entered - and won - talent shows in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. In 1993, she became a regular on the The Mickey Mouse Club. Her fellow “Mouseketeers” included Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.

Katy Perry jumps two slots to fourth place with “Dark Horse,” featuring Juicy J of the rap group Three 6 Mafia. The song has been kicking around the singles scene since last September.  Last August, fans were asked to vote on two songs - one of which would become the first promotional single from Katy’s Prism album. “Dark Horse” won, and briefly² hit the Hot 100 before being retired³. Now, it’s the album’s third official single.  

Eminem and Rihanna hold at number three with “The Monster.” Is Eminem brewing⁴ up a reality show? Last week, comedian⁵ Jack⁶ Thriller⁷ popped up on Instagram, saying Eminem asked him to host a new rap battle TV reality show. He subsequently deleted his post, with Eminem associate Royce Da 5’ 9” tweeting, “Don’t believe any battle show rumors⁸ until you hear it from us.”

But, believe this, it’s another week in the runner-up slot for OneRepublic, with “Counting Stars",which holds in second place. This single is a veritable greybeard in the Top 20, having hung around for 30 weeks. Only the Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather” and Imagine Dragons’ “Demons” have hung in there longer.

Pitbull and Ke$ha are your Hot 100 singles champs for a second week with “Timber.” Ke$ha is currently receiving treatment for eating disorders⁹, and her mother Pebe Sebert says that’s not the worst of it: doctors told her that Ke$ha could have died from complications, prior to her stint¹⁰ in rehab.

Who knows what surprises next week will bring? There’s only one way to find out: join us in seven days!

1 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。

2 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

5 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。