英语名人堂：嘎嘎小姐

Lady Gaga，1986年3月28日出生于美国纽约曼哈顿，美籍意大利后裔。美国流行女歌手、词曲创作者、慈善家、演员。

2008年10月发行首张录音室专辑《The Fame》，其中囊括美国公告牌Hot 100冠军单曲《Just Dance》与《Poker¹ Face》。2009年11月发行EP《The Fame Monster》。2010年被《时代》周刊评为百大最有影响力文化人物之一。2011年5月23日发行第二张录音室专辑《Born This Way》；同年6月被《福布斯》杂志评为世界百位名人之首。2012年荣登福布斯最具潜力明星榜榜首。2013年11月11日发行第三张录音室专辑《Artpop》。2014年9月23日发行与托尼·班奈特合作的专辑《Cheek to Cheek》。

 

Of course, Lady Gaga isn’t her real name. She was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March the 28th, 1986. Lady Gaga is her stage name. She is an American singer-songwriter who has become one of the biggest names in music – for her songs, performances, fashion and politics. She became famous in 2008 and just two years later was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential² people in the world.

 

Lady Gaga had a musical upbringing. She learned to play piano from the age of four and was singing in public by the time she was 14. She also loved acting³ in musicals at school. She went to a New York art college at the age of 17 where she wrote a research paper that focused on "music, art, sex and celebrity”. She concentrated on songwriting and singing in New York clubs. She got her name from the Queen song “Radio Gaga”.

 

Gaga was inspired by David Bowie, Blondie and Madonna. She hit the big time following the release of her debut⁴ album The Fame in 2008. The singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" became international hits. The album reached number one on the record charts in six countries. Her second album Born This Way (2011) also enjoyed spectacular success. The single "Born This Way" was the fastest-selling single in iTunes history.

 

Gaga is also outspoken⁵ when it comes to politics. She has spoken at military meetings in support of gays and lesbians in the US Army and shocked the world by wearing a dress made from meat, to draw attention to human rights. She is also a philanthropist and raised $500,000 for the Haiti earthquake from a concert performance. Gaga also designed a Japan Prayer Bracelet⁶ which raised $1.5 million for Japan’s tsunami⁷ relief fund.

1 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 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。

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

6 bracelet   

n.手镯，臂镯

参考例句：

• The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
• She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。

7 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。