外國人最想和你聊的文化話題：流行音樂

     Since the mid-1950s, pop music has been identified as the style of music accessible to the widest audience. This means the music that sells the most copies, draws the largest concert audiences and is played most often on the radio.
     自從20世紀(jì)50年代中期以來，流行音樂就被定義為擁有最廣泛大眾的音樂類型。由此，這種音樂唱片賣得最多，音樂會(huì)上人數(shù)最多，在收音機(jī)中也最常播放。
     Pop music has been and continues to be a melting pot that borrows and assimilates elements and ideas from a wide range of other musical styles.
     流行音樂曾經(jīng)而且將來也會(huì)一直像一座熔爐一般，從各種音樂類型中借鑒并吸收其中的音樂元素和觀念。
     Rock, R＆B, country, disco, punk, and hip hop are all specific genres of music that have influenced and been incorporated into pop music over the past 50 years.
     在過去50年中，搖滾、節(jié)奏藍(lán)調(diào)、鄉(xiāng)村音樂、迪斯科、朋克和嘻哈音樂等各種音樂流派都曾對(duì)流行音樂產(chǎn)生過影響，最終在流行音樂中被貫穿融合起來。
     Music videos and big live shows are often used to get pop stars more exposure in the media.
     流行歌星通常通過音樂錄像和大型現(xiàn)場表演在媒體中曝光。
     Artists may have stage shows and well-rehearsed dance routines to go along with their music.
     藝術(shù)家可能會(huì)舉辦舞臺(tái)劇，根據(jù)音樂精心編排舞蹈動(dòng)作。
     Many pop tunes are used in dance clubs and sports clubs.
     舞廳和健身房中也播放很多流行樂曲。
     Pop music's accessibility and wide appeal means the genre is highly-prized among record companies, radio stations and music television channels.
     流行音樂的大眾接受度和巨大的吸引力使它成為唱片公司、電臺(tái)和電視音樂頻道的佳寵。
     This is thanks to pop's ability to sell lots of records and get high ratings.
     這要?dú)w功于它的流行力，能熱賣唱片，有高收視率和高收聽率。
     Known as the "King of Pop," Jackson's dramatic stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.
     邁克爾·杰克遜被譽(yù)為"流行天王"，他精彩的舞臺(tái)表演及創(chuàng)新的舞蹈動(dòng)作被世界各地的粉絲所模仿。
     His one-gloved eccentric style also earned him plenty of critics and another nickname, "Wacko Jacko".
     然而，他的古怪風(fēng)格也曾招致大量的批評(píng)，還因此被人稱為"怪人杰克"。
     "For his legions of fans, he was the Peter Pan of pop music: the little boy who refused to grow up. But on the verge of another attempted comeback, he is suddenly gone, this time for good."--The New York Times.
     《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》撰文稱："對(duì)他的粉絲而言，他是流行樂壇上的拒絕長大的彼得·潘（指天真的成年人）。然而就在他即將重返樂壇之時(shí)，他卻這樣突然地走了，這一次竟是永訣。"
     Michael Jackson's video for his hit single "Thriller" has been voted the most influential in pop music history.
     （美國已故流行天王）邁克爾·杰克遜的熱門單曲《顫栗》MV被評(píng)為流行音樂史上最具影響力的音樂電視作品。
     Country and western music lies close to the heart of many Americans.
     鄉(xiāng)村和西部音樂深得很多美國人的人心。
     This style originated among country folks in the southern and western United States.
     這種形態(tài)的音樂起源于美國南部和西部的鄉(xiāng)村小民們。
     Country music tells down-to-earth stories about love and life's hardships. Guitars, banjos and violins-also known as fiddles-give country music its characteristic sound.
     鄉(xiāng)村音樂講述著真實(shí)不加渲染的愛情故事和生活中的艱難。
     The home of country music is Nashville, Tennessee-Music City U.S.A.
     鄉(xiāng)村音樂的發(fā)源地是田納西州的納許維爾市--美國的音樂城市。
     Jazz music, developed by African-Americans in the late 1800s, allows performers to freely express their emotions and musical skill.
     爵士樂是十九世紀(jì)末期由非裔的美國人發(fā)展出來的。它讓表演者自由地表現(xiàn)他們的情感和音樂技巧。
     Instead of just playing the melody, jazz musicians improvise different tunes using the same chords.
     不僅演奏旋律，爵士音樂大師用同樣的和弦即興演奏出不同的曲調(diào)。
     The peak of jazz music came in the 1920s, known as "The Jazz Era."
     爵士樂的高峰期出現(xiàn)于19世紀(jì)20年代，該時(shí)期被稱為"爵士年代"。
     This period produced musicians like Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. These musicians later created the "big band" sounds of the 1930s.
     這個(gè)時(shí)期創(chuàng)造出來的樂手有阿姆斯特朗（Louise Armstrong），古德曼（Benny goodman）和埃林頓（Duke Ellington）。這些樂手稍后都創(chuàng)造了1930年代的"大樂團(tuán)"之音。
     Different styles of jazz developed in different cities, such as New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Kansas City.
     在不同的城市也孕育出不同的爵士風(fēng)格，像是新奧爾良、芝加哥、紐約和坎薩斯市。