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Michael Jackson: The King of Pop 永远的流行之王：麦可．杰克森

 

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课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

Michael Jackson’s tragic death on June 25th, 2009 generated almost unprecedented media coverage. As millions of Jackson’s fans around the world mourned, they also began to look back at the iconic singer’s life and rediscover the reasons why he became a global star.

2009年6月25日，麦可．杰克森不幸死亡的消息引发近乎空前的媒体报导。全世界千千万万的歌迷在悼念麦可的同时，也开始追忆这名具指标性地位歌手的一生，并重新探究他成为全球巨星的原因。

 

Jackson’s path to superstardom began in 1964 when, aged just six, he teamed up with his four older brothers to form The Jackson 5. Despite his tender age, Michael had exceptional vocal talent, and he led the group to a string of No. 1s. A solo career soon followed, and Jackson put out five hit albums, all before he turned 21.

杰克森的巨星之路始于1964年，当时年仅6岁的他与4位兄长共组了「杰克森5人组」(The Jackson)。尽管年纪很轻，麦可却拥有绝佳的歌唱天份，也带领该团体拿下一连串的排行榜冠军。麦可很快地便展开了单飞生涯，在21岁之前就推出了5张畅销专辑。

 

In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, the album that would cement his place in music history. With its flawless production, perfect mix of genres, not to mention Jackson’s unmatched vocals, the album crossed divides of color, taste, and culture, turning Jackson into a truly universal star. It became the best-selling album of all time, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. Jackson never matched Thriller’s success, but his subsequent releases are still among the world’s bestsellers.

1982年杰克森发行《颤栗》专辑，因而巩固了他在音乐史上的地位。无暇的制作、完美的曲风融合，更别提杰克森独一无二的嗓音，这张专辑跨越了肤色、品味及文化的分界，使杰克森成为真正的全球巨星。《颤栗》成为有史以来销售量最高的专辑，在全球共卖出了五千万张。虽然杰克森自己从未超越《颤栗》的佳绩，但他之后的专辑仍位于全世界畅销专辑之列。

 

Jackson’s influence on popular culture was immense, and entire generations were inspired by his music, dance moves, and style. Few can forget Jackson’s 1983 performance of Billie Jean on the Motown 25th Anniversary show, in which he immortalized the “moonwalk” and started a craze for wearing a single white glove. Today, many of the biggest acts in pop, R&B, and hip-hop cite Jackson as a significant influence. Famously, Jackson also revolutionized the music video, helping to popularize MTV in the process, with videos featuring complex storylines, high-quality production, and elaborate dance routines.

杰克森对流行文化影响甚巨，几个世代都受他的音乐、舞步及时尚风格所启发。很少有人能够忘记杰克森在1983年Motown 25周年纪念音乐会中表演的歌曲《比莉．珍》。在那场演出中，他让「月球漫步舞步」化为永恒，并开启了戴单只白手套的狂热风潮。即使在今日，许多流行音乐、R&B及嘻哈音乐的大人物仍认为杰克森对他们影响至深。众所皆知地，杰克森也改革了音乐录像带，运用复杂故事情节、高质量制作以及精心设计的舞步在过程中帮助推广MTV频道。

 

With his popularity scaling new heights, Jackson became known as the “King of Pop.“ For this music industry giant and legend in the eyes of many, there was surely no more fitting title.

由于受欢迎的程度再攀新高，杰克森被称为「流行音乐之王」。在许多人的眼中，此一称号对于这音乐界中的传奇巨擘，再适合不过了。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

tragic [ˋtrædʒɪk] adj. 悲剧性的；悲惨的，不幸的

global [ˋglob!] adj. 全世界的

team up (with somebody) 与...合作 to join with another person or group to achieve something

a string of 一串的，一系列 a series of

solo [ˋsolo] adj. 单独的；单独表演的

career [kəˋrɪr] n. 职业﹐事业

cement [sɪˋmɛnt] v. 巩固，加强

flawless [ˋflɔlɪs] adj. 无缺点的﹐无瑕的

universal [͵junəˋvɝs!] adj. 全世界的

influence [ˋɪnflʊəns] n. 影响力

anniversary [͵ænəˋvɝsərɪ] n. 周年纪念

 

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单词发音

 

unprecedented [ʌnˋprɛsə͵dɛntɪd] adj. 空前的﹐前所未有的

coverage [ˋkʌvərɪdʒ] n. 新闻报导

mourn [morn] v. 哀痛，哀悼

look back 回顾  to think of or remember what has happened in the past

put out  出版, 发行  to publish

immortalize [ɪˋmɔrt!͵aɪz] v. 使永恒；使不灭；使不朽

cite [saɪt] v. 表扬，表彰; 引用；举出

elaborate [ɪˋlæbə͵ret] adj. 精心制作的；精巧的

scale new heights  更上一层楼; 再攀新高

 

 

 

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课文讲解

 

The seventh of nine children, Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, a rough industrial town near Chicago. Growing up, he was abused by his father, Joe, who would often beat his children during rehearsals, and Jackson later described his childhood as painfully lonely. When Jackson filled his home, Neverland, with amusement park rides and a zoo, some suggested that the star was compensating for his lost childhood. Still, the singer attributed his success in large part to his father’s strict discipline.

杰克森出生于印地安纳州的盖瑞市，一个芝加哥附近充满犯罪及暴力的工业小镇，在九个小孩中排行第七。在成长的过程中，他常受到爸爸乔的虐待──乔常会在排练时殴打小孩。杰克森之后将自己的童年形容为「孤单到痛苦不已」。他在自己的家梦幻庄园(Neverland)里布置了满满的游乐园设施和一座动物园时，有人认为这位明星是为了想补偿错过的童年。尽管如此，这名歌手还是认为自己的成功很大程度上都归因于父亲的严格管教。

 

Jackson set records in almost everything he did. Aside from the biggest album, Jackson also had the biggest world tour when he performed to 4.5 million fans during his 1996 HIStory tour. And with record-breaking success came record-breaking earnings. In one year alone, Jackson earned $125 million, the most ever for an entertainer.

不管做什么，杰克森总能写下纪录。除了销售量最高的专辑之外，他也举办了规模最大的世界巡回演唱会。1996年的HIStory巡回演唱中，他在450万名歌迷面前演出。随着破纪录的成功而来的是破纪录的收入，仅仅一年内，杰克森就赚进高达一亿二千五百万美元，这是演艺人员有史以来最高的收入。

 

Using his huge fame and wealth, Jackson became a great humanitarian, supporting 39 charities and even setting up his own. He also co-wrote the famous charity single We Are the World, which raised $50 million for famine relief.

凭借自己傲人的名声与财富，杰克森成了一位慈善家，援助了39个慈善机构，甚至自己还设立了一个。他也共同创作了著名的慈善单曲《天下一家》（又译：四海一家）。这首为了救济饥荒而作的歌曲共募得了五千万美元。

 

By the late 1980s, tabloid reports focusing on Jackson’s apparent weird behavior and ever-changing appearance had begun to overshadow his musical career. Then, in 1993 (and again in 2003) charges of child sexual abuse forever blackened Jackson’s reputation, even though he was never found guilty. The stress of the original accusations resulted in a painkiller addiction – which many suspect eventually led his untimely death.

到了1980年代后期，八卦小报把焦点放在杰克森明显怪异的行为以及不断改变的外貌，相关报导开始让他的音乐生涯蒙上阴影。之后在1993年（2003年又一次），杰克森被控涉嫌猥亵男童，尽管从未被裁定有罪，他的名声从此蒙尘。最初被控性侵害的压力，造成日后对止痛剂上瘾，很多人也猜测这可能就是导致他早逝的原因。

 

Despite the controversy that surrounded him in life, however, Jackson remained a hugely admired artist and performer. And in death, he will be remembered for touching the hearts of millions with his timeless music. As Jackson once said, “Music has been my gift to this world. Through it, I know I will live forever.”

虽然杰克森一生当中充满争议，他仍然是备受景仰的艺人与表演者。纵已殒落，人们仍会记得杰克森曾以其历久弥新的音乐触动万千人心。就如同他曾说过的：「音乐是我给世界的礼物。透过音乐，我知道我将永垂不朽。」

 

−by James Laughton-Smith

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

rough [rʌf] adj. (地区、城市、学校等)危险的，充斥暴力的，犯罪率高的

industrial [ɪnˋdʌstrɪəl] adj. 工业的

abuse [əˋbjus] n. 虐待

rehearsal [rɪˋhɝs!] n. 排练，试演

suggest [səˋdʒɛst] v. 暗示

compensate for 补偿; 弥补

in large part 在很大程度上 mostly

discipline [ˋdɪsəplɪn] n. 纪律; 纪律状况; 训练; 磨练

aside from 除此之外 excluding; except for

earnings [ˋɝnɪŋz] n. 收入，工资

charity [ˋtʃærətɪ] n. 慈善机构﹐慈善团体

famine [ˋfæmɪn] n. 饥荒

weird [wɪrd] adj. 【非正式】古怪的﹐奇异的

guilty [ˋgɪltɪ] adj. 有罪的

 

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单词发音

 

ride [raɪd] n. 供乘骑的游乐设施 a device, such as one at an amusement park, that one rides for pleasure or excitement

humanitarian [hju͵mænəˋtɛrɪən] n. 人道主义者

relief [rɪˋlif] n. 救济；解救

tabloid [ˋtæblɔɪd] n.（以轰动性报导为特点的）小报

overshadow [͵ovɚˋʃædo] v. 夺去……的光彩; 使失色

blacken [ˋblækən] v. 败坏（名誉等）；诋毁

addiction [əˋdɪkʃən] n. 成瘾；上瘾

untimely [ʌnˋtaɪmlɪ] adj. 过早死亡/结束等; 过早的

admired [ədˋmaɪrd] adj. 受景仰的; 受人欽佩的

timeless [ˋtaɪmlɪs] adj. 永恒的

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. What is true about Michael Jackson as a child?

A. He liked to visit amusement parks and zoos.

B. He was of average talent for his age.

C. He led a happy and carefree life.

D. He was the lead singer of a band.

 

2. According to the article, which is NOT a reason for Thriller’s success?

A. The album appealed to people of different cultures.

B. The production of the album was perfect.

C. Michael Jackson sang in a revolutionary way.

D. Songs of different musical genres are featured on the album.

 

3. According to the article, how was Michael Jackson influenced by his father?

A. Michael inherited a love of music from his father.

B. Michael learned strict discipline from his father, which helped his career.

C. His father’s abuse helped Michael become a better singer and dancer.

D. Being beaten by his father made Michael afraid to make friends.

 

4. Which is NOT an achievement of Michael Jackson?

A. He sold more copies of a single album than anyone else.

B. He set up nearly 40 charities using his fame and wealth.

C. He performed to a record number of people in 1996.

D. He inspired music and fashion trends.

 

 

Michael Jackson Thriller HD

 

 

Billie jean

 

 

USA for Africa - We Are The World

 

 

 Answer

1. ( D )

2. ( C )

3. ( B )

4. ( B )