2006年VOA标准英语-Los Lobos Tour Promotes New CD, ‘The Town And T

By Larry London
Washington, DC
27 October 2006
 
watch Los Lobos report

 
Los Lobos
Tex-Mex rock is alive and well after more than 33 years thanks to the original sounds of Los Lobos.  The group recently released¹ their new CD, "The Town And the City", that includes a return to the experimental² sound that earned them three Grammys.  Founding members Louie Perez and David Hidalgo talked with VOA's Larry London about their journey.

What is it that compels³ a band of musicians to remain together for more than three decades?  I asked that question to two of the men responsible for starting Los Lobos in East Los Angeles, David Hidalgo and Louie Perez.

 
David Hidalgo
DAVID:
"The core⁴ of it is friendship.  We have been friends since high school, and I think [there is] something [special] about this band that we all believe in and that is why we stick with it." 

LOUIE:
"As much as we might complain about getting up early, flying, and being away from home, we still have the best job in the world, really. You cannot beat it.  Being able to go around the world with your friends, you stay a kid all your life … that is a good gig [job]."

With 15 albums and three Grammys, the band has secured⁵ a place in rock history.  Did the first Grammy in 1987 change their lives?

 
Louie Perez
LOUIE:
"After I won the Grammy, my youngest [child] was just an infant⁶.  I got home and I walked in the door, and my mother-in-law was watching my son.  She looked at me and said, "Congratulations!  We are out of diapers".  So I was at the market pushing a cart [shopping for diapers] and the family is the equalizer.

What exactly does Los Lobos mean?

DAVID:
“It is 'the wolves.'  And the full title of the band was Los Lobos Del Este De Los Angeles (just another band from East L.A.) but it was too much for the marquee."

Los Lobos is well received all around the world and Hidalgo is looking forward to playing for international audiences.

DAVID:
"It has been good, you know.  We are starting to go more often.  We kind of laid off of going overseas for quite a few years, and I think it kind of was not good for us, actually.  So, we have been going back, trying to go at least once a year, trying to rebuild the audience over there (overseas).  It seems to be working."

And after all the years of success, what was the highlight⁷?

LOUIE:
"Being able to travel around the world -- for guys from East L.A. that never went anywhere, and to discover there [are] a lot more similarities than differences.  I think that is really, it was a real awakening⁸ for me."

Perez says the new CD "The Town And The City" is very personal.

LOUIE:
"The idea of the song (is)sort of (a) progression, (it) is of remembrances about our childhood and our parents.  It is dedicated⁹ to our parents.  We have been a band for 33 years this coming November.  We are kind of getting to be older guys now.  That funny thing starts to kick in when you start to think about how things used to be … how things are a lot nicer when they are simpler.  So this record is about our experiences growing up, and seeing our parents work hard to try and provide for us.  The kind of thing that happens everywhere all over the world." 

1 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。

2 experimental   

adj.实验的，用作实验的，根据实验的

参考例句：

• This trip will be only experimental.这次旅行只是试验性的。
• The experimental farm is near the waterpower station.实验农场靠近水电站。

3 compels   

v.强迫

参考例句：

• His social obligation compels him to make a round of visits. 他的社会职责使得他不得不进行一系列访问。
• My health compels me to knock off work. 我的健康问题使我不得不停止工作。

4 core   

n.中心；核心；(苹果、梨等果实的)果心

参考例句：

• We didn't get to the core of the subject.我们没触及问题的核心。
• The pear is rotten to the core.这梨全烂了。

5 secured   

adj. 无虑的, 安心的, 安全的 adj. 牢靠的, 稳妥的 vt. 固定, 获得, 使...安全 vi. (海上工作人员)停止工作 vi. (船)抛锚, 停泊

参考例句：

• He secured the appointment of professor of English literature in the university. 他获聘为该大学的英国文学教授。
• By strengthening the embankments they secured the village from floods. 他们加固河堤让村子免受洪水之灾。

6 infant   

n.婴儿，幼儿；adj.婴儿的；幼稚的，初期的

参考例句：

• Tourism was then still in its infant stage.旅游业当时还处在初创阶段。
• I also need an infant's food for my baby.我要买些婴儿食品给我的孩子。

7 highlight   

n.加亮区；v.加亮，强调；[计算机]醒目

参考例句：

• Her performance was the highlight of the show.她的表演是那场演出中最精彩的部分。
• The highlight of this term is the school trip to Austria.这学期最重要的活动就是去奥地利的校外旅行。

8 awakening   

n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的

参考例句：

• the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
• People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。

9 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。