2006年VOA标准英语-Smokey Robinson has "Timeless Love" for Pop Sta

By Doug Levine
Washington
09 July 2006
 
  
  
Like a dash to the finish line, pop stars have been hurrying lately to record albums of pop standards. The latest entry comes from Motown legend Smokey Robinson, whose own hit songs were partly inspired by the Great American Songbook.

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One of Smokey Robinson's earliest musical memories was of listening to his mother's collection of B.B. King, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstein records. But, Smokey was also drawn¹ to the golden era of swing, a time when a singer was called a crooner, the song was king, and composers George Gershwin and Cole Porter were all the rage.

By the time Smokey Robinson arrived at Motown Records in 1959, he was already well-versed in pop songwriting, a talent that impressed Motown founder² Berry Gordy, Junior, so much he appointed Smokey Vice³ President of the rising Detroit label. At age 20, Smokey embarked⁴ on a career that has produced more than 70 Top 40 hits as both a soloist⁵ and as the leader of The Miracles. Over the course of five decades he's written thousands of songs, earning him the title "America's poet laureate of love."

After all these years, Smokey decided⁶ it was time to pay tribute to some of his favorite composers and the songs that made him eager to perform. "Tea For Two" was one of those songs. "You Go To My Head" was another.

Smokey Robinson interprets a dozen pop classics on his album Timeless Love, leaving room for one original titled "I Love Your Face." Maybe someday it will included in the Smokey Robinson Songbook.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

5 soloist   

n.独奏者，独唱者

参考例句：

• The soloist brought the house down with encore for his impressive voice.这位独唱家以他那感人的歌声博得全场喝彩。
• The soloist had never performed in London before.那位独唱者过去从未在伦敦演出过。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。