Friday, November 21, 2008

#893 Le Freak, Up To You, Craze, IBM Study


Show 893 Friday 21 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


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

Today I thought I’d talk about a song that came out 30 years ago in 1978. I really like the disco music from that era.

The song we’re studying today is called Le Freak. It’s a pretty simple song, about dancing and having a good time.

Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun to be had by everyone
It's up to you, it surely can be done

Be up to somebody is a common idiom.
To be sb’s duty or responsibility; to be for sb to decide

For example if you’re eating out and your friend asks you: Do you feel like Italian or Sushi?
You can say: I don’t really mind. It’s up to you.

There’s another idiom later on in the song:

Young and old are doing it, I'm told
Just one try, and you too will be sold

be sold on sth
(informal) to be very enthusiastic about sth

For example: we were really sold on the idea.

So if you try this dance just once, you’ll love it.



STICK NEWS


Kia Ora in Stick News today according to a new study by IBM the number of people who watch online video has risen 27% from last year.

This year the International Business Machines Corporation, conducted their second global online survey of consumer digital media and entertainment habits.
They surveyed 2,800 people in six countries.
Last year 49% of the people surveyed said they had watched video on their computers. This year 76% answered yes.
IBM also reported that cannibalization of overall television consumption is becoming more apparent.
More than half of online video watchers say they watch less television as a result.

And that was Stick News for Friday the 21st of November.
Kia Ora.





Word of the Day

Today’s word is craze.

A widespread but short-lived enthusiasm for something.

This is from the song: Have you heard about the new dance craze?

Fad means pretty much the same thing. And speaking of fads and crazes. I’m very happy that the 朝バナナダイエット (asa banana diet) – one of the recent diet fads in Japan, seems to be over. So now I can buy bananas again.



friday joke

Patient:
Doctor! I have a serious problem. I can never remember what I just said.

Doctor:
When did you first notice this problem?

Patient:
What problem?



conversations with sarah
#556 What’s the story?

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

Sarah The story behind that song is interesting too.

Pat What’s the story?

Sarah In 1977 on New Year’s Eve, they went to go into Studio 54 but they couldn’t get in.

Pat Why not?

Sarah Their names weren’t on the door or something.

Pat Uh-huh.

Sarah And then they went back to someone’s apartment and they came up with the song.

Pat Every cloud has a silver lining.

Sarah Yeah, true. Anyway the whole story is in Wikipedia, so you can read it there.



notes

21st of November - I accidentally said 23rd

links

today's news and here
today's STICK NEWS pictures

listen to Le Freak here
read the lyrics here (under lyric library)

music

show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

friday joke start
artist: AdHoc
album: Toutes directions
track: Sumbala
from: Annecy, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Zeropage
album: Ambient Pills Update
track: Tranquilizer Jam
from: Switzerland
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

#892 TDES Day Off, Thank You!


Show 892 Thursday 20 November
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


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

The Daily English Show is taking the day off today. So I’m filming this on Wednesday. And tomorrow we’re going to Sapporo for the day and night and hopefully we’ll find a nice glass of wine or two.

So I’ll see you back on Friday for the next regular show. I’ll be older and probably not wiser, just older.

And I just wanted to say thank you for all the nice comments people leave every day. And the emails too – people send such nice emails. I really appreciate them and I’m sorry that I hardly ever reply. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.

A few more thank yous.

Last week a box arrived from Korea which was very exciting. I’ll be eating these tomorrow … they look delicious. 감사합니다

And today another very kind person came by to give me these. どうもありがとう。とても嬉しいです。

See you tomorrow!