VOA慢速英语2014 One Direction Breaks Billboard Chart Record

 

One Direction Breaks Billboard¹ Chart Record

If you have a young daughter, and you celebrate Christmas, there is a good chance that One Direction’s latest album “Four” will be on your shopping list. The British boy band released³ the CD November 17th. Days later, it pushed Taylor Swift’s album “1989” out of the number one position on Billboard Magazine’s Top Two Hundred albums chart.

One Direction has been there before.  In fact, each of the band’s four albums has gone to number one in the first week of release². Billboard Magazine says One Direction is the only group in the history of the ratings⁴ chart to do that. Not true of all performers, however. Both singer Beyoncé and rapper DMX saw the same success with their first five albums.

Last week, One Direction won the top prize, Artist of the Year, at the 2014 American Music Awards. They were also named Favorite Group, and their record “Midnight Memories” won the Favorite Pop/Rock Album award. One Direction performed at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles. But the song it performed was “Night Changes” from the new album.

“Four” sold 387,000 copies in its first week. “Steal My Girl” was the first single from the collection. It came out in September. A humorous video was also released for “Steal My Girl.” The video was shot in the desert and American actor Danny Devito plays the video director.  Chimpanzees and other wild animals also perform.

One Direction had to deal with People for the Ethical⁵ Treatment of Animals because of that. The group protested⁶ the use of the animals. The band answered with a letter stating that no animals were hurt in the video production.

One Direction begins an international series of concerts in 2015 to support “Four.” The tour is called “On the Road Again.” The band has shows set for Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Are boy bands or girl bands popular in your country? Do you have a favorite? Let us know, and practice your English writing skills, in the Learning⁷ English comments section.

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

3 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

4 ratings   

n.等级( rating的名词复数 )；收视率；表示电影分级的数字（或字母）；（海军）水兵

参考例句：

• He won high ratings [marks] in all his examinations. 他所有的考试都获得高分。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The boat was operated by two naval ratings in dress whites. 船由两个穿着白色礼服的水兵驾驶。 来自辞典例句

5 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

6 protested   

v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。