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Josh Groban
Josh Groban

Adjectives English lesson

Date: Feb 07 2011

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Adjectives

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Some of the best things in life come from combining two totally different things into one awesome, new thing. Think peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or coffee and ice cream.

Well, Josh Groban is sort of like a Frappuccino. He’s a pop star who sings opera, or an opera singer who also does pop. Actually, he’s so unique that a whole new word has been invented for what he does. His musical style is being called “pop-era.”

But while pop-era is definitely something new, not everyone agrees that it’s awesome. Hear Marni and Jason discuss their feelings about Josh Groban.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Marni

Marni

Jason:  I’ve been singing in the shower lately, just every day since the new Josh Groban record came out.

Marni:  Are you a fan?

Jason:  Yeah, definitely.

Marni:  Really?

Jason:  I don’t know, I just like that it’s classical yet pop, you know?

Marni:  It’s “pop-era” from what I hear, his music is being dubbed “pop-era.” It’s pop-opera.

Jason:  Right.

Marni:  I really don’t like him, so I’m intrigued by why you do like him. I don’t know, I just…he grosses me out. Groban, ewww.

Jason:  Wait, what? What does he do to gross you out? What’s not to like?

Marni:  I don’t know, just this like geeky, sort of lanky guy who sings this, like, opera. I don’t know, I feel like if you’re going to be an opera singer you should be like 300 pounds and just be Italian.

Jason:  Huh.

Marni:  Apparently that’s just…it’s probably a terrible way to think of things, but I don’t know, I can’t get behind him.

Jason:  I mean, I think it’s cool that he looks like a normal dude and that he has such an amazing voice, so when he’s a teenager he’s filling in for Andrea Boccelli.

Marni:  Yeah, I guess that’s very impressive, and I should give him some kudos for that. But I just…I don’t know, when I hear his voice it’s just like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Jason:  Woah, ‘cause for me it’s like, oh, if this guy can do it, maybe I can be an opera singer too. That’s what I like about it. It’s bringing opera down to a pop level. But it sounds like maybe you want pop stars to just be pop stars, and opera singers to just be opera singers.

Marni:  Exactly. There should be a very definitive line between the two genres.

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Josh Groban just released a new album called Illuminations. Jason loves the album, and it’s inspired him to start singing a lot more. He even thinks that if a guy who seems as ordinary as Josh Groban can sing opera, maybe he can, too.

Marni can’t stand Josh Groban, and she doesn’t understand why Jason likes him. She finds his voice annoying, and he doesn’t look the way she thinks an opera singer should. For Marni, it’s better to keep musical genres separate, instead of trying to mix them.

Do you like Josh Groban? Do you usually like it when artists mix genres?

 

Comments

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Eyeye

Eyeye

Thailand

Absolutely like him!!<3


im a fan of his!!!  actually no matter what the type of music is ,its not important because i think his voice always make me wonder ;)


and i agree with Jason that Josh looks like an ordinary guy but his voice is superbb ;) in fact i think he’s one of good-looking guys !

02:58 PM Jan 25 2012 |

GNA01

GNA01

Indonesia

Josh Groban just brought me here, yes im a groban fan, this dialogue sounds interesting and definitely agree with jason of course if a person could mix the genres as good as josh, why not? so that’s it yeah i appreciate marni thoughts too.

02:43 PM Dec 08 2011 |

nastaran_asman

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

helo i can not speak english weel the music veryyyyyyyyyyy nice


 

07:44 PM Oct 20 2011 |

neha1209

India

it could be fun, if it’s melodious..

04:36 PM Feb 08 2011 |

neha1209

India

it could be fun, if it’s melodious..

04:35 PM Feb 08 2011 |

johnsten

johnsten

Chile

Well, I think that people are different and have different tastes. I can find a kind of music amazing while it can gets to others people. I believe that it's a great idea to combine two genres, you can create a new exiting sound and be original. As far as I'm concerned, I've noticed that many artist nowadays really love to mix pop and electronic music or rap. We are in a new era. ENJOY IT! i WILL DEFINITELY GIVE IT A LISTEN.

11:47 PM Feb 07 2011 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

If the music is good it doesn't matter for me if it's mixed or not. I've heard a lot of cool music which can hardly be related only to one genre. For example Major Lazer (Hold The Line).

08:07 PM Feb 07 2011 |

KORLEONA

Russian Federation

))))

07:48 PM Feb 07 2011 |

MUHAMMAD92

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

  i agree with marni mix song genres seem like poem.

05:01 PM Feb 07 2011 |

unutum

unutum

Taiwan

actually , I am a fan 

his voice is very beautiful! 

11:28 AM Feb 07 2011 |

daynong

daynong

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

in a fact i’ve never heard his voice but if a singer can mix two separate music to each other i think it’ll be interesting , i think a singer should light fire under himself to do this imposible work

10:58 AM Feb 07 2011 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

I agree with Marni!!!Cool

10:35 AM Feb 07 2011 |

Semiliranda

Russian Federation

Opera is old, adorable and high art, but it is not easy to understand opera or the other classical genres if you grew up among modern pop music. May be, the appearance of pop-era is a chance for Italian opera to became more interesting for young people and to intrigue them. I hope soon opera will not be dubbed "music for snobs only" and people will get behind a pervasion of traditional sorts of music. Of course, Italian classical singers are not lanky at all, but pop stars are not gross me out. If sound of pop-era is like fingernails on a chalkboard for somebody, he or she is ready to became a fan of Italian opera ;)

08:48 AM Feb 07 2011 |

postaav

postaav

Egypt

actually the good singer must follow one way untill he does the best of his ability

08:30 AM Feb 07 2011 |

dearpesar

dearpesar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

when I hear his voice it’s just like fingernails on a chalkboard.
that is what i feel tooCry

04:42 AM Feb 07 2011 |

eejessie

eejessie

China

Although I haven't listened to any pop-era,I don't think I will like it just as Marni feels. But whether we like it isn't the key problem.Afterall,there is not even a kind of music that is enjoyed by everyone.I think Josh Groban is doing what he likes and what he wannas to achieve.That's enough.

03:56 AM Feb 07 2011 |

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