2006年VOA标准英语-Jim Brickman Releases 12th CD, 'Escape'

By Larry London
Washington, DC
01 December 2006
 
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Songwriter, composer and singer Jim Brickman is on tour in support of his new CD, "Escape".  During a career that started in 1994 as a commercial jingle¹ writer, Jim has managed to release 12 albums -- 500,000 sold in the U.S. alone -- earned a Grammy nomination², and toured the world.  During his recent visit to Washington, he paid a visit to VOA's Larry London.

The piano is been one of the world's favorite instruments.  Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Chopin all relied on the ivory keys to create a sound that made a place for them in music history. 

Jim Brickman

Jim Brickman is one of the contemporary pianists who use the keys to craft his songs.  Jim feels that excitement when he sees people learning to play piano.

"It is very exciting to see, especially young people taking piano, and being excited and passionate³ about it.  It's always rare to find inspiration when you take out one of those books that piano teachers make you play out of.  There's not a lot of light at the end of the tunnel for the stuff you really want to play.  It is very encouraging for me to see people of all ages at my concerts who do take piano lessons."

Jim Brickman is often referred to as a "New Age" American composer who has written music that has been performed by many singers, including Collin Raye, Martina McBride, Michael W. Smith and Susan Ashton.  Where does Jim see himself as a songwriter, composer, performer and pianist? 

"I really still think of myself as a songwriter, mostly, that plays the piano … plays my songs on the piano.  I never really thought of myself as a pianist although piano is my main instrument.  I was always a melody writer.  I always wrote songs with words.  My sensibility is really that of a pop singer songwriter mentality⁴." 

As the piano has remained a popular instrument around the world, so have the many songs that Jim has written and performed.

"Especially in Southeast Asia and in many countries around the world, there's a connection with romantic music and the emotional sense of a melody.  Especially in Southeast Asia I would say, in the Philippines and in Malaysia, Thailand, Laos.  All these wonderful places.… Indonesia, there's a love for the beauty of music.  I think the same is true in Europe.  I haven't been to Russia. I've been to Shanghai, China, and Taiwan. 

There seems to be a real love for organic music around the world.  More so than, I believe, in the U.S.  It almost makes me want to move to Thailand or something like that, because it seems to be a more heartfelt appreciation⁵.  There are plenty of people of who love that in the U.S. but music has changed so much.  People like so many different kinds of music, so I think it's the simplicity⁶.  I think it's the emotional connection and the simplicity."

Jim Brickman's latest album is titled "Escape." "It's the first album of all original music in three years for me.  It's the 12th album, which is really hard for me to imagine. It's exciting."

"Traditionally, my music has been thought of as very romantic.  I think by its nature, melody, and the emotion that it carries and connects with people tends to make people feel romantic about it.  This album is not as much romance-driven as much as it is escape driven.  The idea that people can just lose themselves in the music, that it's a way to chill out or relax, get away, to go on a mind vacation, and use the music to paint a picture whatever you want it to feel like.

So it's a combination getaway, travelogue⁷, and a little nostalgia⁸ thrown in there."

1 jingle   

n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵

参考例句：

• The key fell on the ground with a jingle.钥匙叮当落地。
• The knives and forks set up their regular jingle.刀叉发出常有的叮当声。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

5 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

6 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

7 travelogue   

n.游记；旅行见闻

参考例句：

• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache.马可·波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。
• The book adds up to a readable,sociopolitical travelogue of America.总的看，这是一部尚可一读的描述美国社会和政治的游记。

8 nostalgia   

n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧

参考例句：

• He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
• I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。