THIS IS AMERICA - Songs About American Cities

THIS IS AMERICA -December 9, 2002: Songs About American Cities

By Shelley Gollust

(Theme)
VOICE 1:
Most Americans have a city they like best. It may be the city they were born in. It may be the city they would like

to call home. Over the years, American songwriters have described these feelings in music.
I'm Shirley Griffith.
VOICE 2:
And I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. The story of songs about American cities is our report today on the VOA Special

English program, this is America.
("New York, New York"/Frank¹ Sinatra)
VOICE 1:
"New York, New York." More songs have been written about America's biggest city

than about any other city. More than eight-million people live in New York. Many
others dream about leaving their small towns to go there. They want to become rich
and famous. Frank Sinatra sings about this dream in the most popular song written
about New York.

(MUSIC)
VOICE 2:
Almost three-million people live in the middle-western city of Chicago, Illinois. It is

now America's third-largest city. It used to be the second largest city. So, of course, it
needed its own song. Judy Garland sings the song, "Chicago, Chicago.
"
(MUSIC)

VOICE 1:
Near Chicago is the small industrial city of Gary, Indiana. This city was made famous
by a song in a musical play called "The Music Man." The play opened on Broadway in
New York in nineteen-fifty-seven. In the musical, a young boy sings about his home town. Here, Eddie Hodges
sings "Gary, Indiana.
"

(MUSIC)
VOICE 2:
Right in the middle of America is the city of Kansas City. It is the largest city in the state of Missouri. In the

nineteen-sixties, songwriters Jerry Leiber [lee-ber] and Mike Stoller [stole-er] wrote about going to Kansas City.
Why? Because they said it was filled with many wonderful women. James Brown sings the song, "Kansas City.
"
(MUSIC)
VOICE 1:

 


Americans love cities near the ocean. One of the most popular is Miami, Florida. Visitors go there all year
because the weather is warm. This song about Miami was written in nineteen-thirty-five. The Hot Mustard² Jazz
Band sings, "Moon Over Miami."

(MUSIC)
VOICE 2:
One of America's most exciting cities is Las Vegas, Nevada. There you can play games of chance all night long.

The city's entertainment centers are open all night, too. In nineteen-sixty-four, Elvis Presley starred in a movie
called "Viva Las Vegas." Here is the song from that movie. It is sung by the group Z-Z Top.
(MUSIC)
VOICE 1:

 

One of the most beautiful cities in America is San Francisco, California³. It is
between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay⁴ in the northern part of the state.
The most popular song about the city is called "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
Tony Bennett recorded it in nineteen-sixty-two. It sold more than three-million
records.

(MUSIC)

VOICE 2:

Many people love Los Angeles, California. It is now America's second-largest city.
More than three-million people live there. Los Angeles is popular because the
weather is warm and the sun shines almost all the time. Randy Newman sings about
his feelings for the city in the song, "I Love L.A."

(MUSIC)

VOICE 1:

Not everyone, however, loves Los Angeles. Some people do not like all the big roads around the city. They call
Los Angeles "a great big freeway." They like living in a smaller place. A place like San Jose, California. Dionne
Warwick sings about going back to this city. The song is, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?"

(MUSIC)

VOICE 2:

Today's program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced and directed⁵ by Lawan Davis. I'm Rich

Kleinfeldt.
VOICE 1:
And I'm Shirley Griffith. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United⁶ States on the VOA

Special English program, this is America.
("New York, New York"/Peter Nero instrumental)

 

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1 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

2 mustard   

n.芥子，芥末，深黄色，强烈的兴趣，热情的人

参考例句：

• This meat should be seasoned with salt and mustard.这肉里应该加点盐和芥末调味。
• This mustard is hot enough to bite your tongue.这种芥末很辣，你的舌头会吃不消的。

3 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

4 bay   

n.海湾，狗吠声，月桂；vt.吠，使走投无路；vi.吠

参考例句：

• I enjoy the view of the bay in the starlight.我喜欢星光下的海湾风景。
• Dogs sometimes bay at the moon.狗有时会朝着月亮吠叫。

5 directed   

adj.有指导的；有管理的；定向的；被控制的v.（用建议、指示、有益的情报等）指导( direct的过去式和过去分词 )；导演（戏剧或电影）；指示方向；把…对准（某方向或某人）

参考例句：

• The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 消防队员把水柱喷向燃烧着的楼房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The general directed that the prisoners should be set free. 将军命令释放囚犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。