VOA标准英语2014--Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending Feb. 22 截至到2月22日本周前五名歌曲

 

Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending Feb. 22 截至到2月22日本周前五名歌曲

We’re spotlighting¹ the five most popular songs in the Billboard² Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending February 22, 2014.

Four out of our top five positions change hands this week - that’s an 80 percent turnover³!

We begin at the beginning: in fifth place, where Passenger rises a slot with “Let Her Go.” British singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg records as Passenger.  This song has already topped the charts in more than a dozen countries while going seven times platinum⁴ in Australia. That means it’s sold nearly half a million copies - in a country of about 24 million people. Not too shabby!

Back into contention⁵ in fourth place comes A Great Big World and “Say Something,” featuring Christina Aguilera. Christina is saying “goodbye” to a popular U.S. TV show.  Next week sees the start of the sixth season of The Voice in the United States. For a second time, Christina and Cee Lo Green will leave their judges’ chairs to concentrate on their own careers…and once again, Shakira and Usher⁶ will replace them.

It’s an “up” week for Jason Derulo and 2 Chainz, as “Talk Dirty” rises a notch⁷ to number three. Is One Direction to thank for Jason’s good fortune? Last November, the members of One Direction released a YouTube video of themselves dancing to the song, which was already a hit in Europe, but practically unknown in the United States. The clip went viral…and “Talk Dirty” began bounding up the Hot 100 chart.

Speaking of fast movers: Pharrell Williams rockets from eighth to second place with “Happy.” It’s also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song…and we’ll find out how it fares on March 2. “Happy” first turned up in the hit movie Despicable Me 2.

Taking the trophy⁸ in the Hot 100 race for a third week are Katy Perry and Juicy J from three 6 Mafia with “Dark Horse.” Katy celebrated⁹ Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend John Mayer, and while they’re rumored¹⁰ to be engaged, Katy’s people are denying it…for now, anyway.

But there’s no denying the power of the Top Five - we'll return next week and hope you will, too.

1 spotlighting   

v.聚光照明( spotlight的现在分词 )；使公众注意，使突出醒目

参考例句：

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 turnover   

n.人员流动率，人事变动率；营业额，成交量

参考例句：

• The store greatly reduced the prices to make a quick turnover.这家商店实行大减价以迅速周转资金。
• Our turnover actually increased last year.去年我们的营业额竟然增加了。

4 platinum   

n.白金

参考例句：

• I'll give her a platinum ring.我打算送给她一枚白金戒指。
• Platinum exceeds gold in value.白金的价值高于黄金。

5 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

6 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

7 notch   

n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级

参考例句：

• The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
• He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

8 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

9 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

10 rumored   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• It is rumored that he cheats on his wife. 据传他对他老婆不忠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was rumored that the white officer had been a Swede. 传说那个白人军官是个瑞典人。 来自辞典例句