2007年VOA标准英语-Former Squeeze Lyricist Releases New CD

By Larry London
Washington
19 March 2007
 
watch Chris Difford report

In 1974, the British band Squeeze brought new wave music to prominence¹ with hit songs like "Cool For Cats", "Up The Junction²", "Tempted³", "Black Coffee In Bed", and "Hourglass."  After an absence of nearly 11 years, original member Chris Difford is touring solo. He recently stopped by VOA and spoke⁴ with Larry London.

 
Chris Difford (center) and fellow musicians
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook achieved fame as the songwriting team of Squeeze.  Difford penned the lyrics⁶ to hits like "Goodbye Girl."

Musician Chris Difford speaks about the album. "I think the success of Squeeze owes a lot to nostalgia⁷.  I think as you grow older, you look back in your record box and go, 'Oh, that reminds me.'  You put on an old Squeeze album, it might take you back to your youth.  You start getting rejuvenated⁸ again.  Our albums are like vitamins that you can take throughout the rest of your life, and they kind of give you a nice spark." 

Difford is currently touring the eastern United States in support of his new recording⁹, "South East Side Story", a play on the title of one of the Squeeze's most popular albums, "East Side Story."  Although he covers Squeeze's songs, he explains his new approach.

"It's an album of acoustic¹⁰ songs.  Melvin plays pedal, steel [guitar] on most of the tracks, and that kind of gives it a country vibe.  You know, I didn't want to compete with the originals because the originals are absolutely great.  So we took it down the country road." 

Squeeze's "East Side Story" recording sessions were some of the most productive days for the band.  A tragic¹¹ event occurred during those sessions, though, that tempers the fond memories.

"We went into the studio for six weeks, and we had a very strict regime.  We started at eleven and finished at seven.  We ate vegetarian¹² food and only drank cider.  It was an amazing time.  Right in the middle of recording there was a sad turn of events, John Lennon was murdered.  I'll always remember that album with that happening.  It was a very, very sad day for us all, of course."

Since ending his songwriting collaboration¹³ with Glenn, Difford has worked with many other composers.  He describes a phone call he got from Elton John.

 
Chris Difford
"He called me up and asked me if I -- he had this tune¹⁴ he wanted the lyrics for.  I had to sit down. I couldn't believe he would call me up to ask for a lyric⁵.  He sent me over the tune.  I stayed up all night, wrote the lyric and faxed it back to him.  Then he said, 'Come over to the house.'  So I went over to his house.  He put the lyric on the piano, and within two or three minutes he had written it.  I mean, that's how quickly he works.  It was quite an amazing day.  The hairs on the back of my neck were sticking up." 

Chris’ rich lyrical vocabulary touches on many subjects, including a bulging¹⁵ waistline in one of his new songs.

For his next album, he would like to spend time in the capital of country music.

"I'd like to do some writing in Nashville, I think.  I was there the other day, and I must say, it seems like a writer's hole [a gathering¹⁶ place].  I'd like to go there and spend some time there.”

1 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

2 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

3 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 lyric   

n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的

参考例句：

• This is a good example of Shelley's lyric poetry.这首诗是雪莱抒情诗的范例。
• His earlier work announced a lyric talent of the first order.他的早期作品显露了一流的抒情才华。

6 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

7 nostalgia   

n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧

参考例句：

• He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
• I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。

8 rejuvenated   

更生的

参考例句：

• He was rejuvenated by new hope. 新的希望又使他充满了活力。
• She looked rejuvenated after plastic surgery. 她做完整形手术后显得年轻了。

9 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。

10 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

11 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

12 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

13 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

14 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

15 bulging   

膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱

参考例句：

• Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
• Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她：“问问是不是重要的事。”

16 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。