New Kids on the Block

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• heartthrob
• baby
• Gone out
• in the shadow of

• formula
• wholesome
• split
• retro

• hotshot
• in the house

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

The formula to make a boy band is simple. You need young men who can sing and dance and who are both cool and wholesome. It’s a familiar formula to us now through bands like Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, but it was invented by New Kids on the Block.

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, NKOTB was incredibly popular with songs like “The Right Stuff” and “Step by Step.” But as boys grew to men, the group split in 1994. Now, 24 years after they first got together, NKOTB is touring again and just released a new album called The Block.

Has enough time passed for their songs to sound retro and cool again? Or did the members of the group just want to give their fans another chance to see them? Listen to Amanda and Devan talk about the reunion.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Amanda

Devan:  The first two tapes I ever owned were Debbie Gibson and New Kids on the Block.

Amanda:  Nice. NKOTB in the house.

Devan:  Yeah. And I saw the other day that they’re back together!

Amanda:  They have reunited! They were on the Good Morning America show and Joey McIntyre out there…

Devan:  Oh, Joey.

Amanda:  I know! The heartthrob, right? The baby? But they don’t have that much new material, so c’mon.

Devan:  So it’s mostly, like, a reunion tour, not like a new, we’re back tour.

Amanda:  I think so. How old are they now? Mid-thirties? And they’re all married. They have children. I think maybe they should have left it. Gone out like a legend.

Devan:  Maybe. I kind of want to go. See I was too young to see them back when…the first time around. I really like them…

Amanda:  I was in high school.

Devan:  Oh…I’m sorry.

Amanda:  That’s alright. I think the interesting thing about them is I always felt bad for Marky Mark or Mark Wahlberg because I thought Donnie’s little brother…

Devan:  Marky Mark? Although you’re not supposed to call him that anymore…

Amanda:  Right. I thought, “That sucks for him because he’s in the shadow of his brother Donnie and he must be very jealous.” But today?

Devan:  Who’s the hotshot now?

Amanda:  Exactly. Right?

Devan:  Yeah, don’t feel so bad for anymore. Now I just feel bad for the older brother because he’s just doing sad reunion tours. Although not that sad because I’d be willing to go.

Amanda:  I’ll go with you.

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Lesson MP3

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