VOA标准英语2013-Top 5 Songs for Week Ending August 10

 

Top 5 Songs for Week Ending August 10

We’re rolling the five most popular songs in the Billboard¹ Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending August 10, 2013. 

We only get one new song this week, but what a song it is! That’s on the way; for now, let’s begin at the beginning -- in fifth place, where Daft Punk and PharrellWilliams slide a slot with “Get Lucky” likely ending their quest for their first Hot 100 singles victory. No matter: their Random² Access Memories album hit the jackpot here in the United States, while “Get Lucky” went all the way in more than 20 countries from Australia to Iceland. 

Also retreating a slot is Imagine Dragons. Lead singer Dan Reynolds says they used to play to half-empty casino showrooms in Las Vegas. How times have changed! The group drops a notch³ to fourth place with “Radioactive,” from their album Night Visions. After becoming stars in their native Las Vegas, Nevada, these four guys are now world headliners. This weekend, they perform at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan, and after that it’s on to Europe and the U.K.  

Miley Cyrus joins the crowd on the down escalator, as “We Can’t Stop” dips a slot to number three. Miley got a little defensive⁴ this week. Speaking to Notion Magazine, 20-year-old Miley says despite her provocative⁵ videos and outfits⁶, she’s not sleazy - in fact, she declares herself one of the hardest-working young celebrities⁷. Miley says she’s just living her dreams right now.

Why have all our songs been dropping? Here’s why: One Direction scores a huge debut⁸ in second place with “Best Song Ever”.  Harry Styles and his crew are touring the United States through Saturday August 10, then next month head for Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. 

It’s good to be Robin⁹ Thicke. Why? Robin, who collaborates¹⁰ with T.I. and Pharrell Williams on "Blurred¹¹ Lines" extends his chart domination to eight weeks. Not only is it the longest-running number one single of the year here in the States, Robin also has the new number one album in the United Kingdom.

That’s it for now, but we’ll convene¹² next week for a new hit list.

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

3 notch   

n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级

参考例句：

• The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
• He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

4 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

5 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

6 outfits   

n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
• Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具，因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句

7 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

8 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。

9 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

10 collaborates   

合作( collaborate的第三人称单数 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• Third, main economy Central Bank collaborates to cut the interest rate. 第三，主要经济体央行联手降低利率。
• Any one who collaborates should be shot. 与敌人勾结者一律枪决。

11 blurred   

v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离

参考例句：

• She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. 她饱受头晕目眩之苦。
• Their lazy, blurred voices fell pleasantly on his ears. 他们那种慢吞吞、含糊不清的声音在他听起来却很悦耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。