Pop music

Will Young (in the photo) was the winner of a competition on a TV show called Pop Idol.

1. Discuss the following questions.

1. What do you think the contestants had to do?

2. Do you think it was a popular show?

3. What do you think the prize was?

2. Listen to two people talking about the TV show Pop Idol and check your guesses.

3. Here is a summary of the conversation you've just listened to. Read it and find the mistakes if there are any.

Paul Mortimer works for a music magazine. The idea of the competition was to find a new pop star. At first, not many people entered the competition. People liked the show because they could choose the winner. Five judges helped the audience to make a right decision. All the contestants were of a very high standard. The judges were not always friendly and kind. Will Young was very confident throughout the competition. People thought Gareth Gates would win because he had a better voice. 46 people voted for Will Yong. Will's first single was an instant success.

4. Discuss these questions with a partner.

1. What do you think about this way of finding a pop star?

2. Do you think Will Young will continue to be successful?

3. Would you enter a competition on TV like Pop Idol? Why?/Why not?

4. Can you name any other famous musical contests?

5. Do you watch Eurovision?

6. Compare Eurovision and Pop Idol.

7. Why do you think our country is not very successful at this contest?

A visit to a rock festival

Use of English

1. Use the word in brackets to form a word that fits into the space.

My visit to a three-day rock festival last week was quite a 1) … (reveal) I realized that the impression I had had of this type of occasion (received in my 2) … (child) from my elder siblings who had had first-hand experience) were in fact somewhat 3) … (lead). I had imagined something shiny, gleaming, and magical, in idyllic 4) … (surround). What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer chaos of the whole affair: the lack of anywhere to sit and the 5) … (comfort) that entailed, the mud (it seemed to pour with rain 6) … (continue) the whole weekend) and the terrible crush of the huge number of 7) … (revel) in a rather limited space (though the park in question had always seemed to me quite 8) … (size) – that was when it was empty of course). All in all, the whole experience was a(n) 9) … (light) one, in that I learnt a lot, but why so many young people should choose to spend a weekend in such appalling conditions remains 10) … (comprehend) to me!

2. Discuss the following questions.

1. Have you ever been to a rock festival?

2. Was it a luckier experience or not?

3. Why do you think the organisation of the rock festival disappointed the writer?

4. What kind of people like rock music?

5. Why do they listen to rock music?

Jazz music

Listening and speaking

1. What do you know about jazz music?

2. You will hear part of an interview with a young jazz musician who has been called "the most important new musician in twenty years". In pairs, think of three questions you would like to ask him.

3. Now listen to the recording (T.4.5). For items 1-9, fill the gaps with a word or short phrase. Were your questions in answered?

Jonathan states that "A Love Supreme" and some other albums he listened to in his childhood were to him the 1) … In his music, John Coltrane works with some very complicated 2) … but one doesn't have to understand those in order to appreciate it. According to Jonathan, Coltrane did not care about 3) … when he played music. Jonathan says that some people who do not normally listen to jazz, will be able to 4) … to it if they are not made aware that it is actually free jazz. The music Jonathan wrote for the theatrical play aims to place the listener in a 5) … Jonathan went to the play's rehearsals and even watched videos of the rehearsals to ensure that there was 6) … between his composition and the play. The reason Jonathan gives for never being able to shake off Coltrane's influence is because music is part of 7) … Four out of the twelve pieces on Jonathan's new album are 8) … Jonathan has not changed his style much and is still 9) … playing easy-going jazz.

4. Discuss the following questions.

1. In the recording Jonathan Redgrave says that music is part of who we are. Do you agree with this statement?

2. Do people use music as part of social occasions?

3. Would you like to listen to Jonathan's music? Why?

4. What sense does jazz give to its listeners?

5. Listen to a conversation about street musicians and answer the questions.

1 Helen's view of busking differs from Andy's in that

a) she thinks buskers are too tired to play.

b) they make her feel guilty.

c) she does not like the music.

2. In general Andy's attitude can be described as

a) sentimental.

b) radical.

c) pragmatic.

6. Whose point of view do you agree with? What other opinions can be given about street musicians?