VOA标准英语2013--Former US Pop Superstar Patti Page Dies at 85

 

Former US Pop Superstar Patti Page Dies at 85

Page was one of the most beloved singers of the post-war era. Her biggest hit, the "Tennessee Waltz," sold more than 10 million copies, and is considered to be the first true crossover music hit. It spent months on the pop, country and rhythm and blues¹ charts. In a 1990 interview, Page explained that her hit was a happy accident. 

"Actually it was a second side [flip side] and an afterthought really because we were having high hopes for 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus' [because] it was coming out at Christmas time and the record company didn't think anything would sell but a Christmas song," she said. "So, we put it on the B side of that great Christmas song thinking it would be so nondescript that no disc jockey would pick it up."

Born Clara Ann Fowler in Claremore, Oklahoma, a small town near Tulsa, Page originally dreamed of a career in commercial art. Her first job in the art department at a local radio station soon led to performing on her own 15-minute program. 

At age 20, Page was discovered by big-band leader Jack² Rael, who quit his job to become her manager. In 1948, she signed her first recording³ contract with Mercury Records and two years later enjoyed her first hit record. She stayed with Mercury for the next 14 years and recorded hit after hit including: “With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming,” and "Old Cape⁴ Cod⁵".

Her last hit was the Oscar-nominated “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte,” recorded for the Bette Davis movie of the same name. And then, there was “Doggie In The Window.” The novelty tune⁶ was a huge hit, but with its repeated barking sounds and silly lyrics⁷, the song has been cited by many critics as an example of all that was wrong with pop music in the early 1950s.

Patti Page is credited as the first artist to use the recording technique known as vocal⁸ overdubbing. She pioneered the concept in 1947, when she dueted with herself on the Top 20 single "Confess.”

"That came about through economics actually, because we had to pay for all the studio time, musicians and I had not sold any records or made any money," she said. "So, my manager [and] partner got the idea for me to do the echo on 'Confess' and so that's how that came about."

“Confess" was enough of a hit that Mercury was convinced to let Page try full four-part harmony by overdubbing on "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming." The label read: "Vocals⁹ by Patti Page, Patti Page, Patti Page and Patti Page.”

Throughout the 1950s, Patti Page made regular appearances on television variety shows and in 1957 she was chosen to host the rock-oriented musical program, "The Big Record." The following year, Page appeared in her own CBS television series, "The Patti Page Show." She continued to record and perform into the 21st century, most recently releasing an album of songs for children, a Christmas record, and a new “best of” collection. 

In addition to music, Patti Page did a bit of acting¹⁰. She co-starred with the Oscar-winning Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantry," and also starred on stage in the musical comedy "Annie Get Your Gun."

In 1980, the Academy of Country Music honored Patti Page with the Pioneer Award. She is also a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

1 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。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

5 cod   

n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗

参考例句：

• They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。
• Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。

6 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

7 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

8 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

9 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

10 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。