2006年VOA标准英语-Barenaked Ladies Releases New Album and Begins

By Larry London
Washington, DC
29 September 2006
 
watch Barenaked Ladies report

 
Barenaked Ladies performing at Voice of America
Canada has given the world many great musicians over the years, perhaps none more underrated than the infamous¹ Barenaked Ladies.  The group was formed in Toronto Canada in 1988 by Steven Page and Ed Robertson and achieved international success with the multi-platinum² album "Stunt³" the same year.  That album remains⁴ their most popular despite the release⁵ of more than 11 albums.  Barenaked Ladies brought their unique style of humor⁶ and music to VOA recently to discuss their latest CD called "Barenaked Ladies Are Me" recorded on their own "Desperation" record label.  Larry London had an opportunity to talk with the band about their new album and upcoming tour. 

It's the perfect time to meet five quick-witted⁷ fun guys from Canada with a fun name and an interesting story about that name. 
  
Ed Robertson, co-founder

"One of the bands [band names] we made up was Barenaked Ladies," says Ed Robertson. And we never thought we'd actually be in a band together.  I had committed myself to ... not to an institution… but to play a fundraiser for a local food bank in Toronto.  And the band that I was working with at the time broke up and so I forgot about this fundraiser and they called me the week before…"

Steve Page off mic - "It was the Smiths..."

"Yeah, they called me the week before and said, "So you're still on for the fundraiser, right?  We're really counting on you. And I said, "Yeah! Of course I am, but the name of the band now is (pause) 'Barenaked Ladies' and I phoned Steve and said, 'You wanna [want to] be in Barenaked Ladies?,' and we thought that would be our one and only show -- and that was almost 18 years ago." 

 
Barenaked Ladies, shown in one of their music videos
Did I say they were quick- witted? Well, they are, which makes it hard to get a straight answer from them.  Like, when we asked about the title of their new CD, "Barenaked Ladies Are Me"?…

"It was Steve's idea," says Ed. "He said, 'You know, it'd be great if we had on posters: 'Barenaked Ladies Are Me' and then we could just keep adding letters and make it 'Barenaked Ladies Are Men', 'Barenaked Ladies Are Mentally Ill', cross that out and make it 'Barenaked Ladies Are Mexican', 'Barenaked Ladies Are Meat' and whatever." 

And their answer to the question, where's their favorite place to travel?

"My favorite place that we've ever traveled working as a band was going to Japan for the first time," Ed told us. " It's the first place that I really and truly felt like a foreigner, it's the first place I felt like I was in the rock band 'Foreigner' as well, which is a great double feeling"

And what are their career highlights⁸?

"Selling out Madison Square Garden, selling out Royal Albert Hall," Ed answered.

Steve, off mic - "Or just selling out in general!"

"Yeah.  When we originally sold out in the early '90s that was a great feeling too." 

Okay, you get the picture. All joking aside, the Barenaked Ladies are equally creative when it comes to their music.  With more than 11 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, including a 'greatest hits' collection and a career that has lasted 18 years, the Barenaked Ladies have been around a lot longer than just "One Week". 

The Barenaked Ladies' new CD "Barenaked Ladies Are Me" is their first in three years.  Recorded on their own "Desperation" label and debuting⁹ at #17 on the Billboard¹⁰ Hot 100 and at #7 in Canada it's no wonder they are so successful around the world.  Perhaps one of the reasons is that they make everything look "Easy". 

Music video courtesy of Warner Music

1 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。

2 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。

3 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

6 humor   

n.(humour)幽默，诙谐

参考例句：

• He is distinguished for his sense of humor.他以其幽默感著称。
• American humor is founded largely on hyperbole.美式幽默主要以夸张为基础。

7 witted   

adj.（常用以构成复合词）智力…的，头脑…的

参考例句：

• American motion pictures are written by the half-educated for the half-witted. 美国电影，是由一班只受过半瓶醋教育的人为蠢人而作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A man of great wisdom often appears slow-witted [stupid]. 大智若愚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 highlights   

n.头发挑染部分；全球知名儿童刊物及相关产品的发行和销售商的名称、商号及商标

参考例句：

• The report highlights the major problems facing society today. 报告特别强调了当今社会所面临的主要问题。
• The report highlights a number of instances of injustice. 这篇报道重点列举了一些不公正的实例。

9 debuting   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• New debuting analog thermostat welding machine, easy to operate. 新登场模拟式调温电焊台，操作简单。
• With the new tablet device that is debuting next week, Apple Inc. 苹果公司的新型平板电脑将于下周发布。

10 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。