VOA标准英语2014--Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending May 17

 

Top 5 Countdown for Week Ending May 17

This is the Top Five Countdown! We’re hitting the five most popular songs in the Billboard¹ Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending May 17, 2014.

I was happy last week, I'm walking on air this week: all the songs change places, with two new titles and a new champion! I just don’t know what to do with myself.

Let’s begin in fifth place, where Katy Perry and Juicy J fall two slots with “Dark Horse.” Is Katy feuding³ with Lady Gaga?

Last week, Lady Gaga took to Twitter to point out certain similarities between her stage show and Katy’s setup on her new “Prismatic” tour. We’ll see where this possible feud² goes over the next few months - both women are on the road well into November.

Taking this week’s chart by storm is Australian newcomer Iggy Azalea - who jumps three slots to fourth place with “Fancy” featuring British singer Charli XCX. Iggy was born Amethyst⁴ Amelia Kelly in Australia. She traveled to the United States at age 16 and stayed…with the intention of becoming a rap star. She’s done just that: her debut⁵ album The New Classic opened in third place on the U.S. chart, and that’s just the beginning…

...because she shares this week’s Hot Shot Debut slot with another promising⁶ newcomer, Ariana Grande. They start strong in third place with “Problem.”

No problems here: written by Swedish hitmaker Max Martin, this cut came within a hair’s breadth of snagging the championship: less than one tenth of one percent.

That means Pharrell Williams is even closer to regaining⁷ his crown after falling to number two with “Happy.” He recently revealed 25 secrets to US Magazine. Among the highlights: music makes him see colors, and he’s constantly cold - that’s one reason he moved to Miami.

John Legend finally gets a Hot 100 championship, as “All Of Me” rises to the top. He already has plenty of other honors: John Legend - real name John Stephens - has been making records since 2000, initially⁸ releasing them independently. He signed with Kanye West’s label and has since released four gold, platinum⁹, or multi-platinum albums. He’s also won nine Grammy Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, and a British MOBO Award.

That’s it for now, but the charts never sleep. Come join us next week for a new lineup!

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 feud   

n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇

参考例句：

• How did he start his feud with his neighbor?他是怎样和邻居开始争吵起来的？
• The two tribes were long at feud with each other.这两个部族长期不和。

3 feuding   

vi.长期不和（feud的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Riccardo and Cafiero had been feuding so openly that the whole town knew about it. 里卡多和卡菲埃罗一直公开地闹别扭，全城的人都知道此事。 来自辞典例句
• The two families have been feuding with each other for many generations. 这两个家族有好多代的世仇了。 来自互联网

4 amethyst   

n.紫水晶

参考例句：

• She pinned a large amethyst brooch to her lapel.她在翻领上别了一枚大大的紫水晶饰针。
• The exquisite flowers come alive in shades of amethyst.那些漂亮的花儿在紫水晶的映衬下显得格外夺目。

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 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 regaining   

复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• She was regaining consciousness now, but the fear was coming with her. 现在她正在恢发她的知觉，但是恐怖也就伴随着来了。
• She said briefly, regaining her will with a click. 她干脆地答道，又马上重新振作起精神来。

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

9 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。