Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Metro Station

Metro Station

Date: Sep 29 2008

Themes: Music

Intro

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

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

Where would you assume a band called Metro Station is from? Probably a city known for it’s transit system and metro like Paris or London? You certainly wouldn’t think of a city famous for its traffic like Los Angeles.

But not only does Los Angeles have a metro system (though you wouldn’t know it to look at the freeways) but it’s home to Metro Station, a young band with a song called “Seventeen Forever,” that hasn’t stopped the singer from turning 19.

In any case, Metro Station just released their first album and they’re making a name for themselves with catchy, happy rock music. But you might already know one of their names and not even know it. Listen to Jason and Marni talk about them.

Dialog

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

Log in to Listen

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

Jason

Jason

Marni

Marni

Jason:  Metro Station is the hit of the summer.

Marni:  It’s pretty…yeah, it sounds like a summer hit.

Jason:  It is summery. It’s synthpop. It kind of reminds me of a lot of newer bands like Sum 41, that whole pop punk thing, but with synthesizers and sort of an ‘80s influence.

Marni:  It seems to be the thing right now.

Jason:  Is it? I thought it really stood out. I thought it was legitimately retro at times. I was like, wow, this actually could have been made in the year the singer was born, 1989.

Marni:  Exactly. Well, I guess, maybe that’s what it is. All these bands that are popping up and it’s like, you know, wow, you have this total ‘80s influence and you’re like 19. But, you know, that’s sort of the way music goes. It’s cyclical.

Jason:  But what I didn’t know was…I heard it and I thought it was great party-time music, but then I discovered the is Miley Cyrus’ brother, Trace Cyrus.

Marni:  Wow.

Jason:  Isn’t that weird?

Marni:  It’s a little mind-blowing.

Jason:  Two child stars in one family? Of, like, totally different styles, too.

Marni:  Very different styles.

Jason:  Because this is like a band. It’s like the kind of band you feel like could have just met in high school and started a band. It’s not like Hannah Montana...

Marni:  ...well, it’s very put together. I mean, maybe Metro Station is also, but they’re sort of more covert about it perhaps?

Jason:  At least that.

Marni:  Interesting. Wow. How did Billy Ray Cyrus manage to have such…

Jason:  ...good genes?

Marni:  His career just failed, but he decided to pop out two children.

Jason:  He can live vicariously.

Marni:  Yeah, and financially.

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Metro Station’s synthesizer-based rock sounds a lot like music from the 1980s, which is funny because that’s when the band members were born. Marni thinks a lot of bands have an ‘80s influence right now, but Jason thinks Metro Station sounds fresh.

Marni is surprised to learn that Metro Station is led by Trace Cyrus, Miley’s brother. But unlike Miley’s musical act, Hannah Montana, which was invented to be marketed, Metro Station seems to have formed like any other band, out of musicians playing music together. If it didn’t, you can’t tell from the music.

Do you think it’s popular to sound like ‘80s music right now? Which do you prefer, bands that form on their own, or artists who are created by the music industry?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

jdsuarez.7n@hotmail.es

Costa Rica

Smile

09:11 PM Mar 08 2011 |

little DNA

little DNA

Viet Nam

can't figure out why this band is so popular these days.

Metro Staion sounds nothing special.

03:18 AM Jun 20 2009 |

little DNA

little DNA

Viet Nam

can't figure out why this band is so popular these days.

Metro Staion sounds nothing special.

03:18 AM Jun 20 2009 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

They are awesome!! :)

02:16 AM Dec 16 2008 |

dhbtony

dhbtony

China

hi who will be my new foreigner friends

01:53 AM Sep 30 2008 |

DricaBr

DricaBr

Brazil

Me too! I had never heard of this  band.

Now I have  to  google them.

11:52 PM Sep 29 2008 |

ozlemus

ozlemus

Turkey

I like metro station,ı know a song called shake it.I agree the text,it sounds like a summer hit. and it shows sort of an 80s influence,but they are not different from other that kind of music band.

05:11 PM Sep 29 2008 |

GlacialBaiser

Russian Federation

I think it's popular. I really love Bon Jovi's music from '80s, Aerosmith, Scorpions or Europe. I hate disco music of the 80s Laughing

04:38 PM Sep 29 2008 |

magic1015

magic1015

China

hahaha…

 

osis 's new ablum has been released !!

04:04 PM Sep 29 2008 |

azar_200816

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i couldnt understand this text

04:04 PM Sep 29 2008 |

Totto

Totto

Sudan

Actually, I have not heard of this band untill when I loged on here.  Their music is retro and cyclical even though they were born in the 80's.  I do not think it is popular to sound like 80's.

I prefer bands who form on their own, for they may come up with a new and very unique style in everyway.

03:33 PM Sep 29 2008 |

herrybanana

China

It is wonderful!pretty good!Wink

03:15 PM Sep 29 2008 |

Jania28

Slovakia

Nice :)

01:27 PM Sep 29 2008 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Yeah! pop punk! that's nice! I like this kind of music! 

12:52 PM Sep 29 2008 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

I like Madonna

09:21 AM Sep 29 2008 |

vanilla_leaf

China

wow the chat is still a little bit difficult for me to understand out of script.

however ,i will hold on and study everyday ..hope it will make progress..

i have listened to <wish we were old> from metro station just now..it sounds energetic with little fear about life and others' comments…great !young!

both form of music is ok to me ,as long as it is good to listen ~

09:09 AM Sep 29 2008 |

Steelheart

Indonesia

No problem to sound the 80's music. I like them

03:14 AM Sep 29 2008 |

dearpesar

dearpesar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

no it's not popular and i prefer bands on their own

02:43 AM Sep 29 2008 |

Likes (22):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast