2007年VOA标准英语-49th Annual Grammys Recognize Controversial Act

By Ray McDonald
Washington
12 February 2007

The 49th annual Grammy Award ceremony saw the U.S. recording¹ industry embrace one of its more controversial acts - while at the same time acknowledging the drawing power of a major competitor. VOA's Ray McDonald has more.

 
Dixie Chicks accept Grammy for Song of the Year, 11 Feb 2007
March 2003: While performing in London, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines sharply criticizes President George W. Bush and his Iraq policy. She draws immediate² condemnation³ from the U.S. country music community. February 11, 2007: The Dixie Chicks are the toast of the 49th annual Grammy Awards, making good on all five of their nominations⁴. Among their victories were Record and Song Of The Year - both for "Not Ready To Make Nice" - and Album Of The Year, for Taking The Long Way.

Accepting the trophy⁵ for Album Of The Year, band member Emily Robison said the group's trials were hardest on her family.

"I want to thank my family as well; my husband Charlie and my kids, Gus, Julianna and Henry," she said. "And, I think they're the ones that probably had it the hardest over the last three years. And, I just wanted to recognize that we know what you went through. So, thank you very much."

 
Mary J. Blige holds her three Grammy awards, 11 Feb 2007
If any performer was expected to grab the spotlight⁶, it was Mary J. Blige. The New York singer - known as the "Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul" - garnered⁷ eight nominations, more than any other act this year. Mary J. won three awards, including Best R&B Album for The Breakthrough. After struggling against drugs and personal demons⁸ early in her career, Mary says she's using her success as a springboard to renewal⁹.

"This is the first time I've ever been up here to receive anything. And, I thank you so much! It's not only shown that I'm an artist and a musician and a writer, but it's also shown that I'm growing into a better human being," she said. "Tonight, we celebrate the better human being because, for so many years, I have been talked about negatively. But, this time, I've been talked about positively¹⁰ by so many people.

While Grammys were awarded in 108 categories, only 11 were presented during the three-and-a-half-hour telecast. Performances took center stage; standouts included Christina Aguilera's tribute to the late James Brown; an R&B lineup featuring Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and newcomer Chris Brown; Best New Artist winner Carrie Underwood and Rascal¹¹ Flatts' tribute to The Eagles; and a show-opening performance by the reunited Police, who broke up in 1984.

Also earning a place in the spotlight was Robyn Troup. The previously-unknown teenager from Houston, Texas won a contest in which the prize was a duet with Justin Timberlake. Audience members could vote among three finalists via the Internet and text messaging - a nod to American Idol¹², which last year crushed the Grammy ceremony in head-to-head viewership on a Wednesday night. This year, the Grammies retreated to Sunday - when Idol wasn't on.

 
Ludacris poses with awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song at Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, 11 Feb 2007 
The Dixie Chicks weren't the only winners to court controversy¹³. Atlanta, Georgia rapper Ludacris, who's drawn¹⁴ fire for his lyrical content, made sure to mention two of his best-known critics - talk show host Oprah Winfrey and political commentator¹⁵ Bill O'Reilly - in his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album.

"So, y'all telling me all I had to do was cut my hair to win the Best Rap Album? That what y'all telling me? Huh? Special shout-out to Oprah," he said. "And, special shout-out to Bill O'Reilly. I love ya!"

The Red Hot Chili¹⁶ Peppers kept their comments short and safe - lead singer Anthony Keidis even made sure to thank his mother. The California alternative rockers took home four awards, including Best Rock Song for "Dani California."

Now approaching their first half-century, the Grammy Awards and the recording industry face turbulent times. U.S. album sales have dropped about 25 percent in just seven years - a figure not yet offset¹⁷ by burgeoning¹⁸ digital downloads. Still, they carry extra weight with artists, as it is their peers in the music industry - and not consumers - who determine winners

1 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。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

4 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

5 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。

6 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

7 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

8 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

10 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

11 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

12 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

13 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

14 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

15 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

16 chili   

n.辣椒

参考例句：

• He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
• It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。

17 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

18 burgeoning   

adj.迅速成长的，迅速发展的v.发芽，抽枝( burgeon的现在分词 )；迅速发展；发（芽），抽（枝）

参考例句：

• Our company's business is burgeoning now. 我们公司的业务现在发展很迅速。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These efforts were insufficient to contain the burgeoning crisis. 这些努力不足以抑制迅速扩散的危机。 来自辞典例句