Learn about the Past Perfect Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen

• iconic
• goosebumps
• stand the test of time
• jingle

• artist
• hits
• signature
• comes to mind

• one hit wonder
• brand

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

Go Super to Listen

Even though an artist may have many hits throughout their career, they are often remembered for one signature song. A signature song is the song that always comes to mind when you hear the artist’s name.

In fact, you can put the word “signature” in front of anything that truly defines the person who did it. For instance, Michael Jordan’s signature dunk is now the logo of his brand of shoes. And in soccer, people always think of Pele anytime someone does his signature bicycle kick.

Whitney Houston was one of the bestselling musicians in history. She won dozens of awards for many different songs before her recent and tragic death at the age of 48. Listen to Marni and Amy talk about signature songs and which of Whitney’s hits she will be remembered for.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

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

Marni

Amy

Marni:  Pretty tragic about Whitney Houston dying, don’t you think?

Amy:  It is. She’s sort of an iconic figure from my formative years.

Marni:  Definitely had an amazing voice. That song, “I Will Always Love You,” she really…hitting those high notes, I mean, she was pretty amazing.

Amy:  I have to say, a lot of radio stations and stuff were playing that song after she died, and I just…I heard it, and I hadn’t heard it in a long time, and it gave me goosebumps. Like, I think that song is going to stand the test of time.

Marni:  Oh, interesting.

Amy:  I think it’s a signature song.

Marni:  I would agree with you on that. I think it’s definitely a signature song. Do you think that signature songs are really, like, key for artists to be successful? Like having that one song that people always associate them with?

Amy:  I think so, yeah. Because then when you hear that song you always think of that artist. Or when you think of that artist you always think of that song. So it’s kind of like having a recognizable brand, or having a really great jingle if you’re a company. It’s like that one thing that you’re always remembered for.

Marni:  Right. It kind of helps that artist and that song sort of stand the test of time.

Amy:  The one thing is, though, what if your signature song, like the one song that you’re remembered for, was a bad song?

Marni:  You know, that’s a good point. I always think of Nirvana, because I loved Nirvana. But the one song that really broke them and made them huge was “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which I think is one of their weakest songs. It’s not one of my favorites. So I think people associate them with that song, but their other work is much stronger.

Amy:  Well, at least neither Nirvana nor Whitney Houston were one hit wonders, where their signature song was their only popular song.

Marni:  So true.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Past Perfect Tense" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3