VOA标准英语2010年-Cyndi Lauper Sings the Blues

Cyndi Lauper's recent transformation¹ from pop diva to blues² maven was inspired by her lifelong admiration³ for the early blues pioneers, including one the earliest of them all, Ma Rainey. Lauper dedicated⁴ the album to Rainey, whose influence on younger singers earned her the title, "Mother of the Blues."

Lauper's love for jazz and blues began after hearing records by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Growing up in Queens, New York, she also listened to The Beatles and Janis Joplin. One of her first groups was a duo called Blue Angel, described as a "cross between rockabilly and new wave." Having only limited success with Blue Angel, she launched a solo singing career, and, in 1984, released one of the best-selling albums of the decade, "She's So Unusual."

Watch Cyndi Lauper Discuss Her New Album:

The album produced four Top 5 singles, including "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", and earned her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Lauper has shifted musical directions over the years, alternating between acoustic⁵ and electronic rock, dance and pop standards. With "Memphis Blues," she says, "The blues is the basis of everything you sing your whole entire life."

Cyndi Lauper, teaming up with guitarist Jonny Lang, performs a chilling rendition of the Robert Johnson classic, "Crossroads."

Also featured on the album are blues and soul greats B.B. King, Alan Toussaint, Charlie Musselwhite and Ann Peebles.

Lauper is currently promoting her latest outing with a national radio appearance and upcoming concerts in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Connecticut
 

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

2 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。

3 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

4 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

5 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。