2007年VOA标准英语-'American Idol' Taylor Hicks Releases Major Lab

By Mary Morningstar
Washington
12 January 2007

Blues¹-rock singer Taylor Hicks worked hard with little recognition for more than a decade before coming to national attention on U.S. television's popular talent series, "American Idol²." Taylor won the 2006 competition and its top prize of a recording³ deal with Arista Records. VOA's Mary Morningstar has more on Taylor Hicks and his new self-titled album.

 
Taylor Hicks during American Idol
Taylor Hicks' debut⁴ single, "Do I Make You Proud," sold more than 500,000 copies and entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart at Number One. This accomplishment⁵ was not surprising, given the huge number of fans Taylor attracted during his reign⁶ on last season's American Idol.  His fans, which include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush, became known as the "Soul Patrol." During the American Idol competition, Taylor received more than 63 million votes. He explains the connection he feels with his many fans.

"They're the reason why you're here, and the reason why I'm here, and the reason why I was given this amazing opportunity," he said. "It's all about the people. The music that you perform as a musician is about the people, and obviously the people on the show voting for me. You have to connect with them and you have to be thankful for what they do for you."

 
Taylor Hicks
"Soul Thing" is one of two songs Taylor wrote long before his American Idol days. His major label debut also includes a remake of Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat," Rob Thomas's "Dream Myself Awake," and "The Right Place," which Bryan Adams co-wrote for Ray Charles shortly before his death. Taylor recorded the album in only seven weeks, putting in 18-hour days with producer Matt Serletic.

When asked about the diversity of his music, Taylor says:

"It's what I like to call 'modern whomp' music, which is a combination of Cajun, jazz, funk, soul and blues. It's been a long time coming for me to be on a major label, and I've had so much help getting this album out. If you like funky⁷ soul music, that's me."

Vibe magazine calls Taylor "the embodiment of the last 50 years of popular music." His love for soul and blues music evolved while growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. At the age of 14, Taylor was playing harmonica in local blues clubs.

 
Taylor Hicks
Now 30, he's working on a book about the trials and tribulations⁸ he experienced before finding fame on American Idol. Rolling Stone magazine writer David Wild will ghostwrite his story.

Taylor's other plans for the near future include an appearance at this year's Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Then, in late-February, he'll kick off a North American concert tour.

Taylor Hicks' first single from his self-titled debut album will be "Just To Feel That Way."

1 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

6 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

7 funky   

adj.畏缩的，怯懦的，霉臭的；adj.新式的，时髦的

参考例句：

• The kitchen smelled really funky.这个厨房有一股霉味。
• It is a funky restaurant with very interesting art on the walls.那是一家墙上挂着很有意思的绘画的新潮餐馆。

8 tribulations   

n.苦难( tribulation的名词复数 )；艰难；苦难的缘由；痛苦

参考例句：

• the tribulations of modern life 现代生活的苦恼
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence. 这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。 来自《简明英汉词典》