VOA慢速英语2014 Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga 'Cheek to Cheek'（在线收听）

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga 'Cheek to Cheek'

Singers Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are sitting on top of Billboard’s Top Two Hundred Albums list.  Their joint album of long-standing jazz hits “Cheek to Cheek” was released September 23rd. 

Tony Bennett is now the oldest living artist to enter the Top 200 at number one.  He turned 88 in August.  The much younger Lady Gaga is enjoying her second number one album in less than a year. 

“Cheek to Cheek” pushed singer Barbara Streisand’s latest album, “Partners,” out of the top spot.  The album is also a collection of duets --- or songs produced with two performers.

“Partners” is spending its second week out at number three on the chart.  Country singer Kenny Chesney’s album “The Big Revival” entered the top 200 this week at number two.

“Cheek to Cheek” includes songs from music greats Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and others.  It opens with the humorous, lively Cole Porter song “Anything Goes.” The 1934 song paints a picture of a world gone wild. It jokes about a modern society unrestrained in terms of public behavior and social interaction, especially between the sexes. Lady Gaga sings: In olden days a glimpse of stocking / was looked on as something shocking / but now, God knows / anything goes.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are doing some shows together to support the album. Not that it needs much support. “Cheek to Cheek” is also on top of Billboard’s jazz albums chart.