English, baby!

Annie Lennox

Date: May 11 2009

Themes: News

Grammar: Third Conditional

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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.

You know you’ve really made it as a musician once you get to put out a greatest hits album. After five Top 10 albums, Annie Lennox is finally there. Earlier this year, the Scottish singer released The Annie Lennox Collection. The album includes two new songs as well as 12 classic tunes from Lennox’s nearly 20-year career.

Actually, Lennox has been around for even longer than that. Before starting her solo career, she was in the Eurythmics. Their first big hit, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” came out in 1983 and went on to become a hit again when covered by Marilyn Mason.

Beren didn’t think she’d see Annie Lennox release a greatest hits album, but Marni knew all along.

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.

Beren

Marni

Beren: If you’d told me back in the 80s that Annie Lennox would still be around today, I would not have believed you.

Marni: Really? I’m not surprised. I think she had staying power.

Beren: She has been named one of the best singers of all time by VH1 and Rolling Stone…

Marni: Yeah.

Beren: But I definitely think just her solo career…I mean, it just sounds so dated to me. But that could just be a personal preference, ‘cause I think the Eurythmics actually have a lot of staying power, you know?

Marni: Yeah, I can see that. And I think there’s probably a lot of bands that were influenced by the Eurythmics. But I think she does have an incredible voice.

Beren: Isn’t she kind of known for her activism?

Marni: She is, yeah. She and…I think she and Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics donated a lot of money to Greenpeace and Amnesty International. And I know she’s also a spokesperson for the campaign to help Burma.

Beren: Oh, wow. She’s speaking out.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Beren is surprised by how much staying power Annie Lennox has. To her, Lennox’s music sounds a little dated. But she agrees that Lennox has a good voice. Both Beren and Marni like Lennox’s old band, the Eurythmics.

Marni also admires Annie Lennox for her activism. It’s not uncommon for celebrities like Lennox to promote their favorite charities and causes. Some, like Angelina Jolie and Bono, are even able to influence politicians and create change. In 2005, Bono was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize!

Do you think celebrities should speak out about political issues? What cause would you like to be a spokesperson for?

Comments

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laliv

Madagascar

I think celebrities should mind their own business, political issue is not their job. public like them for their song, their movies or anything else but politics are absolutely different.

zhzloverzy

China

Everyone should have right to talk about polotocial issues,~and especially, celebrities who indeed whould do their responsible action or something that impulse the development of socity, significant,that speaking out is a available way to express their personal views which should represent a major of people of their nation!!...

tusedo

Viet Nam

tome, it's ok. celibrities are some kind of well known ones to everyone. in politics the old face can be an advantage. but, they are only suitable to a position of a spoken-person who usually speak out what the others put in their mouth. i have no taste for them. they'd better stay in their fields.

sofree

China

Yes, I think celebrities should speak out, they have star power, make a lot money, they have responsibility.
If I had any chance, I would have been a spokesperson for fighting against the pollution in China.
Btw, I don’t know Annie Lennox or Eurythmics before, but I do admire for her activism.

liuwangning

China

I agree with Beren .

rabit_barbara

China

I always think that celebrities should shoulder more social responses as they are loved and concrened and imitated by so many people,and the most important fact is that they do have more power than ordinary people.As it says in the movie "spider man","greater power ,greater responsibility".As a celebrity,I beleive ,as long as they want they can always find a way though which they can make the world we lived a better place,whether it is political or nonpolitical. If I have the chance to speak out for some group, I'd like to speak for the little girls in rural area of China, my homeland.I'd like to bring more social awareness to their educaion and self-development opportunities. A very meaningful cause, isn't it?

Amido Hernan Rios

Colombia

You would have slept good if you had gone to your bed early.

tiagon85

Brazil

It is very nice and can influence a lot of people when a public person, like an actor or a singer is a spokesperson for something good, because they have this charm that people like it. We need someone who can speak out about problems such as violence, terrorism, africa´s issues and other causes instead of getting public problems with paparazzo and that kind of stuff…

Amido Hernan Rios

Colombia

Yes, I think that it's very important that celebrities speak out not only about politics issues but also different issues since they count on many fans who hear them, good money for helps and have many influences what are useful in difficult moments.