2006年VOA标准英语-Canadian Singer Rides Wave of "Bad Day"

By Mary Morningstar
Washington
23 July 2006

Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter says he had no expectations for his first album. But one catchy¹ track from the collection fueled international success.

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Daniel Powter's smash² hit, "Bad Day", was downloaded 1.5-million times to become the best-selling digital single for the first half of 2006. The song reached the Top 5 in several European countries before catching³ the attention of pop radio in the U.S. While being used as the send-off theme for finalists on the "American Idol⁴" talent competition, "Bad Day" spent five weeks at Number One on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Daniel Powter grew up in Canada, where he began playing the violin at age four. In his teens, he switched to piano, and later studied music in college. He dropped out of college after only two years because of difficulties brought on by dyslexia. Instead of school, Daniel spent his time writing songs and singing with his band in small local clubs. Powter was a confident songwriter, but says it took some time to get over his stage fright. "I think I needed to get some training under my belt," he says. "I was a little bit reluctant⁵. I didn't know whether or not I wanted to do the whole thing in front of the crowds, so they sort of sent me to boot camp (basic training)."

Daniel wrote all of the songs on his self-titled debut⁶ album, and spent less than $6,000 to record the project in his Vancouver apartment. He eventually caught the attention of executives⁷ at Warner Brothers Records. Powter says he was surprised that the label found his music commercially-viable. "I had no idea I would ever get signed, so everything that's happening to me is like a dream. So, I'm very happy," he says.

Daniel's first album has sold close to two-million-copies worldwide. He kicked off his first U.S. concert tour on July 17, and has just released⁸ the album's second single.

1 catchy   

adj.易记住的，诡诈的，易使人上当的

参考例句：

• We need a new slogan.The old one's not catchy enough.我们需要新的口号，旧的不够吸引人。
• The chorus is very catchy to say the least.副歌部分很容易上口。

2 smash   

v.粉碎，打碎；n.轰动的演出，巨大的成功

参考例句：

• We heard the smash of plates breaking in the kitchen.我们听到厨房里盘子破碎的声音。
• The gifted author wrote one smash after another.这个天才作家创作了一篇又一篇轰动一时的作品。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

5 reluctant   

adj.不愿意的；迟迟不合作的；不同意的

参考例句：

• The workers are reluctant to be ordered around by the employers.工人们不愿被雇主们差来遣去地随便使唤。
• I am reluctant about asking him to do this.我极不愿意让他去干此事。

6 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

7 executives   

（公司或机构的）经理( executive的名词复数 )； （统称公司或机构的）行政领导； （政府的）行政部门； [the Executive][美国英语]（美国政府的）行政当局

参考例句：

• They have taken measures to equate the salaries of higher civil servants to those of business executives. 他们采取措施使高级文职人员的工资和企业管理干部的工资相等。
• He disregarded the advice of his executives. 他对主管层的建议置若罔闻。

8 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。