Learn about the past progressive tense.

Intro

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

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• arena show
• chorus
• solo
• over the top

• legend
• era
• groundbreaking
• classic rock

• constitute

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There are plenty of good rock bands out there today, but not many of them can be called legends. When you think of rock n’ roll legends, you probably think of guys like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison of the Doors, or Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. All those guys with big talent and big reputations, whose era of rock n’ roll (the 1960s and 1970s) was so important and groundbreaking that it’s what we call classic rock today.

But for some, the definition of classic rock is changing. Music from the 1980s or even the 1990s that is similar in style to the rock music of the 1960s and 70s is now sometimes labeled “classic rock,” too. Find out why Jason and Marni believe in a more classic definition of classic rock.

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.

Marni

Jason

Marni:  Jason, I was just listening to one of my absolute favorite albums, 2112, Rush.

Jason:  Oh my goodness.

Marni:  Some good old classic rock. Are you a fan of classic rock?

Jason:  Absolutely. I mean, it’s just, there’s never a time when I don’t want to be listening to classic rock.

Marni:  Exactly! I’m kind of fascinated by this because obviously, it’s 2011, and classic rock has been established for a long time as music from the 1960s and 70s, maybe early 80s. But now, you know, it’s like, what constitutes classic rock?

Jason:  Yeah! I was thinking about that, that some kid might be like, “Yeah, my dad listens to classic rock, like, you know, Nirvana.” What? That’s not classic rock!

Marni:  Yeah, exactly.

Jason:  I mean classic rock, to me, it’s about that era, the whole culture of rock around that time.

Marni:  Right.

Jason:  Because it was played in arenas, and the music reflects that. It’s really heavy on choruses and long solos and just being really over the top as opposed to kind of gearing itself for radio play and things like that.

Marni:  You’re totally right, and I also think it’s about the musical legends, you know? Like when you think about amazing guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, or an amazing vocalist like Robert Plant or something. It’s that era.

Jason:  You could get guitarists now that are as good as those guys, but they don’t have that legendary reputation. You just don’t feel like you’re in the presence of…

Marni:  Of greatness.

Jason:  Yeah!

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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