外国人最想和你聊的文化话题：流行音乐

     Since the mid-1950s, pop music has been identified as the style of music accessible to the widest audience. This means the music that sells the most copies, draws the largest concert audiences and is played most often on the radio.
     自从20世纪50年代中期以来，流行音乐就被定义为拥有最广泛大众的音乐类型。由此，这种音乐唱片卖得最多，音乐会上人数最多，在收音机中也最常播放。
     Pop music has been and continues to be a melting pot that borrows and assimilates elements and ideas from a wide range of other musical styles.
     流行音乐曾经而且将来也会一直像一座熔炉一般，从各种音乐类型中借鉴并吸收其中的音乐元素和观念。
     Rock, R＆B, country, disco, punk, and hip hop are all specific genres of music that have influenced and been incorporated into pop music over the past 50 years.
     在过去50年中，摇滚、节奏蓝调、乡村音乐、迪斯科、朋克和嘻哈音乐等各种音乐流派都曾对流行音乐产生过影响，最终在流行音乐中被贯穿融合起来。
     Music videos and big live shows are often used to get pop stars more exposure in the media.
     流行歌星通常通过音乐录像和大型现场表演在媒体中曝光。
     Artists may have stage shows and well-rehearsed dance routines to go along with their music.
     艺术家可能会举办舞台剧，根据音乐精心编排舞蹈动作。
     Many pop tunes are used in dance clubs and sports clubs.
     舞厅和健身房中也播放很多流行乐曲。
     Pop music's accessibility and wide appeal means the genre is highly-prized among record companies, radio stations and music television channels.
     流行音乐的大众接受度和巨大的吸引力使它成为唱片公司、电台和电视音乐频道的佳宠。
     This is thanks to pop's ability to sell lots of records and get high ratings.
     这要归功于它的流行力，能热卖唱片，有高收视率和高收听率。
     Known as the "King of Pop," Jackson's dramatic stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.
     迈克尔·杰克逊被誉为"流行天王"，他精彩的舞台表演及创新的舞蹈动作被世界各地的粉丝所模仿。
     His one-gloved eccentric style also earned him plenty of critics and another nickname, "Wacko Jacko".
     然而，他的古怪风格也曾招致大量的批评，还因此被人称为"怪人杰克"。
     "For his legions of fans, he was the Peter Pan of pop music: the little boy who refused to grow up. But on the verge of another attempted comeback, he is suddenly gone, this time for good."--The New York Times.
     《纽约时报》撰文称："对他的粉丝而言，他是流行乐坛上的拒绝长大的彼得·潘（指天真的成年人）。然而就在他即将重返乐坛之时，他却这样突然地走了，这一次竟是永诀。"
     Michael Jackson's video for his hit single "Thriller" has been voted the most influential in pop music history.
     （美国已故流行天王）迈克尔·杰克逊的热门单曲《颤栗》MV被评为流行音乐史上最具影响力的音乐电视作品。
     Country and western music lies close to the heart of many Americans.
     乡村和西部音乐深得很多美国人的人心。
     This style originated among country folks in the southern and western United States.
     这种形态的音乐起源于美国南部和西部的乡村小民们。
     Country music tells down-to-earth stories about love and life's hardships. Guitars, banjos and violins-also known as fiddles-give country music its characteristic sound.
     乡村音乐讲述着真实不加渲染的爱情故事和生活中的艰难。
     The home of country music is Nashville, Tennessee-Music City U.S.A.
     乡村音乐的发源地是田纳西州的纳许维尔市--美国的音乐城市。
     Jazz music, developed by African-Americans in the late 1800s, allows performers to freely express their emotions and musical skill.
     爵士乐是十九世纪末期由非裔的美国人发展出来的。它让表演者自由地表现他们的情感和音乐技巧。
     Instead of just playing the melody, jazz musicians improvise different tunes using the same chords.
     不仅演奏旋律，爵士音乐大师用同样的和弦即兴演奏出不同的曲调。
     The peak of jazz music came in the 1920s, known as "The Jazz Era."
     爵士乐的高峰期出现于19世纪20年代，该时期被称为"爵士年代"。
     This period produced musicians like Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. These musicians later created the "big band" sounds of the 1930s.
     这个时期创造出来的乐手有阿姆斯特朗（Louise Armstrong），古德曼（Benny goodman）和埃林顿（Duke Ellington）。这些乐手稍后都创造了1930年代的"大乐团"之音。
     Different styles of jazz developed in different cities, such as New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Kansas City.
     在不同的城市也孕育出不同的爵士风格，像是新奥尔良、芝加哥、纽约和坎萨斯市。

     Gucci: I'm so excited to be here. It's hard to believe that I can see the Twins face to face, and get their signatures. Maybe I will get the chance to have a photograph with them...
     古奇: 到这里来我真的太兴奋了。很难相信我竟然可以面对面地看到Twins，还可以得到她们的签名。也许，我还可以有跟她们合影的机会......
     May: Calm down, sweetie. It's a long queue, and also their signatures are not free. You get them only after you buy their new released CD.
     阿美: 冷静一点，亲爱的。队伍那么长，况且她们的签名又不是免费的。你得买了她们发行的新唱片才可以得到的啊。
     Gucci：Come on, May. It's the time of my life. It's a wonderful thing that they issued their album here with this signature court.
     古奇:拜托，阿美，这可是我人生中的重要时刻。她们来这里开签售会发行新唱片多棒啊。
     May：You are such a big fan of them. Well, do you know when they started to sing?
     阿美:你可真是她们的超级粉丝啊。不过，你知道她们是从什么时候开始唱歌的吗？
     Gucci：Sure. Two years ago, they took part in a singing contest, and won the first place. After that, their fans appeared in a rush.
     古奇:那当然，两年前，她们参加了一个歌唱比赛，并且夺得了第一名。在那之后，她们的粉丝数量很快地扩大了。
     May：What about their singing standard?
     阿美:她们的歌唱水平怎么样？
     Gucci：You've got to the point. They have very sweet voices.
     古奇:你说到点子上了。她们的嗓音非常甜美。
     May：Can they do high notes?
     阿美:她们能唱高音吗？
     Gucci：I think so. But they don't rely on hitting high notes to attract you. The point is their songs can always touch your soul, making you feel pure.
     古奇:我觉得可以。不过她们不靠高音来吸引你。关键在于她们的歌可以打动你的灵魂，让人感觉到纯净。
     May：Sounds good. Hey, the poster on the wall says that they are going to hold a concert next Friday. Will you be there?
     阿美:听起来不错。嗨，墙上的海报说下周五她们要举办一场演唱会。你会去听吗？
     Gucci：Yeah. I've got two tickets. Would you like to join me?
     古奇:我去，我有两张票呢。你想和我一起去吗？
     May：I'd love to.
     阿美:我很乐意啊。