VOA标准英语2010年-Jewel Stays With Nashville Sound on Ne

In 2008, Jewel abandoned her career in pop music to record her first Country album.  The Alaska native is hoping to match its success with her new Nashville project, "Sweet and Wild."

"Stay Here Forever" was the debut¹ single from Jewel's second Country album.  The track was also included on the soundtrack to the recent film, "Valentine's Day."

Jewel's first Country album, "Perfectly² Clear," reached Number One on Billboard's Country chart.  Despite the Number 3 debut of "Sweet and Wild," the collection has received mixed reviews from music critics.  Most favor the deluxe³ edition, which includes the bonus disc, "Sweet and Mild."  That CD contains stripped-down acoustic⁴ versions of the 11 tracks.

Two years ago, Jewel married nine-time world champion rodeo star Ty Murray.  The couple lives on Ty's ranch⁵ in Texas, where Jewel has learned to prioritize what's important in her life. 

She says, "The theme of this album is finding what's true about you and your life, and defending it and valuing it above all else.  My newest country album will share so many of my personal feelings of love and happiness that I have written into the songs."

She says her latest single, the ballad⁶ "Satisfied," is her favorite on the album.
 

1 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。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

3 deluxe   

adj.华美的，豪华的，高级的

参考例句：

• This system puts the top hotels in a special deluxe category.这种分类法把最高级的旅馆列为特殊豪华级。
• I liked the deluxe edition,but I could afford only a second best.我喜欢精装版，但我只买得起一本稍差一点的。

4 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。

5 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

6 ballad   

n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲

参考例句：

• This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
• This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。