English, baby!

Sheryl Crow

Date: Apr 28 2008

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.

When Sheryl Crow reached international fame in 1994 with the youthful song “All I Wanna Do,” she was already 31 years old. Generally speaking, 31 is still pretty young, but in the world of pop stars, it’s a rather late time to be getting famous.

But perhaps having a little more pre-fame experience than the average star is what has enabled Sheryl Crow to stay relevant and successful into her mid 40s. Or maybe it was just her knack for writing simple but powerful rock songs. Either way, her voice and face are now very recognizable. Mason recently heard a new song from Crow’s latest album, Detours, on the radio and immediately knew it was her.

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: You know, I was driving the other day and this new song came on and it was Sheryl Crow. You can always tell it’s Sheryl Crow when she’s singing.

Amanda: I love her. Kind of like a blues/rock chick. She’s 45 years old…

Mason: Slash country!

Amanda: ...slash country. That’s right.

Mason: She’s pretty much touched on all the musical bases in her, like, 14-year solo career.

Amanda: I know. And she’s such a huge role model. She’s a single mom. She’s a breast cancer survivor.

Mason: Really? I didn’t know that. When did that come out?

Amanda: Last year. February ‘07. So she’s in recovery right now and she’s doing great.

Mason: Making albums, obviously.

Amanda: Obviously. And you know, it’s funny because there’s a single in there about Lance. About how she was by his side supporting him through his cancer and when she was diagnosed he bailed.

Mason: Really?

Amanda: Yup. There’s a whole song about it. It’s very explicit, so…I thought that was pretty bold.

Mason: What’s it called? Do you know?

Amanda: I don’t know. We could look it up right now…

Mason: Is it, like, “Get on Your Bike and Ride”?

Amanda: I don’t think so. You know, something people don’t know about Sheryl Crow is she used to sing backup for Michael Jackson.

Mason: That’s what everybody knows! On the Bad tour! That’s what everybody knows about Sheryl Crow.

Amanda: I just think that’s so cool.

Mason: Didn’t she quit because she had to dye her hair so much it started to fall out? Like, that’s the Sheryl Crow legend.

Amanda: That’s definitely an urban legend. I don’t know about that one.

Mason: Whatever dude.

Amanda: You’re high. Go hang out with Devan.

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Discussion

Mason heard a song when he was driving and immediately knew it was Sheryl Crow. Her style is really distinct even though she plays blues, rock and country. Amanda adds that she’s a role model too. She’s a single mother and recently beat breast cancer.

Her new album even has a song on it about how her ex-husband, professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, left her when she was diagnosed with cancer even though she helped him with his battle with cancer a few years ago. Amanda doesn’t remember what the song is called, but suggests that “Get on Your Bike and Ride” would be a funny title.

Amanda tells Mason that Sheryl Crow used to sing backup vocals for Michael Jackson, but he already knew that and he says that most people know that about Sheryl Crow. He says he thinks that she had to quit because the hair dye was making her hair fall out, but Amanda isn’t so sure about that.

Do you think it’s better to become famous when you’re a little older, like Sheryl Crow, or is there something magical about a youthful star?

Comments

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Taylor177

China

Aww love the way she sits ;)

4aron

United States

I forgot about Sheryl Crow until seeing this. Its been a long time since ive heard her music and this is the first time ive heard about her having breast cancer too. Thats awesome that she overcame it tho! After seeing it firsthand i definately hate all forms of cancer! Good for her!

yun118

Antarctica

Who is she?

This is a bit hard for me.

CatcheR

Iceland

nice to know Cheryl Crow, thanks

gabriele oeda

Australia

hi! I like music! but depend.. and i do no what said

zz-top

Uzbekistan

awesome!

epolicena

Brazil

nice

aziz123

Saudi Arabia

People say love is like a bond
Others say love is a feeling two people share,
Some say love is a game,
I say love is pain.

Love help you up when your down,
Just to push you back down again.

Love makes you feel great when you have it,
Just to laugh at you as you loose it.

I say love teaches you pain,
Beacause once the feeling of love goes,
We all try so hard to feel it again.

So in the end,
Love is pain.
YES LOVE IS PAIN AND PAIN IS LOVE 4 SHERYL CROW

Benjamin Elizondo

Mexico

OO i dind't knew about lance bailed on her that is not cool man, he should had been there to suport her even though there was no romantic relationship it is important to suport people who is in that kind of situation. I really like her songs.

jack china

China

i know her cause a good listennig song but i cant remenber the song name

HaMoDi

Saudi Arabia

very nice lesson

ahe has good voice

wannalearnenglish

American Samoa

if she looks like that in the end then she has been more and more stupid during her hard working time…

miffoo

Slovakia

she's a good singer and strong person when she defeated cancer and still singing, and writing pretty songs. I keep her fingers

miffoo

Slovakia

she’s good singer

jackpeng2008

China

a real role model,she still pursuit of her ideals even though knows she is a breast canser

wanhongtan

China

I like this lesson.

seerjan

Turkey

linasinp

China

Sheryl Crow is a brave woman,and she experienced a lot. She got through the hardship including the cancer and the leaving of her husband.She never give her music up,she brought her fans happiness.Having suffered from these,she will become more and more stronger!

from my point of view,life teach us how to survive,thus,it appears more and more details like Sheryl Crow.But i consider that age has nothing to do with fame.You could be famous no matter you are young or old,it really depends on yourself.