环球英语 — 410：Bobby McFerrin: Musical Mouth

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Voice 1

Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Christy VanArragon.

Voice 2

And I’m Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

Here is a question for you to answer. How many people do you hear singing in this song? Listen closely.

Five? Six? It sounds like many people are singing, but it is only one man. His name is Bobby McFerrin.

Voice 2

Today’s Spotlight is on Bobby McFerrin. Bobby McFerrin believes that the greatest musical instrument is the human voice. Some people become experts in one kind of music. But Bobby McFerrin sings many kinds of music. Some people play music just like everyone else, but no one makes music quite like Bobby McFerrin does.

Voice 1

Bobby was born in 1950. His parents were both singers. They encouraged Bobby in music. At first, Bobby played the piano. He did not consider himself much of a singer. But, when he was already 27 years old, he decided to see what he could do as a singer. He says:

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“I was in a quiet minute when a simple thought just came into my head: ‘Why don’t you sing?’ It was as simple as that, but it must have had some force behind it because I acted on it immediately.”

Voice 2

Bobby found he had a very good singing voice. For a few years he travelled around the United States performing with other musicians. But, in 1983, he heard an improvisational show by piano player Keith Jarret. Improvisation is when there is no written music, or when musicians change the music as they play, without planning. They react to what is happening around them. They react to the other musicians and to the people watching.

Voice 1

Bobby McFerrin knew that he wanted to be an improvisational singer. He says this about his decision:

Voice 3

“I came up with this strange idea just to walk out in front of people, with no other musicians. I would just start singing whatever came to my mind. In fact, I fought against the idea for a while because it seemed to go against what people were doing. But it became clear that it was what I was supposed to be doing.”

Voice 1

Bobby continued to explore all the sounds the human voice can make. He sang very high and very low. He learned a new method of singing - throat singing. Using this method, he can make several sounds at the same time. He kept a beat by hitting his chest. He can sound like a bird, or a car, or a machine. He will shout, clap his hands together, and move his feet. He will use whatever he can to make the sounds he wants. This is what makes Bobby McFerrin a different kind of singer.

Voice 2

Because he was inventing new ways to sing, Bobby McFerrin became a popular singer. Radio and television shows invited him to perform.

But the high point of his popularity was in 1988 with a song called, “Don’t worry, Be Happy”.

Here’s a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don’t worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble ...

Voice 2

There are no instruments in this song. All the different sounds you hear are Bobby singing. He would sing one part and then record another part on top of it. He did this many times until the song was complete.

Voice 1

It is hard to put Bobby McFerrin into a single musical category. This is because he does not put himself in any particular musical category. Even after he became popular, he did not stop exploring music. He continues to have an interest in every kind of music.

Voice 2

Bobby sings popular songs. He sings jazz and music from around the world. He will be in the middle of a classical piece and suddenly start singing the theme song to a television show! This is all part of Bobby’s kind of improvisational singing.

Voice 1

His singing has led him to work with some of the best musicians in several musical areas. He has played with jazz musicians Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. He has played with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and with guitar player Ferenc Snétberger. But his interest in music does not end with performing.

Voice 2

Bobby’s wide interest in music has also led him into conducting classical music. The conductor is the leader of the orchestra. He is responsible for giving each piece of music a new feeling.

Voice 1

But Bobby could not stop singing. Soon he was taking the part of a violin or cello or another instrument in the orchestra. He is both the conductor and the singer at the same time. Listen to this:

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Bobby McFerrin loves music. He wants other people to love it too. He even holds workshops to help people learn about music, about their voice, and about what they can do to make music.

Voice 1

Even though Bobby is teaching other people about music, he does not want to stop singing. He loves singing too much. He says this about his shows:

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“When I am on stage by myself, I do not have to think about anything. I do not have to worry about anything because I am not responsible for anything except just opening my mouth and making sure that music comes out.”

Voice 2

As you have heard today, Bobby is a skilled singer. But he is also a person who connects things that most people find easier to keep separate. One reporter said this about Bobby McFerrin:

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“He is that rare artist who can cross many kinds of music and find a sound that is all his own. ... His music is natural, beautiful and timeless. It crosses all borders and holds all cultures.”