Depeche Mode

Intro

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

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• electronic music
• synthesizer
• gothic
• following

• make up for lost time
• stadium
• venue
• reach

• angst
• pioneer

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

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Depeche Mode was one of the most successful bands of the ‘80s. They’ve sold millions of albums, popularized a whole new genre of music, and influenced bands like Radiohead, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand. So how is it possible that they’ve never toured the largest venues in the world before?

This summer, Depeche Mode will make up for lost time by playing stadium shows in 28 cities throughout 21 different countries. Find out if Marni and Jason will be lining up for tickets.

Dialog

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

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

Jason

Marni

Jason:  So this summer, coming to a stadium near you for the first time ever, Depeche Mode.

Marni:  Oh my God, DM?

Jason:  Yep.

Marni:  Love Depeche Mode. Really, they’ve never played stadiums?

Jason:  This is their biggest tour ever. And the biggest venue they’ve ever done.

Marni:  I guess that seems really surprising, ‘cause they were so…I mean, at least in my world, so huge.

Jason:  What appealed about them to you when you were a little kid?

Marni:  Oh, I don’t know, probably that sort of tortured voice, it was so, like, longing, and…But then it was sort of dancey. It was like this morose dance music.

Jason:  Yeah, totally. And I mean their reach is so huge, just as one of the pioneers of electronic music.

Marni:  Absolutely.

Jason:  I mean they were like the first place you really heard synth used really well.

Marni:  Yeah. So would you consider them goth?

Jason:  I don’t think they’re goth, I think a lot of their fans are goth.

Marni:  They attract a gothic following. Fascinating that they’re finally at the point in their career where they’re doing stadium tours. It would’ve seemed like that would’ve happened already.

Jason:  Well, they must be thinking big. I mean, their new album is called Sounds of the Universe, so…

Marni:  It doesn’t get much bigger than the universe.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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