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Lady Antebellum 怀旧女郎

 

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This band is new on the scene and experiencing a crash course in fame  这支乐团是乐坛窜起的新星，正忙着学习品尝快速成名的滋味

 

Sitting on top of the music world  登上乐坛巅峰

 

There’s a lot to live up to when your first album rockets out of the gate to the top of the charts. For Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, it meant taking a big breath, seeking wise counsel, making smart choices … then heading right back to the top of the music world.

你的第一张专辑如果一推出就跃升排行榜冠军，接下来要维持同样水平就很辛苦了。对于怀旧女郎乐团的希拉里．史考特而言，要达到这个目标的做法就是深吸一口气、寻求明智的建言，并做出精明的选择……然后回头登上乐坛的顶峰。

 

After briefly commanding the heights with 2008’s self-titled debut, the Nashville trio has landed firmly in the stratosphere. Need You Now was one of 2010’s blockbuster albums. That’s no small thanks to its title track, which dominated country and mainstream radio as the group’s star blossomed.

来自纳许维尔的这个三人组乐团在二００八年的首张同名专辑短暂高踞排行榜第一名，如今已稳稳跻身巨星之林。〈想念你〉是二０一０年的畅销专辑之一，而这项成就的一大功臣乃是专辑中的同名单曲。这首歌曲席卷乡村与主流音乐电台，而该团也随之星运亨通。

 

“We’ve learned to work well in the chaos,” Scott says with a laugh.

「我们已学会在混乱当中好好工作，」史考特笑着说。

 

The road to stardom  迈向明星之路

 

Scott was a 23-year-old newbie when Lady Antebellum hit the scene in 2008. [In an interview] that spring, she described a late-night scene at a Walmart where she burst into happy tears as she watched the group’s disc get stocked on shelves.

怀旧女郎在二００八年窜起时，史考特只是个二十三岁的乐坛菜鸟。在那年春天的一次访谈里，她提到了有天深夜在沃尔玛卖场里见到的情景：当时她看着工作人员把他们的唱片排列在架上，开心得热泪盈眶。

 

“There’s never going to be another time like this in our career,” she gushed at the time. “We’re soaking it up as much as we can.”

「在我们的音乐生涯里，再也不会有这么一段时光，」她当时情绪激动地说：「我们尽量充分沈浸在这个时刻。」

 

There’s been plenty to soak up. The ensuing two years brought a crash course in stardom to Scott and her group mates, co-vocalist Charles Kelley and guitarist Dave Haywood. The trio’s ride has led it to the top of the pop charts, critics’ A-list and an inaugural headlining tour.

他们需要充分沈浸的事物可多了。接下来的两年，史考特和团员──共同主唱查尔斯．凯利与吉他手戴夫．海伍德──迅速登上明星的地位。这个三人组的成名之旅让他们一路冲到了流行乐排行榜冠军、乐评眼中的一流乐团，以及他们首次担纲的巡回演唱会。

 

The group is an early hot pick in the upcoming Grammy sweepstakes, where analysts expect a strong run for record, song and even album of the year.

在即将来临的葛莱美奖当中，这支乐团是初期的热门得奖人选。分析家认为他们在年度最佳唱片、最佳歌曲甚至最佳专辑等项目上都很有机会胜出。

 

It was [last] February’s Grammy show, in fact, that helped propel Need You Now into the greater pop consciousness after its lengthy run on the country side. The group’s elegant rendition helped send the song to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 en route to more than 4 million sold.

实际上，〈想念你〉在乡村歌坛轰动许久之后，就是去年二月的葛莱美奖节目把这首歌曲广为介绍给众多流行音乐听众。该乐团的美妙献唱促使这首歌登上了告示牌百大热门单曲排行榜的第二名，后来卖出了四百多万张。

 

 

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live up to 实践; 遵守; 坚持 meet the requirements or expectations of

command the heights 制高点; 高居榜首 in control of the top position

stratosphere [ˋstrætə͵sfɪr] n. 最高档次的时装/流行音乐等

hit the scene 窜起 first becoming popular

gush [gʌʃ] v. 过分动情

soak something up 接受并吸收某事物 to enjoy something

vocalist [ˋvokəlɪst] n. 歌手

a-list 一线的; 最优秀的 people who are currently the most popular or desired for a position or role

headline [ˋhɛd͵laɪn] v. 当主角 to present or promote as a headliner; to publicize, feature, or star (a specific performer, product, etc.).

pick [pɪk] n. 挑选; 选择; 【非正式】某物中的精华[最好的东西] the best people or things in a group

sweepstake [ˋswip͵stek] n.〔胜者可获全部赌金的〕赌金全赢制

consciousness [ˋkɑnʃəsnɪs] n.（个人或群体的）意念；意识

rendition [rɛnˋdɪʃən] n. 表演；演奏

en route 【法】在路上; 在途中  on or along the way

 

 

 

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Right out of a movie  彷佛电影剧情

 

If you were scripting a country crossover hit in 2010, you’d likely dream up something just like the group’s sophomore album: Take a photogenic coed group that writes its own stuff, divvy up the lead vocal duties and lather on the harmonies with a smattering of high-energy rockers among mid-tempo message songs and emotional ballads.

你如果想在二０一０年筹划一张乡村跨界畅销唱片，那么你梦想中的那张唱片很可能正如怀旧女郎的第二张专辑：找一个有男有女的团体，男的俊，女的俏，自己会写歌，并由数人分担主唱任务，再穿插上和声；内容除了传达讯息的中板乐曲和浪漫情歌之外，也包括少数几首生气蓬勃的摇滚歌曲。

 

Lady Antebellum’s solid critical reception has been bolstered by its songwriting bona fides: Group members helped write all but three of the new album’s 11 songs, and Scott says they’ve already penned nearly another full album of new material.

怀旧女郎自行创作的诚意又进一步稳稳提高了乐评对他们的接受度；新专辑的十一首歌中，只有三首不是由团员自行创作，而且史考特表示他们已经又写出了将近一整张专辑的新歌。

 

With Need You Now scoring big from South Africa to Switzerland, Scott and her group mates are wrapping their heads around their growing international success in what she calls “an overwhelming and humbling” year.

随着〈想念你〉从南非到瑞士都大受欢迎，史考特和团员才刚开始意识到他们在国际间的名气日益高涨（译注：wrap one’s head around指试图去理解某事）。她把这一年称为「令人惊叹又深感谦卑」的一年。

 

“You can’t really take in everything, and part of me is sad about that, because of all the opportunities we’ve had,” she says. “But I also really appreciate the fact that we can’t process it all, because that’s when it starts going to your head.”

「你不可能真正充分领会一切，我的内心有一部分也因此感到难过，因为我们拥有这么多的机会，」她说：「但我也对我们无法完全消化处理这一切深觉感激，否则我们不免会冲昏了头。」

 

Self-discipline has been crucial. Scott says key decisions – like when to step up to headlining tour status – have been “very careful,” prompted by an awareness that “it can hurt you pretty severely from a career standpoint of you go too big too early.”

自律非常重要。史考特说，他们做出各项关键决定──例如何时当上巡回演唱会的主角──都「非常小心」，随时提醒自己：「从事业发展的角度来看，如果太早声名大噪，很可能会对自己造成很大的伤害。」

 

A foundation of friendship  以友谊为基础

 

“More than anything, we grew as people,” she says of the past two years. By the time the new album came along, “we knew each other a lot better, so the comfort level was there to not be afraid to expose deepest emotions. That only comes with friendship, and building the trust that comes with it. I don’t understand how there are bands that can exist and function without that strong friendship as a foundation, especially when you write your own music.”

「最重要的是，我们都有所成长，」她对过去两年的经历这么说道。等到新专辑推出的时候，「我们相互之间都更加了解对方，所以相处得很自在，不怕表现出内心最深处的情感。只有建立了友谊，并且培养出随着友谊而来的信任，才能达到这样的成果。我不明白有些乐团为什么能够在没有坚实友谊的状况下存在及运作，尤其是如果还必须创作自己的音乐。」

 

－by Brian McCollum

 

单词发音

 

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script [skrɪpt] v. 期待; 计划 to prepare (a text) for filming or broadcasting

crossover [ˋkrɔs͵ovɚ] n. 混合音乐 the appropriation of a new style (especially in popular music) by combining elements of different genres in order to appeal to a wider audience

dream up 凭空想象, 虚构, 编造 to invent by ingenuity and imagination

sophomore [ˋsɑfmor] adj. 第二(年)的 being the second in a series

coed [ˋkoˋɛd] adj. 男女同校的 of or relating to an education system in which both men and women attend the same institution or classes

lather [ˋlæðɚ] v. 覆盖 to spread with or as if with lather

harmony [ˋhɑrmənɪ] n. 和声 a combination of sounds considered pleasing to the ear

high-energy 有力的；有生气的 vigorously energetic or forceful

rocker [ˋrɑkɚ] n. 摇滚歌曲 a rock 'n' roll song

mid-tempo 中板速度或节奏的 at a medium tempo, neither fast nor slow

ballad [ˋbæləd] n. 情歌；（节奏缓慢的）流行抒情歌曲

bolster [ˋbolstɚ] v. 支撑；加固

bona fides [ˋbonə ˋfaɪdiz] n.【拉】誠意；善意good faith; sincerity

score [skor] v. 得胜，成功 Slang to succeed in acquiring

wrap one’s head around 试图去理解某事 to come to a good understanding of

take in 接受; 理解 to include

process [ˋprɑsɛs] v. 处置; 处理 to treat or prepare by a special method

go to one's head (指成功)使人自负或过于自信 If something that you have achieved goes to your head, it makes you too proud.

step up 站出来 to improve one's performance or take on more responsibility, especially at a crucial time

prompt [prɑmpt] v. 提示 to assist with a reminder; remind

standpoint [ˋstænd͵pɔɪnt] n. 立场，观点

come along 出现 to show up; appear

 

 

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Hard work, despite fast stardom  虽然一夕窜红，仍然勤奋不懈

 

It’s easy to look at the quick success of Lady Antebellum and assume the popular country band made it to the top without paying its dues.

看到怀旧女郎在短时间内大获成功，外界很容易会以为这支热门的乡村乐团没有付出代价就登上了巅峰。

 

Co-vocalist Hillary Scott knows this.

共同主唱希拉里．史考特对此非常清楚。

 

“A lot of people might read into it that we didn’t work for it,” she says. “But that’s not the case at all.”

「许多人可能会因此解读为我们的成功不是努力追求而来的，」她说：「但事实上根本不是如此。」

 

Lady Antebellum’s breakthrough came from an unlikely place. The Nashville band was featured on adult-contemporary artist Jim Brickman’s 2007 single “Never Alone” before the band even had a record deal.

怀旧女郎在一个意想不到的地方有了突破性的发展。这支来自纳许维尔的乐团为成人抒情歌手金．布里克曼跨刀演唱二００七年推出的单曲〈永不孤单〉，当时他们根本连唱片合约都还没拿到。

 

“For him to believe in us and put our voices on a song – such a beautiful song – we were honored,” Scott says. “We had a song on the radio before we had a deal.”

「他愿意相信我们，让我们演唱这首这么美妙的歌曲，我们都深感荣幸，」史考特说：「我们还没拿到唱片合约，就已经有一首歌在电台上播放了。」

 

The group has been on a roll ever since.

自此以后，这支乐团就一路顺遂，好运连连。

 

 

“That pushed us to get better,” Scott says.

「那样的经验促使我们更加精进，」史考特说。

 

Growing as a band  整个乐团一起成长

 

The group’s early success allowed the band members to have more confidence when it came time to record their latest album.

早到的成功使得乐团成员在录制最新专辑时更有自信。

 

“We were able to go in less nervous, more willing to take chances, stretch ourselves lyrically and musically, and go for more honesty in the songwriting … It’s very personal for us. We write from our own experience.”

「我们因此而能够不那么紧张，比较愿意冒险，在词曲方面都尽量发挥到极限，并且在我们创作的歌曲中表现出更坦诚的一面。……对我们来说，创作是非常个人化的事情；我们的创作都来自我们的亲身体验。」

 

Before Lady Antebellum’s quick rise to fame, Scott says, the members were still getting comfortable with one another when recording their first album.

史考特说，在怀旧女郎迅速窜红之前，乐团成员录制首张专辑时，还在学着磨合相处。

 

“We were getting to know each other and becoming better friends and stumbling our way through the first album.”

「我们还在互相了解、深化友谊，在跌跌撞撞的摸索当中录制我们的第一张专辑。」

 

Through all that, she says, their debut was representative of where they were at that time in their friendships.

她表示，透过那一切，首张专辑代表了他们当时友谊所在的阶段。

 

“It was very green, but fresh-feeling,” Scott says. “It has its place, and I’m proud of the album.”

「那张专辑非常青涩，但也很清新，」史考特说：「它有它特殊的地位，我也对那张专辑引以为傲。」

 

Lady Antebellum is already at work on a third album while on tour.

怀旧女郎一面举办巡回演唱会，一面开始筹备第三张专辑。

 

“We know this sounds cliché, but we want this show to be the show where everyone says, they were there.”

「我们知道这么说听起来很老套，可是我们希望这场演出能够让所有人都说：当时我也在场。」

 

－by Kevin C. Johnson

 

单词发音

 

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assume [əˋsjum] v. 以为；（想当然地）认为

read into 〔错误地〕认为〔某事〕含有某种意思 to discern in or infer from a statement (meanings not intended by the speaker or writer)

take chances 冒险 take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

stretch [strɛtʃ] v. 使倾注全力 to exert (oneself) to the utmost

stumble [ˋstʌmb!] v.  踉跄，蹒跚而行

green [grin] adj. 未熟的；嫩的 lacking training or experience

cliché [kliˋʃe] n. 老生常谈﹐老套

 

 

 

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Vocabulary Focus

crash course 速成课 a class or experience that teaches you a lot of basic facts, information or skills in a very short time

rocket [ˋrɑkɪt] v. 迅速上升 to rise extremely quickly or make extremely quick progress toward success

chaos [ˋkeɑs] n. 混乱；杂乱的一团 a state of total confusion with no order

stock [stɑk] v. 进货 to fill something such as a cupboard or shelves with food or goods

inaugural [ɪnˋɔgjərəl] adj. 开始的 referring to the first in a series of planned events

propel [prəˋpɛl] v. 推动; 推进 to push or move something somewhere

photogenic [͵fotəˋdʒɛnɪk] adj. 适于摄影的；上照的 having a face that looks attractive in photographs

divvy [ˋdɪvɪ] up【口】分某物; 分发 to share something between a number of people (informal)

smattering [ˋsmætərɪŋ] n. 少数﹐少量 a very small amount or number

pay (one’s) dues (idiom) 辛苦工作以赚取某种东西 to work hard or do something unpleasant over a long period in order to achieve something

breakthrough [ˋbrek͵θru] n. 突破性进展 an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem

on a roll 好运连连；连连获胜  experiencing a period of success or good luck

 

 

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (2010 Remix)

 

Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss

 

 

Jim Brickman - Never Alone