英语名人堂：艾米·怀恩豪斯

艾米·怀恩豪斯（Amy Winehouse），1983年9月14日出生于英国伦敦，英国女歌手。

2003年发行首张专辑《Frank》， 获水星音乐奖以及两个英国音乐奖提名。2007年发行第二张专辑《Back To Black》，获得第30届全英音乐奖最佳女歌手奖与第50届格莱美奖年度最佳唱片、年度最佳歌曲、最佳新人、最佳流行女歌手等大奖，成为第一个获得五项格莱美奖的英国歌手  。

英国时间2011年7月23日，艾米·怀恩豪斯在英国伦敦的寓所被发现死亡，年仅27岁，  死因是饮酒过量。

 

Amy Jade¹ Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her marvelous voice and controversial private life. She debuted² in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.

 

She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to see from a very young age. Aged³ ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her distinctive⁴ voice.

 

Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed⁵ international star. She won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were waiting to collaborate⁶ with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."

 

Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters who followed her every move.  She has given them good reason to write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self-destructive behaviour was often tabloid⁷ news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.

1 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

2 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

5 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

6 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

7 tabloid   

adj.轰动性的，庸俗的；n.小报，文摘

参考例句：

• He launched into a verbal assault on tabloid journalism.他口头对小报新闻进行了抨击。
• He believes that the tabloid press has behaved disgracefully.他认为小报媒体的行为不太光彩。