English, baby!

Mary J. Blige

Date: Feb 26 2007

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.

Mary J. Blige has produced and recorded with some of the best folks in the music business, including Sean Puffy Combs and Dr. Dre. She is widely known as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.”

At the Grammy Awards a few weeks ago, Blige won three awards: Best R&B Album (for The Breakthrough), Best R&B Song (for Be Without You) and Best R&B Female Vocal Performance. She had more Grammy nominations (a total of eight) for the year than any other artist.

Her performance that night certainly showed why she has earned the respect of her peers and her fans. After having just accepted an award on stage, she sang her heart out and was visibly moved with joy over being so honored.

Listen to Marni and Kevin talk about this powerful performer.

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.

Kevin

Marni

Kevin: I saw a Gap (RED), you know, that great AIDS…

Marni: Yeah.

Kevin: You know, product line…

Marni: Buying (RED).

Kevin: With, um… who’s the singer? Now I can’t think of her name. It was a really good ad.

Marni: Oh. Um… what, what… is she… female… What does she look like?

Kevin: Yeah, female, like, rapper… hip hop.

Marni: Oh! Mary J. Blige.

Kevin: That’s right. Sorry.

Marni: Big, uh, cross tattoo?

Kevin: That’s right. That’s right.

Marni: Oh, God. She is great.

Kevin: She’s cool.

Marni: She…

Kevin: She’s really cool.

Marni: Her new album is incredible. It’s very empowering, very soulful. Just, you know… She’s really putting herself out there.

Kevin: When did it come out?

Marni: Uh, not too long ago. I don’t know exactly when but I think within the last few months. But she’s… Yeah, she’s…

Kevin: She’s great.

Marni: It’s all the rage. Yeah.

Kevin: I really like her energy.

Marni: She’s got… Yeah. I agree. I think she’s got a lot to say. And, uh, I just… I… She is getting a lot of publicity for it and I think rightfully so. She’s… I think she’s just a really charismatic performer. She’s got a lot to….

Kevin: She’s very powerful.

Marni: Very powerful. Very, very powerful presence.

Kevin: Not only is she cool, but she’s me plus five. She’s 36.

Marni: 36. Yeah. See that’s, that is the cool thing is she’s not super young. She’s been around. She’s, you know, she’s nearing 40. I think that’s a time in your life where you have a lot to say.

Kevin: I love it.

Marni: I love it too.