2007年VOA标准英语-Minnie Driver's 'Seastories' is Most Recent CD

By Rebecca Ward¹
Washington
11 September 2007
 

She may be best known as the plump, supposedly plain, Irish teenager in the 1995 movie Circle of Friends. But Minnie Driver has played everything from a Russian country-western singer in the Bond film GoldenEye to a heart-transplant patient in the sentimental² romantic comedy Return to Me. Now, Minnie Driver is starring onstage as – herself. VOA's Rebecca Ward explains.

Minnie Driver, actress

We may remember her best for the sweet, coming-of-age film Circle of Friends. But that was back in 1995. Now, after a series of successful films starring opposite the likes of Rupert Everett, John Cusack, and Matt Damon, Minnie Driver is wowing audiences once again. This time, though, with a repertoire³ of soulful ballads⁴ and bluesy⁵ guitar riffs.

Minnie Driver is currently on tour promoting her new album Seastories and dropped by Voice of America studios to talk about the new CD.

"I live by the ocean and I write by the ocean, all my stories, basically I find inspiration by the ocean,” she says. “So, that's really where it came from, it's not more complicated than that. "

This is actually Driver's second CD - a follow-up to her 2004 debut⁶ Everything I've Got in My Pocket.

Minnie Driver (center), is currently on tour promoting her new album 'Seastories'

"I've loved acting⁷ and writing and singing since I was a kid," she said. " Artists do more than one thing, that's the whole point in being an artist is that you are a creative person. And I plan to do lots of things: I plan to write books, I plan to have kids, I plan to keep making records."

Reviews for Driver's new CD have been mostly kind, with USA Today comparing her favorably to rocker Chrissie Hynde. But in naming her main influences, the artists are overwhelming male.

She mentions, "Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills and Nash. Kind of folk, Americana singers. Some Woodie Guthrie, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash." 

Although Driver is currently singing her way across the United States, she has not given up her day job as an actor - and continues her role in the FX networks' television show - The Riches.

"I'm contracted to do a TV show, so they tell me when I have to go to work on that. And then I have to fit everything else around it. I couldn't make movies this year because I was touring with the record. So, I do whatever it is I'm not doing, if you see what I mean."

Well, whatever she is doing, she seems to be doing it right.

1 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

2 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

3 repertoire   

n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表

参考例句：

• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
• He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。

4 ballads   

民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴

参考例句：

• She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after another all evening. 她整晚一个接一个地大唱民谣和乡村小调。
• She taught him to read and even to sing two or three little ballads,accompanying him on her old piano. 她教他读书，还教他唱两三首民谣，弹着她的旧钢琴为他伴奏。

5 bluesy   

adj.布鲁斯乐的（一种摇摆乐）

参考例句：

• As a teenager I was obsessed ragtime, and bluesy guitar guys like Johnny Winter. 当我十几岁的时候我迷上了雷鬼，和JohnnyWinter那样的布鲁斯吉他手。 来自互联网
• Lips Accentuate your new bluesy beat in simply sensational LipSlicks Hint of Mauve. 为了强调新布鲁斯乐的节奏，涂上紫红色的唇彩是最自然的。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 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。