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Singers Take Sides

Date: Oct 27 2008

Themes: News

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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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.

Most celebrities are famous for the way they sing, act, look or play a sport. They aren’t usually famous for their opinions on politics, so usually they keep those opinions to themselves. But in recent months, a lot of celebrities have been sharing their thoughts on the US Presidential election.

Musicians have been particularly vocal during the campaign because they perform in front of live audiences every night and can easily record a new song and put it on the Internet. Madonna recently made it clear that she doesn’t like Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at one of her concerts and there’s a video full of famous stars singing about Barack Obama.

Listen to Marni and Mason talk about some more examples of celebrities weighing in on the election.

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

Marni

Mason: You know what my favorite political ad of the year was? It was the one that Paris Hilton came out saying she was running for president.

Marni: Right. In response to McCain saying that…

Mason: Barack Obama hangs out…

Marni: ...with celebrities. It was just absurd. It was totally absurd.

Mason: But it feels like that kind of kicked off the celebrity involvement in the campaign. Endorsements kind of kept trickling in after that.

Marni: Yeah. I guess so. I never really thought of Paris Hilton as the tipping point but…

Mason: Didn’t it all happen after that?

Marni: I think you’re right. I think you’re right. I think that there was definitely a huge movement.

Mason: There’s a good handful of people who just stood up and said, “I like this guy, I like that guy.” Like Justin Timberlake was all for Obama.

Marni: Right. Springsteen’s all for Obama.

Mason: Springsteen. You know, I’m sure there were some country dudes for McCain.

Marni: John Rich did a country song called “Raisin’ McCain.”

Mason: But what does an endorsement like that really mean, when the celebrity stands up and says, “This is my opinion.” Does it matter?

Marni: Well, I think in some respects. If you’re a young person and you’re kind of persuaded by your idols, your role models. They do have some sway over your opinion.

Mason: Yeah. I’d rather listen to Colin Powell’s endorsement.

Marni: Well…

Mason: He probably knows a little bit more what’s going on in the political game than Scarlett Johansson.

Marni: Right. But if you’re young and impressionable.

Mason: Colin Powell’s not hip enough for ya?

Marni: Scarlett Johansson’s a lot better lookin’.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Barack Obama has been criticized for acting like a celebrity, so Paris Hilton made a video saying she was running for president as a joke. Mason thinks that’s what started the trend of celebrities commenting on the election.

More pop musicians have endorsed Obama than McCain, including Justin Timberlake and Bruce Springsteen. But John Rich, a country artist, recorded a special song for McCain.

But Mason is more interested in what other political leaders, like Colin Powell, think about the election. Marni points out that some younger voters may be very interested in what their favorite singer thinks.

Do you think celebrities ought to endorse candidates? Do you think the opinions of famous musicians are important during a political campaign?