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Sum 41

Sum 41

Date: Oct 08 2007

Themes: Alternative, Music

Intro

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

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

Pop punk was an all-out craze in the US five to ten years ago. The Offspring and Green Day shot to the top of the charts in 1995 and were followed by wildly successful bands like Blink 182.

In recent years, however, most of the popular pop punk bands either broke up, changed their style, or simply became unpopular. Not so with Canadian trio Sum 41. Their most recent album, Underclass Hero, is their most successful so far, and the formula of snotty vocals and power chords remains intact.

Dialog

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

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

Marni

Marni

Beren

Beren

Marni:  So, are you a fan of Sum 41 and that whole genre of sort of like new, I don’t know…

Beren:  Like pop punk?

Marni:  Pop punk, yeah.

Beren:  Yeah. I’m not like a huge Sum 41 fan. I definitely know more about them than I should.

Marni:  Mm-k.

Beren:  Well, I mean, I just know who they are. That’s what I probably shouldn’t know…who they are.

Marni:  Yeah, I’m not a huge fan, but it’s kind of interesting. I know that the lead singer and guitarist is married to Avril Lavigne.

Beren:  Um-hm. His name is Deryck Whibley? Something like that…

Marni:  Something very similar to that. I actually catered once and had an interaction with him and he was very upset about the barbeque sauce selection.

Beren:  Why?

Marni:  Certain ingredients…I don’t know. He’s very particular.

Beren:  Is he vegan?

Marni:  I don’t know if it was dietary concerns or if he just wanted to throw around a rock star credo.

Beren:  A very specific palate?

Marni:  Yes. Exactly. Whatever. But anyhow, their music, I don’t know, it’s kind of interesting. I’m not really a big fan, but…

Beren:  They have such a huge audience though, which is kind of mind-blowing. They’re like gazillionaires.

Marni:  They are!

Beren:  Off of three chords, I mean…

Marni:  Well, that’s kind of that whole punk aesthetic. Three chords, make some magic.

 

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Discussion

Beren jokes that knowing who Sum 41 is is knowing too much about them because the style of music they play, pop punk, is generally regarded as pretty uncool by most Americans these days.

Marni catered an event that Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley was at, and he wasn’t exactly super cool either. He got all hurt about the barbeque sauce.

But, as Beren points out, Sum 41 is more popular that ever and making lots of money. Many of their songs only contain three chords, but that’s the tried and true formula for punk.

Do you like pop punk? Did you used to? Can you think of another band that remains popular despite the decline of the style of music they play?

 

Comments

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DominikLi

DominikLi

China

GOOD BAND DRIVES ME MAD

09:11 AM Jan 21 2013 |

Mikobella

Mikobella

Poland

I like this band- they’re soooo amazing;).

10:03 PM Dec 18 2012 |

vicmay_lo-flo@live.com.mx

Mexico

yes…. I like punk rock! RAMONES is my favorite band.

02:02 AM Jul 17 2012 |

bambang hadi satriyo

Indonesia

i like their songs…. very energetic

12:53 PM Jun 19 2010 |

Richards

Richards

Brazil

I love Sum 41!!!
;DDD

Pieces, Best of me
In too deep… all musics! ahah

06:21 AM Nov 23 2007 |

shad84

shad84

United States

Kiss

04:40 AM Oct 14 2007 |

viliak

viliak

China

i like punkand punk cloth

03:50 AM Oct 14 2007 |

shad84

shad84

United States

Hows the going baby girl? hope u ok!

i love rock music too and my favourite song is ONE OF US….....BY SHERYL CROWKiss

takecare sweet heart

bye kissesKissKissKiss

shad

12:12 AM Oct 14 2007 |

radiohead91

Italy

pieces is really very nice…! :D

10:23 PM Oct 13 2007 |

coopo

coopo

China

I am a Avril's fan.From china,I want to make more friends!

01:37 PM Oct 12 2007 |

shad84

shad84

United States

anybody who loves great music will listen to rock music…..rock music is where the legend liiiiives

07:16 PM Oct 11 2007 |

shad84

shad84

United States

i like HARD CORE ROCK MUSIC too baby

takecare honeyKiss

07:14 PM Oct 11 2007 |

shad84

shad84

United States

Hallo guys am kinda sorry that am only a "HARD CORE ROCK MUSIC" fan and i hope you don't mind ….do you?

takecare guys and adios!!!!!!!!!!!looooong live rock music

shadKiss

07:12 PM Oct 11 2007 |

Shesnat

Shesnat

Thailand

I love them, but good charlotte is my most favorite band forever!!!

09:02 AM Oct 11 2007 |

punksnotdead

Poland

Are you kidding, guyz.? POP PUNK IS SOMETHING LIKE DYNAMIC POP.!! IT DOESN'T EXIST SOMETHING LIKE POP PUNK.=/ HAVE YOU EVER HEARD REAL PUNK.?!!!!!!!!!!!! PUNK AND POP ARE TWO DIFFRENT KINDS OF MUSIC.!!!!!!!!!!!

07:06 AM Oct 11 2007 |

ahmed20016

ahmed20016

Sudan

it’s realy so nice

08:12 PM Oct 10 2007 |

Aco

Aco

Turkey

Very nice piece

04:26 PM Oct 10 2007 |

ccx614562

ccx614562

United Kingdom

maybe it's a good choice to listen to such kind of music, show me some for sharing,ok?

09:35 AM Oct 09 2007 |

lol80

lol80

Peru

that’s a good new!but pop punk, hehe i like a litle i think so!!

10:47 PM Oct 08 2007 |

Belizza

Belizza

Brazil

the correct word is BARBECUE with C

 

10:08 PM Oct 08 2007 |

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