2006年VOA标准英语-‘Bad Day' Launches a Career for Daniel Powter

By Larry London
Washington, DC
07 August 2006
 
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		Daniel Powter

Daniel Powter is a Canadian musician who has recently become internationally recognized. He released² his first album in 2005. His song "Bad Day" was a top-10 hit in music charts across the world. Powter recently performed in Washington, D.C. where VOA's Larry London talked with him about his recent success.

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Daniel Powter's song "Bad Day" went to the top of the music charts almost immediately after its release¹ in 2005. But he says it's about more than just having a number-one hit.

"Anytime that you write a song that people are connecting with, it's humbling³, it's like amazing, you know. It means a lot to other people, and it means a lot to me to be communicating with them.

Even though Powter's first record wasn't made in a studio, he is still very proud of his work.

"The record was primarily⁴ made in a small apartment with my best friends. So for the record to be doing as well as it has, based on that, it's been really self-satisfying, you know. And I think you just keep going. I mean, it's only my first record."

Powter's mother also was a talented musician. She helped him with his difficulties in school by playing music with him.

"Instead of concentrating on arithmetic, or something that I was terrible at, she would concentrate on music, which I loved, and we would focus on that. So every day after school, I would come home and play violin with my mom, and she would play piano, and that's where I found a lot of love in my life."

Powter says he loves being able to connect with his audience, regardless of the language they speak.

"Sometimes you forget how lucky you are to be able to do this. I love being able to go to other countries and travel and tour and, you know, get to play for different people. But it's really interesting, like, even though in a lot of places [they] might not understand what I'm saying, there's this real commonality around the whole world where everybody's, like, they're there and they're singing with you."

Being a musician has allowed Powter to travel to many foreign countries.

"My favorite places are, I mean, they're everywhere. I mean, France. I love France.  I love England. And I love Japan. But I got to go to Thailand, spent some time, got to go to Hong Kong. Just different places that I normally⁵ probably wouldn't have gotten an opportunity to go and it's afforded me that opportunity."

Powter says he loves making music. "It's been a real pleasure, I'm the luckiest person in the world."

1 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

2 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。

3 humbling   

adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气

参考例句：

• A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
• It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网

4 primarily   

adv.首先，主要地，基本地

参考例句：

• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people.这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
• I am primarily interested in history.我主要对历史感兴趣。

5 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。