VOA标准英语2012--Heston's 'Warm Human, Cold World' Showcases Caribbean Influences

Heston's 'Warm Human, Cold World' Showcases Caribbean Influences

Heston’s introduction to the music world came through a radio in his native Dominica. He says he gained an appreciation¹ for singing and songwriting after years of listening to the island’s one and only radio station.
“For me, growing up, there was DBS Radio which was one station," he explains. "Now they have a few others. We didn’t have much choice as far as selecting whether we wanted to listen to a jazz station or a rock station. It was everything playing from Barbra Streisand to Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees² to Paul McCartney. [McCartney’s] ‘Say, Say, Say’ was a big influence of mine; Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, Al Green’s gospel. Everything played. Bob Marley was played on that one radio station, Kenny Rogers. So my influences are vast as far as the music that I grew up listening to on that one station.”
Heston says in addition to being influenced by the music he heard growing up, he finds inspiration in John Mayer's songs.
“Musically, my influence stayed with me as a kid, because even today, I’m still very much open," he notes. "John Mayer is a very big music influence for me. I think he’s very raw and passionate³ with his music. There’s a lot of space in it and I appreciate that. I listened to Berris Hammond who is a reggae artist from the Caribbean, which is one of my biggest vocal⁴ and musical and lyrical influences. So I appreciate all the music.”
Heston came to the U.S. when he was 10 years old and eventually settled in Atlanta, Georgia. He was in his twenties when he began performing live, a self-taught musician who says writing songs always came to him naturally.
“Everything that I’ve written has come from real-life experiences or something that I’ve been connected or close to," he explains. "And I’m able to fortunately be able to put it on paper and put it to music. So they’re just stories, my stories.”
Fueling the “stories” on Warm Human, Cold World is the age-old theme that love conquers all.
“That album stems from a relationship that I experienced, which was magnificent at times and tough at times," explains Heston. "But, it just told me how valuable navigating⁵ life with someone else would be better than doing it on your own. I think this place is a very cold place; it’s a concrete jungle. I think it’s just an easier way to navigate⁶ life with someone who actually cares.”
In January, Heston and his band appeared at the historic Apollo Theater in New York City. He was recently in Washington, DC where he performed two sold-out shows at Blues⁷ Alley⁸.

1 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

2 gees   

n.（美俚）一千元（gee的复数形式）v.驭马快走或向右（gee的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• When the lunch bell rang, she peeled the gees and ate them. 中午吃饭铃响时她就剥开鸡蛋吃起来。 来自互联网
• How do you want you gees? 你要怎么样的蛋呢？ 来自互联网

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

5 navigating   

v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃

参考例句：

• These can also be very useful when navigating time-based documents, such as video and audio. 它对于和时间有关的文档非常有用，比如视频和音频文档。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Vehicles slowed to a crawl on city roads, navigating slushy snow. 汽车在市区路上行驶缓慢，穿越泥泞的雪地。 来自互联网

6 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

7 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。

8 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。