VOA标准英语2015--Top 5 Songs for Week Ending May 2

Top 5 Songs for Week Ending May 2

We’re counting down the five most popular songs in the Billboard¹ Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, for the week ending May 2, 2015.

After a week of chart fireworks, the Top Five quiets down, with one song making a return trip.

Let’s open in fifth place, where Fetty Wap drops a slot with “Trap Queen.” The New Jersey² rapper has only one eye…the result, he says, of a childhood bout³ of glaucoma. Fetty says he contracted it in both eyes. The doctor was able to save only one, but he says today he doesn’t even think about it unless someone points it out.

Down a slot to fourth place goes Maroon⁴ 5 with “Sugar.” Adam Levine and his band just got a recording⁵ invitation from another big star… Last week, Sia  mentioned on Australian radio that she’s written a new song, “Step By Step.” She says that she’s pitching it to Bruno Mars…and Maroon 5. Sia also says her next album, This Is Acting⁶, is ready to go.

The Weeknd is our prodigal⁷ son this week, rebounding⁸ three slots to third place with “Earned It.”  What does this young Canadian have in common with Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Elton John? They’ve all had…or will have…performing residencies in Las Vegas. The Weeknd will be appearing at the Cromwell Hotel on May 23, June 13, and July 3… with more dates to come.

Up at number two, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars remain within striking distance of the title with “Uptown Funk.” Mark had some unflattering things to say about the launch of the Tidal streaming service. Speaking with Southern California Public Radio about streaming services, Mark says he thought Tidal seriously miss-handled its launch last month. He saw it as less about musical change…and more as a group of millionaires adding to their wealth.

Up at number one, it’s Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth for a second week with “See You Again.” It’s a soundtrack single from Furious 7…which is now a hit of historic proportions. It’s only the third film to gross more than $1 billion internationally, following Avatar and Titanic⁹.

We're out of hits for now, but let’s do it all over again next week!

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 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

4 maroon   

v.困住，使（人）处于孤独无助之境；n.逃亡黑奴；孤立的人；酱紫色，褐红色；adj.酱紫色的，褐红色的

参考例句：

• Five couples were marooned in their caravans when the River Avon broke its banks.埃文河决堤的时候，有5对夫妇被困在了他们的房车里。
• Robinson Crusoe has been marooned on a desert island for 26 years.鲁滨逊在荒岛上被困了26年。

5 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。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 prodigal   

adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的

参考例句：

• He has been prodigal of the money left by his parents.他已挥霍掉他父母留下的钱。
• The country has been prodigal of its forests.这个国家的森林正受过度的采伐。

8 rebounding   

蹦跳运动

参考例句：

• The strength of negative temperature concrete is tested with supersonic-rebounding method. 本文将超声回弹综合法用于负温混凝土强度检测。
• The fundamental of basketball includes shooting, passing and catching, rebounding, etc. 篮球运动中最基本的东西包括投篮，传接球，篮板球等。

9 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。