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David Bowie
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David Bowie
大卫·鲍威

Learn English with this music English Lesson

Date: May 13 2013

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Present Perfect Tense

Intro

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

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He was one of the most famous rock musicians of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and he’s back! David Bowie has returned with a new album, The Next Day. It’s his first release in 10 years, and he announced it on a special occasion: his 66th birthday.

In the 1970s, Bowie was known for being androgynous. His music was described as glam rock. But has he gotten more mainstream? Is his new music as good as the old stuff? Find out what Jeff and Amanda think in this music English lesson.

他是上世纪七八十年代最著名的摇滚音乐家之一,现在他回来了!大卫·鲍威带着他的新专辑《The Next Day》重返乐坛。这是他 10 年来发行的第一张专辑,而且他选择了一个特殊时刻宣布这件事情:他的 66 岁生日。

在20 世纪 70 年代,鲍威因其男女混合的风格而闻名。他的音乐被形容为华丽摇滚。但他是否多了些许主流气息呢?他的新音乐能够保持以往的水准吗?在本节以音乐为主题的英语课上,看看杰夫和阿曼达做何感想。

Dialog

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

Jeff

Jeff

Amanda

Amanda

Jeff:  Guess what?

Amanda:  What?

Jeff:  He’s back.

Amanda:  Bruce Springsteen?

Jeff:  Bowie. Bowie’s back.

Amanda:  I’m not placing that name.

Jeff:  David Bowie?

Amanda:  Caucasian?

Jeff:  I guess.

Amanda:  Kind of?

Jeff:  Yes, he’s British.

Amanda:  Give me something else.

Jeff:  Labyrinth?

Amanda:  Is that a movie?

Jeff:  Yes. From the ‘80s.

Amanda:  So he’s an actor and a performer.

Jeff:  I’d call him a performer. A genius.

Amanda:  Huh.

Jeff:  But mostly a musician. We’re talking about his new album, The Next Day.

Amanda:  He has a new album? I thought he was 102.

Jeff:  He is. But he’s a talented 102.

Amanda:  He’s still got it?

Jeff:  He’s got it.

Amanda:  Same sounds, or has he gone more one direction?

Jeff:  He’s a little less androgynous than the Ziggy Stardust days. He’s not doing the glam rock thing anymore, obviously, or hasn’t since the ‘70s. What he was famous for in the first place.

Amanda:  So he’s kind of reinvented himself?

Jeff:  He’s always reinvented himself.

Amanda:  Oh, like Madonna.

Jeff:  It’s kind of part of his persona.

Amanda:  Good for him.

Jeff:  He’s an icon.

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Amanda doesn’t know much about David Bowie, but Jeff’s a big fan. In fact, he thinks Bowie is a genius. Amanda is surprised that he has a new album, because she thought he was very old. He is old, but he still sounds good to Jeff.

Amanda wants to know how his sound has changed since the ‘70s. Jeff says he’s changed a bit in terms of how he looks, or the genre of music he plays, but that’s nothing new. Bowie has always reinvented himself.

Amanda thinks changing one’s persona from time to time is a good thing. She thinks Madonna is another artist who does that.

Are you a fan of David Bowie? What do you know or like about him? Can you think of any other artists who have reinvented themselves?

 

Comments

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Robbiewatch

China

Good for him.

05:34 PM Nov 03 2013 |

misa90

misa90

Germany

I like his music mainly because of my parents! I actually cant think of a “good” artist that would reinvent themselve nowadays.

01:30 AM May 26 2013 |

shaerwan

shaerwan

Syrian Arab Republic

i love Loena Lewis and Akon

03:49 PM May 17 2013 |

daniel82

daniel82

Germany

David Bowie is great singer and artist. I really love his work and songs..

01:51 PM May 15 2013 |

katyushka

katyushka

Ukraine

I have not known David Bowie but I heard his songs.

08:09 PM May 13 2013 |

terence25ftw

China

music is ever changing. who loved his music before i think would continue to support him, and ppl who never heard of him or those who aren’t into rock music might just wanna stick to their own idols’ music.

05:54 PM May 13 2013 |

kowatch

kowatch

Hungary

I don’t know anything about him, he is unknown for me.


I guess I know a band which have been reinvented itself. It’s Linkin Park. They played alternative rock. But their music has mixed with something techno music. I don’t enjoy their new songs.s

03:23 PM May 13 2013 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

I realy like the former music of David Bowie. Songs like “Hey little girl” or “Let’s dance” are earworms for me. I didn’t hear the new album.


By the way, his civil name is David Robert Haywood-Jones …. maybe an ebaby member is asked at the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? quiz ;-)

02:48 PM May 13 2013 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

Glam rock. David Bowie is back! I remember him in the movie Labirinth. Brilliant performance and very good looking guy with mismatched eyes. That’s true, he’s always changing, like a chameleon. So, you’ll never get bored :) with his multiple talents of reinvention. But from glam rock representatives, I better like Queen, Elton John  who said he’s too old to reinvent himslef and wants to stay true to his identity and from  American bands, I think, I’ll go for




 

01:52 PM May 13 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Sorry, i am not into it or more specifically  rock bands.  

12:59 PM May 13 2013 |

1 person likes this

leyla1

leyla1

Turkey

The greatest performer David Bowie. I think his music will be topical in the all time in any century.  And that fact that He is Brit can never make me indifferent)))))

12:31 PM May 13 2013 |

1 person likes this

angel_ eyes

Pakistan

Beginning of the lesson was confussing.

11:23 AM May 13 2013 |

Linn89

Singapore

Frankly speaking, I never heard of David Bowie. But after today’s lesson, I would go find out more about his new album, The Next Day. I would like to see if there are any nice songs that I could pick up from his new album. :)

11:16 AM May 13 2013 |

omar saidi

omar saidi

Tanzania, United Republic Of

Ooooooh !!!


I’m sorry,I’m not realy interesest about Rock musician .

10:21 AM May 13 2013 |

NuriaRuiz

NuriaRuizSuper Member!

Spain

I know David Bowe but i do not remember very well how it sounds his music. But i like so much madonna, and yes, i think that she reinvented herself constantly.

06:32 AM May 13 2013 |

2 people like this

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