2007年VOA标准英语-5 Grammy Wins Mark Comeback for Dixie Chicks

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
12 February 2007

The Dixie Chicks were the big winners at Grammy Awards, Sunday. The singers earned five Grammys -- the highest American music industry honors. Mike O'Sullivan reports from Los Angeles, the evening marked a career comeback for the trio.

 
Dixie Chicks accept Grammy for Song of the Year, 11 Feb. 2007
The Dixie Chicks had a career slump¹ after lead singer Natalie Maines criticized President Bush on the eve of the war in Iraq and upset many of the group's fans. Their defiant² comeback album "Taking the Long Way" was named album of the year and best country album and the song "Not Ready to Make Nice" earned Grammys for record of the year, song of the year, and best country performance by a duo or group.

After nearly four years of criticism, and some country radio stations refusing to play their music, band member Marty Maguire told reporters the win feels good. She said the album told a story.

"Great music comes from inspiration and what happened to us really drove us to make an album that said a lot, and I think people kind of linked into that because it was a story and it was something beyond the music. It was not just songs," she said.

The Red Hot Chili³ Peppers earned four Grammys, including best rock album for "Stadium Arcadium," and best rock song, and best rock vocal⁴ by a duo or group, for the song "Dani California."

 
Mary J. Blige holds her three Grammy awards, 11, Feb. 2007
Singer Mary J. Blige earned Grammys for best rhythm and blues⁵ album for "The Breakthrough," and best female R & B performance for the song "Be Without You." The track was also named best R & B song, an award that Blige, as co-writer, shared with the other writers.

Carrie Underwood was named best new artist, and earned a Grammy for best female vocal country performance for her hit song "Jesus, Take the Wheel."

The singer from Checotah, Oklahoma, soared to stardom after appearing on the talent show "American Idol⁶." She says she knows there are other artists waiting to be discovered.

 
Carrie Underwood accepts Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, 11, Feb. 2007
"There are so many people that just have huge dreams," she said. "They just don't know what to do about them. And, I am living proof that it is possible from being a big nobody in a little town and having huge dreams to going up on stage and winning Grammys."

An industry veteran, singer Tony Bennett, earned a Grammy for his collaborative pop album "Duets," and earned another with Stevie Wonder for their joint⁷ rendition of "For Once in My Life."

1 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

2 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

3 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。

4 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

5 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

6 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。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。