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Ashanti

Date: Apr 15 2002

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.

Many people know Ashanti Douglas because of her collaborations with hip-hop superstars like Ja Rule and Fat Joe. Nobody, however, predicted that she would become so popular so fast. Ashanti’s first album, titled Ashanti, sold over 500,000 copies the first week it was available. That made it the #1 album in the U.S..
“Foolish, ” the first song from the album, is also very popular. It’s on the radio all the time, and MTV plays the video several times every day.
Read on to learn more about Ashanti.

Dialog

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

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

Most of Ashanti’s songs are related to relationships with men. She expresses her confusion in several of them. She doesn’t seem to understand why men treat her the way they do.
Some lyrics from “Foolish:”
Baby I don’t know why you treat me so bad
You said you love me, no one above me
And I was all you had
And though my heart is beating for you,
I can’t stop crying
I don’t know how I allow you to treat me this way
and still I stay
See my days are cold without you
But I’m hurting while I’m with you
And though my heart can’t take no more
I keep on running back to you

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Discussion

I like Ashanti. She’s pretty. She has style. And, she can write good songs. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a great voice. It doesn’t even compare to other R&B singers like Mary J Blige and Mariah Carey.
However, I don’t think the lack of a good voice will keep Ashanti from having a very successful music career. Britney Spears has gone a long way without a good voice, and I’m sure Ashanti can do the same.
What do you think of Ashanti? Have you heard the song “Foolish?” Do you like it? Come to the Music Mix message board and let us know!
Rock on,
Migs