节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-06-19
难易度:High
关键字:rags-to-riches, tedious, grip, make a splash, genre, catchy
Welcome back.
I hope you all had a great break.
You know, Hallyu isn't just limited to Korean pop music, romantic dramas and
film.
Riding atop this giant wave of Korean entertainment,
we're also seeing Korean food, clothing, video games and a smattering of the
Korean language hit distant lands as well.
OK. Time to finish up the second portion of today's reading on line 7.
(Music).
Hallyu.
Companies like SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment are
responsible for the success of many K-pop stars.
Bands and solo artists like Super Junior, Big Bang, G-Dragon, Rain and 2NE1 owe
their fame in part to training and promotion from these companies.
And these artists' fame isn't limited to Asia - K-pop stars are making a splash
in the West also.
In 2010, Big Bang member Taeyang's solo album Solar peaked at No. 1 on Canada
iTunes R&B charts and No. 2 on U.S. iTunes R&B charts.
In 2011, Big Bang's mini-album Tonight reached the top 10 on U.S. iTunes Top Pop
Albums.
When SM Entertainment took their 2010 world tour to Los Angeles, only 30 percent
of the 15,000 fans there were Korean.
Half of the audience wasn't even Asian!
All right. So now we are talking about Korean pop music.
It's very popular, very catchy.
People enjoy it because of their attractive idols and their sincere words.
That's right.
Now it's because of companies like SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG
Entertainment that make it possible.
They're the ones responsible for the success of many of the K-pop stars.
OK. So these are entertainment companies.
They are helping these different people become popular enough to become stars.
That's right.
Now to be a star we know it means to be famous.
But when you're a K-pop star, that means you're extremely famous because you're
most likely famous all over the world.
OK. So let's take a look at some of the people that these entertainment
companies have helped - bands and solo artists.
Now first, what is a solo artist?
A solo artist would be someone who sings alone.
They're not part of a group.
So a group would be the bands like Super Junior, Big Bang, G-Dragon.
And then you've got more solo artists, more like Rain.
Exactly, OK. And we see also 2NE1 is a part of this group of bands and solo
artists as well.
And they owe at least part of their fame to the training and promotion from
these companies.
That's right.
We see the phrase: they owe their fame in part to training and promotion from
these companies.
So to say something "they owe it in part," that means it is part of what made
them famous,
but also part of what they've done is just really good entertainment.
Yeah, that's true.
Now also we see what they owe to these companies: their training and some
promotion as well.
And so "promotion" is referring to when you try to tell someone about something,
tell them that they are good.
So these companies were spreading the word about these bands and solo artists.
And we do have some more information about that.
So let's visit the Information Station.
You know, Bryan, there has been a real boom in the popularity of K-pop recently.
That is so true, Bill.
Korean pop music is becoming popular all over the world.
So, to find out what makes K-pop so popular, we need to go to...
Information Station.
So Bill, who are interviewing today?
Today we're talking with Kurt, a big fan of K-pop.
We are catching up with him while he waits in line for a big concert.
Kurt, tell us where you are?
I'm outside of Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in America.
Oh, I've been there before.
Must be a big football game today.
Come on, man.
Everyone knows that they don't play football in June.
I'm waiting in line for the BIG BANG concert that's going to start soon.
I knew that.
Big Bang is one of the hottest K-pop bands around.
So how many other people are waiting in line?
It looks like there are about 10,000 other people waiting for the doors to open.
Wow.
Let me ask you, Kurt.
Why do you like K-pop so much?
I like the music and the singers.
All of my friends like it too.
But Kurt, you're an American.
You can't understand the Korean words, can you?
Not all of them.
But bands like Big Bang sing some of their lyrics in English too.
Besides, music goes beyond language and touches the soul.
Well said, Kurt.
We all know that K-pop is famous for its dance moves.
Are you a good dancer?
I'm glad you asked, Bill.
Of course, I am.
Watch this.
Yes. You are a good dancer.
Remember, be encouraging, Bryan.
Kurt, some people have said that K-pop is popular because of its cultural
values.
Would you agree?
Cultural values?
I doubt it.
I don't know anything about Korea.
I just like to dance.
So there you have it, friends.
K-pop appeals to music lovers everywhere.
And we'll see you all here next time at...
Information Station.
Well, we've mentioned some bands and some solo artists.
But these artists' fame isn't just limited to Asia.
We talk about them being very popular around Asia but it's not limited to it.
That's right.
They are making a splash in the Western world as well as in Asia.
So if you're "making a splash," what does that mean?
That means you're drawing attention.
That means you're becoming popular.
People recognize who you are.
If you imagine you're in a pool and someone jumps in, they make a splash, and
everybody notices.
Yeah, everyone notices.
And it spreads very quickly.
So they're becoming successful and becoming well-known very fast in the West as
well.
That's right.
In 2010, Big Bang member Taeyang's solo album Solar peaked at number one on
Canada iTues, which is ridiculous when you think about it.
That's impressive.
That's pretty impressive.
It really is.
So in Canada, they were number one on the iTunes R&B charts.
And that same song... or the same group was also number two on the U.S. R&B
charts.
That's right.
So this band member, he was part of a group, went solo - so now he's by himself
- doing an album.
And that's his first solo album would be his first CD that he did on his own
without the rest of the band.
All right. So that album we're talking about now is number one in Canada, number
two in the U.S.
Now in 2011, Big Bang's mini-album Tonight reached the top 10 on U.S. iTunes Top
Pop Albums.
Now we see these are going off of the iTunes.
Now these rank according to how many people buy that song or that album on
iTunes.
We do know that iTunes are different around the world.
Each country kind of has their own section.
So to be ranked at the Canadian and the American shows that they are becoming
very popular in those countries.
Yeah. And iTunes is, of course, one of the most popular ways to buy and share
music.
So it's a very good measure of what is popular.
Now when SM Entertainment took their 2010 world tour to Los Angeles, only 30
percent of the 15,000 fans were Korean.
That shows you that the Korean culture has spread to the West into all kinds.
Half of the audience wasn't even Asian.
So that means Americans, Westerners are beginning to love and enjoy K-pop just
as much.
Wow! So Hallyu really is spreading around the world.
Join us again tomorrow as we continue talking about Hallyu.
For now, let's watch the skit.
(Music).
So tell me more about Korean soap operas.
Sure. K-dramas often feature rags-to-riches stories - unhappy characters quit
tedious jobs to pursue a dream.
I can identify with that.
But Korean soaps can fall into almost any genre.
Romance, comedy, ha, ha... or historical drama.
I'll have to watch a K-drama someday.
Yeah. You'll have to watch it every day so you can see what happens.
People love watching Korean soap operas.
And what do you know about Korean pop music?
Oh, I love K-pop.
And it's topping music charts everywhere.
So why is K-pop so hot?
Well, the tunes are catchy.
The words are sincere.
The idols are attractive.
And the music videos are gripping.
And that's why fans love it.
Oh, yeah.
Many K-pop stars owe their success to entertainment companies.
How are the companies responsible?
Well, they train and promote the bands and solo artists.
Oh. And they become popular in Asia?
Not just Asia.
K-pop stars are making a splash overseas as well.
Are they popular in U.S. and Canada?
Of course! Do you know the K-pop band, Big Bang?
Um, no.
Well, their mini-album reached the top 10 on U.S. iTunes.
Oh, so Big Bang is making a big splash.
Yeah, they're making waves around the world.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And we're running out of time.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
Friends, as a high-level article, this lesson has some advanced vocabulary, so.
Help make it stick in your head by using some of the words in a short
composition:
speaking the Word Bank sentences out loud, maybe in front of a mirror,
or working through the free worksheet from our StudioClassroom.com web page.
One of our goals here at Studio Classroom is to help you reach your goal of
communicating freely in English.
Now please come back tomorrow for our final day of Korean pop culture makes
waves in Asia.
Have a greatTuesday.