环球英语 — 410：Bobby McFerrin: Musical Mouth

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Christy VanArragon.
Voice 2
And I’m Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Here is a question for you to answer. How many people do you hear singing in this song? Listen closely².
Five? Six? It sounds like many people are singing, but it is only one man. His name is Bobby McFerrin.
Voice 2
Today’s Spotlight is on Bobby McFerrin. Bobby McFerrin believes that the greatest musical instrument is the human voice. Some people become experts in one kind of music. But Bobby McFerrin sings many kinds of music. Some people play music just like everyone else, but no one makes music quite like Bobby McFerrin does.
Voice 1
Bobby was born in 1950. His parents were both singers. They encouraged Bobby in music. At first, Bobby played the piano. He did not consider himself much of a singer. But, when he was already 27 years old, he decided³ to see what he could do as a singer. He says:
Voice 3
“I was in a quiet minute when a simple thought just came into my head: ‘Why don’t you sing?’ It was as simple as that, but it must have had some force behind it because I acted on it immediately.”
Voice 2
Bobby found he had a very good singing voice. For a few years he travelled around the United States performing with other musicians. But, in 1983, he heard an improvisational⁵ show by piano player Keith Jarret. Improvisation⁴ is when there is no written music, or when musicians change the music as they play, without planning. They react to what is happening around them. They react to the other musicians and to the people watching.
Voice 1
Bobby McFerrin knew that he wanted to be an improvisational singer. He says this about his decision:
Voice 3
“I came up with this strange idea just to walk out in front of people, with no other musicians. I would just start singing whatever came to my mind. In fact, I fought against the idea for a while because it seemed to go against what people were doing. But it became clear that it was what I was supposed to be doing.”
Voice 1
Bobby continued to explore all the sounds the human voice can make. He sang very high and very low. He learned⁶ a new method of singing - throat singing. Using this method, he can make several sounds at the same time. He kept a beat by hitting his chest. He can sound like a bird, or a car, or a machine. He will shout, clap his hands together, and move his feet. He will use whatever he can to make the sounds he wants. This is what makes Bobby McFerrin a different kind of singer.
Voice 2
Because he was inventing new ways to sing, Bobby McFerrin became a popular singer. Radio and television shows invited him to perform.
But the high point of his popularity⁷ was in 1988 with a song called, “Don’t worry, Be Happy”.
Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble ...
Voice 2
There are no instruments in this song. All the different sounds you hear are Bobby singing. He would sing one part and then record another part on top of it. He did this many times until the song was complete.
Voice 1
It is hard to put Bobby McFerrin into a single musical category. This is because he does not put himself in any particular musical category. Even after he became popular, he did not stop exploring music. He continues to have an interest in every kind of music.
Voice 2
Bobby sings popular songs. He sings jazz and music from around the world. He will be in the middle of a classical piece and suddenly start singing the theme song to a television show! This is all part of Bobby’s kind of improvisational singing.
Voice 1
His singing has led him to work with some of the best musicians in several musical areas. He has played with jazz musicians Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. He has played with cellist⁸ Yo-Yo Ma and with guitar player Ferenc Snétberger. But his interest in music does not end with performing.
Voice 2
Bobby’s wide interest in music has also led him into conducting classical music. The conductor is the leader of the orchestra⁹. He is responsible for giving each piece of music a new feeling.
Voice 1
But Bobby could not stop singing. Soon he was taking the part of a violin or cello¹⁰ or another instrument in the orchestra. He is both the conductor and the singer at the same time. Listen to this:
Voice 2
Bobby McFerrin loves music. He wants other people to love it too. He even holds workshops to help people learn about music, about their voice, and about what they can do to make music.
Voice 1
Even though Bobby is teaching¹¹ other people about music, he does not want to stop singing. He loves singing too much. He says this about his shows:
Voice 3
“When I am on stage by myself, I do not have to think about anything. I do not have to worry about anything because I am not responsible for anything except just opening my mouth and making sure that music comes out.”
Voice 2
As you have heard today, Bobby is a skilled¹² singer. But he is also a person who connects things that most people find easier to keep separate. One reporter said this about Bobby McFerrin:
Voice 4
“He is that rare artist who can cross many kinds of music and find a sound that is all his own. ... His music is natural, beautiful and timeless. It crosses all borders and holds all cultures.”
 

1 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。

2 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 improvisation   

n.即席演奏(或演唱)；即兴创作

参考例句：

• a free-form jazz improvisation 自由创作的爵士乐即兴演出
• Most of their music was spontaneous improvisation. 他们的大部分音乐作品都是即兴创作的。

5 improvisational   

adj. 即兴的

参考例句：

• I have never been at games like charades or improvisational acting. 您从来都唔擅长玩“有口难言”或者“即席表演”之类既游戏。
• I'm practicing self-control, those random and improvisational acts aren't allowed. 我在练习控制自己，那些随意的、即兴的举动是不允许的。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

8 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网

9 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

10 cello   

n.大提琴

参考例句：

• The cello is a member of the violin family.大提琴是提琴家族的一员。
• She plays a melodious cello.她拉着一手悦耳的大提琴。

11 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

12 skilled   

adj.(in)熟练的，有技能的；需要技能的

参考例句：

• Unskilled workers usually earn less money than skilled workers.无技能的工人通常比有技能的工人挣钱少。
• She was skilled enough in French to translate a novel.她法语娴熟，足以翻译小说。