English, baby!

Katy Perry

Date: Feb 23 2009

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Grammar: Passive Voice

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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.

One sure way for girl musicians to get a lot of publicity is to kiss other girls. Remember when Madonna and Britney Spears locked lips at the MTV music video awards? Or what about that crazy girl band t.A.T.u., who made out in one of their music videos? And let’s not forget Jill Sobule, who wrote the first song called “I Kissed a Girl” back in 1995.

The pop singer Katy Perry has a song called “I Kissed a Girl” too. It’s made her a huge success on the pop charts, but a controversial figure for some. Listen to Beren and Dale talk about the song and the scandal.

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.

Dale

Beren

Dale: I’m actually a DJ and I do a lot of parties. And one of the ones that’s a number one hit is “I Kissed a Girl.”

Beren: Oh, I think that’s a number one hit everywhere. I went to a teeny, tiny town and went out dancing…like nobody on the dance floor. All of a sudden, they started playing “I Kissed a Girl,” and girls started making out.

Dale: Do you think that’s kind of weird though?

Beren: It’s very weird.

Dale: This Katy Perry character or person is actually trying to make other girls kinda make out with other girls…I don’t know. Does that seem like a good thing or a bad thing?

Beren: Do you think the song was written and intended to be like that hit that would make girls slutty on the dance floor?

Dale: Well, after I started listening to the song, actually it was banned in high schools.

Beren: I heard that too, actually.

Dale: Because more girls started doing that. And saying they kissed a girl and they liked it. From rumors I heard also, Katie Perry said that she’s not gonna have sex for a year.

Beren: I heard that possibly is incorrect, but I don’t know.

Dale: So do you think she’s very controversial anyway?

Beren: Somewhat controversial. I mean, maybe. I don’t know. ‘Cause to me she seems more modern day bubble gum pop. Like, really well-written songs actually, ‘cause it’s super catchy.

Dale: Oh, super catchy.

Beren: I don’t know, maybe it’s the last line kids can cross now, you know?

Dale: Mm-hm.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

“I Kissed a Girl” is one of the most popular songs right now. Dale is a DJ, and he gets asked to play it all the time. It even gets the crowd excited in tiny towns, like the one Beren visited recently.

Beren and Dale both think the popularity of the song is a little strange. There’s been a lot of controversy over it, and some high schools have even banned it. There have also been some rumors about Katy Perry’s love life. But Beren thinks that even though the singer is somewhat controversial, she has a light, bubble gum pop sound. She and Dale agree that her songs are super catchy.

Beren says that girls kissing other girls might be one of the last controversial subjects. There are a lot of songs out there with violent or sexual lyrics that aren’t as controversial.

Do you think song lyrics are too violent or sexual these days? Does this song deserve all the controversy?

Comments

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eduardosouto

Brazil

I really believe the song lyrics are too violent or sexual these days, especially in my country!

I live in Brazil, and here we have a style of music called FUNK and they sing openly about dirty six and stuff like drugs and money!

It’s sad, because you can see even small children singing those songs! :|

Anika_Icecream

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Her voice Heart Smile

Her eyes are nice too

samoorayigirl

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hot & cold….the one u got the way…firework…Roar r the best songs of her i love herrrr ^_ :D

lima58

United States

She is a super star and she gets away in almost everything! Lol!! Love Hot & cold song!

MAHSA1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

oh,her voice is such a noise!lol!howwever i like some of her musics,they remind me my good memories!i like “The one that got away”!it is a meaningful song!:)

-Benny-

Thailand

hehehh i love her, and her eyes!...she’s very sexy ^ ^

8312016

Switzerland

she is my favoritive singer her sound is good iam not agree with u Elena i suggest u hear for example:

Hot N Cold

California Gurls Feat Snoop Dogg

The One That Got Away Acoustic

Wild Awake

Thinking of you

and etc

ElenA

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

She hasn’t a beautiful voice, but the song is beautiful

Liana's Dream

United States

she’s interesting for me,but i love her songs.

Love off

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

she is very good singer,i like her voice,she’s videos are very different and it’s very good for a singer and when a person listen t her music know she has a different voice.

whipiry

South Korea

when I saw the footage of locking lips on MTV , I was horrified at first. but at present, those films and videos are common. it can make those women slutty. in the entertainment industry, they want to make a big hit on their stuff, so sometimes they cross the line. i don’t know what is right or wrong. all the things are depending on consumers. but for teenagers, what impact is on them?? i think that’s why schools ban them. but their effort is helpless cause they can see all the things on the internet. the point is to learn how to take that thing. music right now?? too catchy and modern bubble gum pop….i think so.too.