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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC1 in VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
I'm Doug Johnson.
This week, a special year-end show, we answer a question about the famous New Year’s Eve party in New York City’s Times Square.
Play some music we missed.
And talk about the best books of two thousand ten.
(MUSIC)
DOUG JOHNSON: In December, many American newspapers publish a list of the best books of the year. Mario Ritter tells us about some of the favorite books of two thousand ten.
Books of 2010
MARIO RITTER: “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen is one of the most repeatedly2 praised books on this year’s lists of favorites. It tells about the ups and downs of the Berglund family over many years. Mr. Franzen fills the book with sharp observations about American politics, culture and society.
John Heald tests confetti that will be used in the New Year's celebration from a window above Times Square
Jennifer Egan’s book “A Visit from the Goon Squad” takes place in thirteen chapters over forty years. The story moves back and forth3 in time, from different viewpoints4. One main character is former rock musician Bennie Salazar who works5 for a record company. The other main character is a troubled young woman named Sasha who works for Bennie. The reader learns about their pasts and those of their friends.
The main character in “The Imperfectionists” by Tom Rachman is a failing English language newspaper published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter of the book tells about a reporter or editor working for this paper. Their stories are filled with intelligence and great personality.
“Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson takes place in a small town in England. Retired6 British army officer Ernest Pettigrew feels lonely after the death of his wife. He becomes friends with Mrs. Ali. She is a Pakistani-born shop owner living in the same town who has lost her husband. The two must decide between their feelings for each other and the opinions of friends and family about their relationship.
Two of the most popular non-fiction books of two thousand ten were about rock and roll stars. “Just Kids” is by rock singer Patti Smith. It tells about her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe in the nineteen sixties and seventies before they became famous.
“Life” is the autobiography7 of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. It is an honest and exciting look at the development of rock and roll and the wild times this famous band has experienced8.
“Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand tells about a man named Louis Zamperini. She tells about his extraordinary survival9 story after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during World War Two.
Stacy Schiff has received great praise for her book “Cleopatra: A Life.” It tells about one of the most misrepresented and famous women in history, Cleopatra. She ruled ancient Egypt about two thousand years ago. One critic said Ms. Schiff has brought Cleopatra to life again by unearthing10 her story from centuries of lies.
New Year’s in Times Square
DOUG JOHNSON: We have a very timely11 question this week from Burma. Ko Maw Gyi asks if the New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City’s Times Square is the happiest place in the United States.
That is hard to judge. People all over America seem to have fun on New Year’s Eve. But, the Times Square New Year’s Eve party is surely the biggest, oldest and most famous in the country. It has been taking place for more than one hundred years.
This year, city officials say they expect one million people to attend the free outdoor event. Performers include musicians Taio Cruz and Kei$ha. There will also be a wedding of two Marines who met in Iraq. They won a competition to be married on stage at the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.
Fireworks go off as the New Year's Eve ball is raised for the celebration in Times Square last year
And, of course, at one minute before January first the beautiful, shiny New Year’s Eve ball will drop. The colorful crystal12 ball weighs almost five thousand four hundred kilograms. It is placed on top of the flagpole on the roof of One Times Square. It will slowly fall to the bottom of the pole at the exact start of two thousand eleven. Then, one ton of bright colored papers will rain down on the people below. On these papers people from around the world have written their wishes for the New Year.
DOUG JOHNSON:
We can not possibly play all the music we would like to on American Mosaic each week. So it has become a tradition at the end of the year to share some of the music we missed. Fritzi Bodenheimer has our story.
Music We Missed
FRITZI BODENHEIMER:
Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is at the top of Spin Magazine’s list of forty best albums of two thousand ten. We covered that one just a few weeks back. However, number two on Spin’s list is “Halcyon Digest” from Deerhunter, a band we have never played. The indie-punk group formed in two thousand one in Atlanta, Georgia.
Here is “Helicopter” from “Halcyon Digest.”
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Nicki Minaj performing in June
Nicki Minaj was on almost all the lists of critics’ favorites this year. Her album “Pink Friday” was also a big seller13. It is currently14 number eight on Billboard’s Top Two Hundred Albums chart. And she is on Billboard’s list of ten top new artists. Here is “Moment 4 Life” from “Pink Friday.”
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We have played music from the Killers15. But, this year, its leader Brandon Flowers also did some work on his own. Flowers’ album, “Flamingo,” was released16 in September. Here he performs his young son’s favorite song from “Flamingo.” It is called “Crossfire.”
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The band Sleigh Bells is very new. Members Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller17 met in a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York in two thousand eight. Their first album, “Treats,” was released in April. Sleigh Bells is described as noise-pop. And it is loud. Just listen to “Infinity Guitars,” from “Treats.”
(MUSIC)
Finally, we hear from country-folk performer Elizabeth Cook. She began making music as a small child with her parents who play guitar, bass18 and other instruments.
Cook hosts a weekday radio show. She plays CDs, talks about cooking and gives advice on home care.
We leave you with a song from Elizabeth Cook’s album “Welder.” Here is “Not California.”
(MUSIC)
DOUG JOHNSON: I’m Doug Johnson. Our program was written by Dana Demange and Caty Weaver19, who also was our producer.
We wish you all the best in the New Year. Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.
1 mosaic | |
n./adj.镶嵌细工的,镶嵌工艺品的,嵌花式的 | |
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2 repeatedly | |
adv.重复地,再三地 | |
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3 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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4 viewpoints | |
观点,意见,角度( viewpoint的名词复数 ) | |
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5 works | |
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件 | |
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6 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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7 autobiography | |
n.自传 | |
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8 experienced | |
adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的 | |
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9 survival | |
n.留住生命,生存,残存,幸存者 | |
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10 unearthing | |
发掘或挖出某物( unearth的现在分词 ); 搜寻到某事物,发现并披露 | |
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11 timely | |
adj.及时的,适时的;adv.及时地 | |
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12 crystal | |
n.水晶,水晶饰品,结晶体;最好的玻璃器皿 | |
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13 seller | |
n.售货者,畅销品 | |
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14 currently | |
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前 | |
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15 killers | |
凶手( killer的名词复数 ); 消灭…者; 致命物; 极难的事 | |
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16 released | |
v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 );放开;发布;发行 | |
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17 miller | |
n.磨坊主 | |
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18 bass | |
n.男低音(歌手);低音乐器;低音大提琴 | |
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19 weaver | |
n.织布工;编织者 | |
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