【外刊】
今日导读
英国皇后乐队的代表作《波西米亚狂想曲》是一首集歌剧、摇滚、清唱等诸多元素于一身的大胆歌曲,是摇滚史上浓墨重彩的一笔。虽然这首歌一经推出,就受到了英国国内广泛的好评,但是在其他国家,它一开始表现得却并不如意。不过,一部电影的出现,提高了这首歌的国际知名度,让它被更多的人熟知并传唱。而这部电影的主角,也在近期国内上映的电影《波西米亚狂想曲》中有出色的客串表演。《波西米亚狂想曲》风靡全球,背后的原因有哪些?让我们和宇轩老师一起,读读《华盛顿邮报》的文章。
新闻原文
How 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ended up in 'Wayne's World' and became a phenomenon again
"Bohemian Rhapsody" was such an unlikely song that became an even more unlikely hit.
The Queen biopic of the same name, now in theaters, depicts the original story of how the rock-operatic single came to be, with a cameo from none other than Mike Myers.
In the film, Freddie Mercury threatens to walk out on the label if the record executive—played by Myers—refuses to release "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the first single off its album "A Night at the Opera."
Including Myers makes sense, especially since, in real life, he did just the opposite of the character he plays.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" had never been as big of a hit in the United States. It reached only the No. 9 position on Billboard's Hot 100 when it first came out. That is, until Myers' "Wayne's World."
The movie, released in February 1992, featured "Bohemian Rhapsody" in what's become one of comedy's most iconic scenes. The film based on the Myers-created "Saturday Night Live" sketch opens with Wayne, the rock-obsessed host of a public access show, getting picked up in a 1970s beat-up AMC Pacer.
"I think I'll go with a little 'Bohemian Rhapsody, ' gentlemen, " Wayne tells his buddies. "Good call, " responds Garth.
In goes the cassette, and the song begins at its midway point. They sing along, each taking their own "Galileo" parts, and when the break comes, they headbang like crazy.
Just like that, a whole new generation of Americans was introduced to "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the first time. It shot to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing its original high point.
带着问题听讲解
是什么让《波西米亚狂想曲》再度成为传奇?
词组“end up”有哪些意思?
文章里有哪些熟词僻义的用法?
新闻正文【译】
How 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ended up in 'Wayne's World' and became a phenomenon again
《波西米亚狂想曲》是怎么出现在《反斗智多星》里,并再度成为传奇的?
"Bohemian Rhapsody" was such an unlikely song that became an even more unlikely hit.
《波西米亚狂想曲》这首歌的诞生是令人难以置信的,它的走红就更是出人意料了。
The Queen biopic of the same name, now in theaters, depicts the original story of how the rock-operatic single came to be, with a cameo from none other than Mike Myers.
同名的皇后乐队传记电影正在影院放映,它讲述了这首歌剧式摇滚单曲诞生的故事,客串演员之一正是迈克·梅尔斯。
In the film, Freddie Mercury threatens to walk out on the label if the record executive—played by Myers—refuses to release "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the first single off its album "A Night at the Opera."
在影片中,弗雷迪·默丘里威胁说道,如果音乐总监(由梅尔斯饰演)拒绝将《波西米亚狂想曲》作为从《歌剧院之夜》专辑发行的第一首单曲,他将退出唱片公司。
Including Myers makes sense, especially since, in real life, he did just the opposite of the character he plays.
让梅尔斯出演是合乎情理的,尤其是因为他在现实生活中的行为与他所扮演的角色恰恰相反。
"Bohemian Rhapsody" had never been as big of a hit in the United States. It reached only the No. 9 position on Billboard's Hot 100 when it first came out. That is, until Myers' "Wayne's World."
《波西米亚狂想曲》在美国一度并没有大受欢迎。它最初发行的时候,在公告牌百强单曲榜上仅仅排名第九,直到梅尔斯参演的电影《反斗智多星》用到了这首歌。
The movie, released in February 1992, featured "Bohemian Rhapsody" in what's become one of comedy's most iconic scenes. The film based on the Myers-created "Saturday Night Live" sketch opens with Wayne, the rock-obsessed host of a public access show, getting picked up in a 1970s beat-up AMC Pacer.
1992 年 2 月上映的这部电影中,《波西米亚狂想曲》成就了喜剧电影有史以来最受欢迎的片段之一。电影改编自一部由梅尔斯创作的《周六夜现场》的小品,在开场片段中,酷爱摇滚乐的全民秀主持人韦恩搭上了一部破旧的 1970 年代的 AMC 牌 Pacer 小轿车。
"I think I'll go with a little 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' gentlemen," Wayne tells his buddies. "Good call," responds Garth.
韦恩对他的伙伴们说:“先生们,我想要来点儿《波西米亚狂想曲》。”“好主意,”加斯回答。
In goes the cassette, and the song begins at its midway point. They sing along, each taking their own "Galileo" parts, and when the break comes, they headbang like crazy.
磁带放进去之后,歌曲从中间开始播放。他们一同高歌,轮流唱着“伽利略”的部分,当歌曲进入乐器间奏时,车上的人像疯了似地猛力摇头。
Just like that, a whole new generation of Americans was introduced to "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the first time. It shot to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing its original high point.
就这样,全新一代的美国人第一次知道了《波西米亚狂想曲》。它在公告牌百强单曲榜上跃居第二,超越了最初的高点。
重点词汇
补充词汇知识
unlikely
adj. 不太可能发生的,不太可能做到的
英文释义:not likely to happen or be done
搭配短语:an unlikely couple
rock-operatic
adj. 摇滚和歌剧融合在一起的
相关词汇:operatic(adj. 歌剧的)
相关词汇:rock(n. 摇滚)
none other than
不是别的人,正是某一个人
近义词:no one other than
例句:The tall gentleman there is none other than our manager.
walk out on
抛弃,离开(某人,某事)
feature
v. 以某事为特色,重点包括某事
英文释义:to include someone or something as an important part
rock-obsessed
adj. 酷爱摇滚乐的
相关词汇:obsessed(adj. 着迷的)
obsessed 英文释义:unable to stop thinking about something
AMC
American Motors Corporation
美国汽车公司
call
n. 决定
近义词:decision
例句:It's your call.
例句:Your call.
headbang
v. 摇头,猛力甩头
相关词汇:head(n. 头)
相关词汇:bang(v. 敲击,砸)
surpass
v. 超过,超越
长难句解析
The Queen biopic of the same name, now in theaters, depicts the original story of how the rock-operatic single came to be, with a cameo from none other than Mike Myers.
和这首单曲同名的皇后乐队传记电影正在影院放映,它讲述了这首歌剧式摇滚单曲诞生的故事,客串演员之一正是迈克·梅尔斯。
The Queen biopic of the same name,表示电影《波西米亚狂想曲》是一部英国皇后乐队 Queen 的传记电影。这部电影讲述的事情是,it depicts the original story of how the rock-operatic single came to be, 关于这首歌剧式摇滚单曲的诞生故事。句子还没完,看到后面的小尾巴,with a cameo from none other than Mike Myers,这里强调的是电影里有一个片段,里面担任客串演员的不是别人,正是迈克·梅尔斯。
查漏补缺
"Bohemian Rhapsody" had never been as big of a hit in the United States. 中的 as big of a hit,如何理解?
这个成分暗含了一个和《波西米亚狂想曲》在英国榜单表现的对比,完全展开来的版本应该是 "Bohemian Rhapsody" had never been as big of a hit in the United States as in the UK。讲解中提到,这首歌在英国连续 9 周蝉联了单曲榜榜首,但在美国的表现却不尽如人意,最初在公告牌百强单曲榜上仅仅排名第九。
That is, until Myers' "Wayne's World." 中的 That is,如何理解?
这个成分的作用类似于 That is to say,“确切地说”,用来补充前面的过去完成时 had never been as big of a hit 留下的“悬念”。两句话合起来看,作者表达的意思是:《波西米亚狂想曲》在美国一度并没有大受欢迎,(确切地说,)直到梅尔斯参演的电影《反斗智多星》用到了这首歌(,它才开始受欢迎)。
经典歌单
皇后乐队经典
We are the Champions:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=27198672
We Will Rock You:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=1869271
Bohemian Rhapsody:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=1868553
带歌剧元素的皇后乐队主唱单曲
Barcelona:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=5208619
How Can I Go On:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=1348583
La Japonaise:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=1348802
The Golden Boy:[图片]https://music.163.com/#/song?id=1348814
学习资源
推荐的查音标网站:https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com(牛津学习者词典)
《反斗智多星》版《波西米亚狂想曲》MV:http://v.yinyuetai.com/video/2523303
拓展阅读
硬摇滚与重金属音乐
皇后乐队的作品受到了硬摇滚和重金属音乐的影响,在世界乐坛拥有举足轻重的地位。
硬摇滚:
硬式摇滚(hard rock)也称为硬摇滚,或重摇滚(heavy rock),是一种摇滚乐流派,最早发源于 1960 年代中期的车库摇滚与迷幻摇滚,比以往的摇滚乐更为猛烈。硬摇滚中吉他通常比较失真,布鲁斯风味比较浓。此外,硬摇滚风格的表演规模通常很大,目的往往是达到良好的商业效果。
重金属音乐:
重金属音乐(heavy metal music)是摇滚乐的一种,通常简称为金属乐(metal),泛指所有具有金属音乐特点的音乐风格。主要在 1960 年代末及 1970 年代初期的英国广泛发展。它起源于蓝调摇滚及迷幻摇滚,是一种浑厚的音乐,特色是强有力的嗓音、加长的吉他独奏、密集快速的鼓点。