VOA标准英语2012--Hit Musical 'Rock of Ages' Gets Movie Makeover

 

Hit Musical 'Rock of Ages' Gets Movie Makeover

It's 1987, and the small-town girl is Sherrie. She's wide-eyed and newly arrived in Hollywood, seeking fame and fortune as a singer. Sherrie meets up with Drew, a bartender at a music club on Sunset Strip, who has his own dreams of rock stardom.

Country music singer and television dance star Julianne Hough plays Sherrie. She says she identifies with the character's stage fright.

"Every time I go on stage or do any kind of performance, there are always butterflies," Hough admits. "I'm always nervous. It always feels like the first time, so we could really let that come out."

Latin music star Diego Boneta makes his feature film debut¹ as Drew. Although he was born in 1990, he says he knew all of the "Rock of Ages" music.

"My parents only listened to 80s bands. So growing up, my favorite bands were the Police, Queen and U2," Boneta explains. "The older I got, I started listening to other 80s bands and even before auditioning² for this movie, I knew every single song." 

The film's surprise is screen idol³ Tom Cruise who plays jaded⁴ super star Stacee Jaxx.

Malin Akerman co-stars as a music journalist whose love of rock helps Jaxx rediscover his music.

Director and choreographer⁵ Adam Shankman helped reinvigorate the movie musical with the 2007 hit "Hairspray." Shankman believes the eclectic mix in "Rock of Ages" is familiar to today's teens as well as their parents.

"It just sort of is a testament⁶ to the fact that these songs are kind of evergreen⁷ and that they are much more substantial than people gave them credit for in the period," Shankman says. " I think people thought that these songs were going to go away …and they haven't."

"Rock of Ages" also features hip-hop star Mary J. Blige along with actors Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Russell Brand. All the actors, including Tom Cruise, sing their own roles.

1 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。

2 auditioning   

vi.试听（audition的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
• Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

4 jaded   

adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的

参考例句：

• I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend. 整个周末工作之后我感到疲惫不堪。
• Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates. 这道菜简直可以恢复迟钝的味觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网

6 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

7 evergreen   

n.常青树；adj.四季常青的

参考例句：

• Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的，被叫做常青树。
• There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。