English, baby!

Drunk Performers

Date: Mar 24 2008

Themes: Music

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Intro

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

pub
venue

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

Even people who perform a lot get a little nervous sometimes. And one way to calm your nerves is drinking.

But drinking too much is a good way to disappoint an audience. Alcohol, especially beer, can make your voice sound bad. It’s good to be loose, but if you’re too drunk to play your instrument or to talk to and engage the people who paid money to see you, then you’re in trouble.

Of course, if your audience is drunk enough, they might not notice. Amanda and Mason have each seen shows with drunk performers. Listen to them talk about it.

Dialog

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

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

Mason

Amanda

Mason: I went to a concert last week…

Amanda: I did too.

Mason: ...and, uh, man, this guy was drunk on stage. He was just trashed.

Amanda: Was it the lead singer or was it someone from the audience…

Mason: I think it was everyone in the band, in all honesty.

Amanda: Well, how do you feel about that?

Mason: You know, I like to go to the small shows, so I’m certainly not sober. It kind of makes me feel more of a kinship.

Amanda: I can kind of see that, but I went to a pub the other day and there was this great band, great vocals, and the lead singer probably had downed a whole bottle of red wine by the first or second song. And so, of course, he wasn’t performing as well. I don’t know, there was a little bit of resentment. I had paid cover, and I had gone there specifically to watch him perform and he’s slurring his lyrics…

Mason: You totally make a good point. I mean, you’re paying for them to entertain you, so…

Amanda: I don’t want to be a square, but…

Mason: No, if their entertainment is less because they’re boozin’ it up, then yeah, I can totally see that. I wouldn’t go see a concert like Elton John if Elton John was trashed or if I went to go see the Killers or something and they were wasted. I’d probably be upset.

Amanda: It’s weird to think of all the groups and shows you’ve seen and they are wasted but you just don’t know.

Mason: That’s opening up a Pandora’s Box right there.

Amanda: It is.

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Discussion

Last week Mason saw a show in which the whole band was drunk. But he didn’t mind. It was a small show and he was drunk too. It made him feel more connected to the band.

Amanda also heard a drunk singer in a small venue. But she was disappointed. She thought he didn’t sing as well as he usually does because he had been drinking. The situation was frustrating for her because she had paid money to hear him sing.

Mason agrees with Amanda, that if the talent of the singer is the main reason to see the show, you wouldn’t want the singer to be drunk. Amanda points out that you probably see drunk musicians play all the time, but they just do a good job of pulling it off so you don’t know they’ve been drinking.

Do you perform? Do you like to drink beforehand? What famous star would you like to see drunk?

Comments

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SÉRGIO

Brazil

yeah i like drinking during the parties and shows its cool, but not much, my favorite drinks are tequila and vodka, and if the members of the band are drunk ok! however if they known what they are doing, the show get better and funnier sometimes!

alexmain

Russian Federation

I remember I was in Estonia a couple of years ago to attend an openair fest there was a stage on the coast and there was a band where all the members participated in were that trashed so they could hardly play simultaneously. after a few lame chords were played the lead singer said f…k it… took off the stage and dragging along the ground his bass guitar walked towards the coast it was realy funny

tembelyanda80@yahoo.fr

Mali

i think that a famous singer should not drink so much alcohol,i mean of course when he is in a show.because this fact may push his fans leave him forever when he sing bad in a concert that they wait him to give much

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Some drink to relax, please!

tonnythai

Viet Nam

i think the singer shouldn't drinh alcohol before perform a concert

axl18

Peru

Its so nice to see someone famous drunk,..U should have seen to Axl Roses…that's ok…

pattypp

France

Good exercise

195854255

United States

There are so many chinese here.

elizabeth84

Azerbaijan

I HAVE SEEN IT A LOT OF TIMES COZ I LIKE LIVE MUSIC SPECIALY MUSIC LIKE ROCK SO IT IS ASHAME BUT A LOTS OF SINGERS USING ALCOHOL FOR STIMULATION

wanglong123

China

Drink is definitely not good manners if singer is on performance,maybe someone like this but I think the audience need more respect.

maggiewangdandan

China

For the long time,i haven't forgotten the state of a affair,a singer fall from the high stage in the concert after drinking heavily,the result of it is the star died.

please pay attention on the affair and treat it seriously,and please be change of others and yourself.

sadiq

Sudan

well it is nice to drink,but do not be over head.

Tony z

China

I never met it and I do not want to meet it. I think singer should not drink alcohol before perform. He/she must keeping he/she stage appearance and hard performance, for he/she is a public person and the audience pay the cover.

Xakerboy

Mongolia

very crazy

Lian.Hanjin

China

I wouldn’t go see a concert like Elton John if Elton John was trashed or if I went to go see the Killers or something and they were wasted.

What does mean "waste" in this sentence?
Anybody can help me?

susan12345

China

I think it depends. If the singer is a classical or similar kind, it's better never drink before deliver a performance. But for a pop singer or rock'n roll, maybe a little bit of drink is a helper to find the right feeling qucikly and melt into that kind of pub atmosphere in the first minute and if the audence also drink a little bit the can response simutanutesly, I think that kind of warm is exactly the right one for pub.

Cindy kong

China

Anyone who want to make chinese friend to improve the English conversation skills can contact me.Welcome you!

lili_call

China

Drunk before a show is not a rational and wise selection. Maybe that will help the singer got the high feel, but it also is a double-edged sword, the alcohol can lead the singer or the band to beat in their own rhythm and will worse the voice which shoule be more attractive. I still remember a china singer fall from the high stage in the live concert after drunk heavily.