Saturday, March 17, 2007

Show 317 Friday 16 March


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s song is: As Long As You Love Me.
This is a song by the Backstreet Boys.
The Backstreet Boys are a boy band.
They were created in 1993 by a guy called Lou Pearlman, was inspired by the success of New Kids On The Block.
They are still together and according to Wikipedia they are: the highest selling boy band of all-time.

By the way the boy band trend was apparently started by New Kids on the Block.
And a boy band - as opposed to a normal band with male members - is ... a group of usually 3 to 6 members who sing and dance, they usually don’t play any instruments, and the band is usually created by managers.
They follow mainstream music trends and change their appearances to adapt to new fashion trends. And they are generally aimed at an early teen or preteen audience.

When the Backstreet Boys started to become popular I was passed that target age which probably explains why I was never a fan.

But one thing I do love is the Chinese Backstreet Boys lip-synced version of As Long As You Love Me.
This is their name in Chinese: 後舍男生
In English people call them Back Dorm Boys, Back Dormitory Boys, Chinese Backstreet Boys, Dormitory Boys, and Two Chinese Boys.

They are famous for lip syncing to songs by the Backstreet Boys and other pop stars.

You’ve probably already seen them – but if you haven’t you definitely should – they’re very funny.
This is their blog.
It’s in Chinese so I don’t know what it says ... I just looked at the pictures.

Anyway the song As Long As You Love Me is a love song. In the song the singer is saying I don’t care about your background or what you’ve done in the past, all that matters is that you love me.
Oh, how romantic.

I don’t care who you are
Where you’re from
What you did (I said do by accident)
As long as you love me

You can use this song to study the idiom as long as.

As long as can mean: for the period of time that.
For example: You can keep the book for as long as you want.

This is a really interesting book.
You can borrow it if you like.
Oh, really? Thanks. OK. I’ll bring it back next week.
Oh, I don’t really use it much so you can keep it for as long as you like.


So that’s one meaning of as long as – but that’s not what it means in the song.

In this song it means: provided that, or on the condition that.
Basically the same as if.
If you love me, nothing else matters.



STICK NEWS

Kia ora, this is Stick News. This morning a woman in New Zealand called the police to report the theft of three of her marijuana plants.

Marijuana is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa. It’s known by many names such as cannabis, ganja, pot, weed, dope, skunk and wacky tobacky.
Wikipedia says: It is estimated that Cannabis is now regularly used by four percent of the world's adult population.
However in many countries, such as New Zealand, it is illegal.
According to norml.org.nz: New Zealand has the highest recorded cannabis arrest rate in the world, at 606 people arrested per 100,000 population per year. The United States is second with 247 arrests (per 100,000 population per year).
Most people in New Zealand know that cannabis is illegal – so they try to be sneaky to avoid being arrested.
However, some people aren’t blessed with such common sense.
This morning a woman in New Zealand called the police to report a burglary. She was so upset she broke down in tears. But the police officer couldn’t stop smiling.
According to the New Zealand Herald the woman had called to report the theft of three marijuana plants which she had growing in pots outside.
The woman told the police she was a good person and she was sick and tired of "low-lifes" stealing her things.
Police said that the community constable would be going around to see her later to have a bit of a chat.


And that was Stick News for Friday the 16th of March.
Kia Ora.



conversations with sarah
#195 What do people do on Saint Patrick’s Day?

Step 1: Repeat Kana’s lines.
Step 2: Read Kana’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah It’s Saint Patrick’s Day tomorrow.

Kana Saint what?

Sarah Saint Patrick’s Day.

Kana What’s that?

Sarah It’s a public holiday in Ireland and it’s celebrated in some other countries too … like New Zealand.

Kana What do people do on Saint Patrick’s Day?

Sarah In New Zealand people usually drink a lot and go to an Irish bar and pretend they’re Irish.

Kana Are there many actual Irish people in New Zealand?

Sarah I don’t know. But a lot of people have Irish ancestors.

Kana Do you?

Sarah I don’t know. Probably.



As Long As You Love Me

Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I’m leaving my life in your hands
People say I’m crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance
How you got me blind is still a mystery
I can’t get you out of my head
Don’t care what is written in your history
As long as you’re here with me

Chorus
I don’t care who you are
Where you’re from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you’re from
Don’t care what you did
As long as you love me

Every little thing that you have said and done
Feels like its deep within me
Doesn’t really matter if you’re on the run
It seems like were meant to be

Chorus

I’ve tried to hide it so that no one knows
But I guess it shows
When you look into my eyes
What you did and where you’re coming from
I don’t care, as long as you love me, baby.

Chorus



questionanswer

Opposites.
Today's questions are from this quiz.