2006年VOA标准英语-Dr. John Covers Mercer on New Album

By Doug Levine
Washington
09 September 2006

Into every singer's repertoire¹, a song or two by Johnny Mercer must fall.  In Dr. John's case, when it rains Johnny Mercer songs it pours.
 

Singer and pianist Dr. John is no stranger to the Great American songbook.  His 1989 collection of pop standards, In A Sentimental² Mood, features classics by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and, of course, Johnny Mercer.

It was almost by accident that Dr. John, known for his fusion³ of New Orleans funk, pop and soul, ever got around to making an album of Johnny Mercer tunes⁴.  Thinking it was a perfect match for her father, Dr. John's daughter suggested he record Mercer's 1946 hit "Personality."  Noting similarities between himself and his fellow Southerner, including their passion for being in the spotlight⁵, Dr. John recorded not one, but 10 Johnny Mercer compositions for his new album, Mercernary.

Johnny Mercer himself recorded a number of songs during his career, and even though he didn't write "Personality," it's one that always suited his, well … personality.

It was no easy task sorting through a body of work that spans more than 30 years.  But in the end, Dr. John decided⁶ to go with Johnny Mercer's most-popular songs, including those he wrote with Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael and Henry Mancini.  Dr. John's soulful arrangements, fueled by his band The Lower 911, will actually have you thinking that Mercer was born and raised in New Orleans rather than Savannah, Georgia. 

Dr. John recorded Mercernary just a few months before Hurricane Katrina wreaked⁷ havoc⁸ on his native New Orleans.  For the past year, he's been an active participant in the city's comeback.  He recently returned to his hometown to perform in a benefit concert to mark the one-year anniversary of the hurricane.

1 repertoire   

n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表

参考例句：

• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
• He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。

2 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

3 fusion   

n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc. 黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• This alloy is formed by the fusion of two types of metal.这种合金是用两种金属熔合而成的。

4 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

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。

7 wreaked   

诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city. 地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• They have wreaked dreadful havoc among the wildlife by shooting and trapping. 他们射杀和诱捕野生动物，造成了严重的破坏。

8 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。