2006年VOA标准英语-Dale Watson Returns with "Whiskey or God"

By Katherine Cole
Washington
30 April 2006

Often called "a honky tonk purist," country singer and songwriter Dale Watson has spent the past 25 years building a devoted¹ following in the U.S. and Europe. His newest CD is called "Whiskey or God," and Watson's ninth recording² is filled with the same kind of unvarnished country music that fans have come to expect.

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One listen to Dale Watson's "Whiskey or God" will have you convinced the singer and songwriter loves classic country music. He was born during the heyday³ of honkytonk, when telecasters and steel guitars ruled the country radio airwaves. So, it's no surprise to learn the 14 songs on Dale Watson's "Whiskey or God" make up a country album as pure as any that's come out of Nashville in recent years. There's no "hick-hop" (pop/rock/hip-hop-leaning songs from contemporary country artists, e.g., Big & Rich or Cowboy Troy), or big production numbers on this record, just old-style country with plenty of fiddles⁴ and steel guitar.

43-year old Dale Watson began performing at the age of 14, and has won numerous awards in Britain, Holland and Spain, making him a household name in Europe. In the U.S., Dale Watson has been called "too country for country," and has not found much success on the radio, despite regularly selling out dance halls and clubs throughout Texas and other parts of the country.

Dale Watson's style is often compared to country giants Merle Haggard, Lefty Frizzell and Buck⁵ Owens. He writes songs about subjects people can relate to: Hard luck, hard work, and heartbreak. One of the standout tracks on "Whiskey or God" is "I Wish I Was Crazy Again," a sad ballad⁶ about coping with loss.

"I Wish I Was Crazy Again" is more than just another song on Dale Watson's latest album. It's also the working title of a memoir⁷ he's readying for publication, and the name of a documentary film about the singer.

The film, recently released to strong reviews, deals with the problems that haunted Watson after his fiancé was killed in a car accident several years ago. He fell into a deep depression, and blamed himself for her death because the two had gotten into an argument before the accident.

Today, Watson says his life couldn't be much better. He's just released a new CD, is about to start work as an actor in a feature film called "Austin Angel," and has worked out a business deal that will allow him to both tour the country, and spend time with his children.

1 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 heyday   

n.全盛时期，青春期

参考例句：

• The 19th century was the heyday of steam railways.19世纪是蒸汽机车鼎盛的时代。
• She was a great singer in her heyday.她在自己的黄金时代是个了不起的歌唱家。

4 fiddles   

n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动

参考例句：

• He fiddles with his papers on the table. 他抚弄着桌子上那些报纸。 来自辞典例句
• The annual Smithsonian Festival of American Folk Life celebrates hands-hands plucking guitars and playing fiddles. 一年一度的美国民间的“史密斯索尼安节”是赞美人的双手的节日--弹拔吉他的手，演奏小提琴的手。 来自辞典例句

5 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

6 ballad   

n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲

参考例句：

• This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
• This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。

7 memoir   

n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录

参考例句：

• He has just published a memoir in honour of his captain.他刚刚出了一本传记来纪念他的队长。
• In her memoir,the actress wrote about the bittersweet memories of her first love.在那个女演员的自传中，她写到了自己苦乐掺半的初恋。