名人轶事:Cole Porter Pt.1

（单词翻译）

Broadcast: August 15, 2004

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VOICE ONE:

This is Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Steve Ember with People in America in VOA Special English. Today

we tell about the life and music of American songwriter Cole Porter.

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VOICE ONE:

That was "Begin the Beguine" played by Artie Shaw's orchestra¹ in nineteen-

thirty-eight.

It is one of almost one-thousand songs Cole Porter wrote. In his seventy-

three years, more than five-hundred of those songs were published. Porter

wrote most of his songs in the nineteen-twenties, thirties and forties. Yet

they remain as fresh as when he wrote them.

Cole Porter's songs are still being sung and played today. They are performed

at musical theaters, jazz clubs, even rock-and-roll concerts. A movie about

his life, called "De-Lovely," was released in two-thousand-four. Kevin Kline

stars in the movie as Cole Porter. Ashley Judd plays his wife, Linda Porter.

Popular young performers of today sing his songs in the movie. We will play

some songs from that movie later in this program.

VOICE TWO:

Cole Porter was born June ninth, eighteen-ninety-one, in the middle western

state of Indiana. His family was wealthy and educated. His mother, Kate,

guided him to music at an early age. He wrote his first song at the age of

ten.

As a young man, he was sent east to study at Yale University in New Haven²,

Connecticut. In his extra time, he continued to write songs. Two were for the

university: the "Yale Bulldog" song and "Bingo Eli Yale." They are still sung

there today.

After finishing his studies at Yale, Cole Porter went to Harvard University

in Cambridge, Massachusetts to study law. That plan lasted only a year. At a

party one night, he played some of his songs for the students and professors.

The head of the law school spoke³ to him. "Why are you studying law?" he

asked. "You are no good at it. Why don't you go to Harvard's Music School and

then write for the musical theater?" Later, Porter said, "That idea had never

entered my head before. "

VOICE ONE:

At the time, musical theater was extremely popular in America. This is

because there were few music records. And radio programs were still being

developed. So, songwriters had to work in the musical theater to be

successful. Cole Porter wrote his first musical show in nineteen-sixteen. He

was still a student at Harvard. The show

was called "See America First." It was produced in the Broadway theater area

of New York City.

The show was a complete failure. Porter wanted to leave town until people

forgot it. So, he went to Europe. He stayed there for most of the next

thirteen years.#p#副标题#e#
VOICE TWO:

During this time, Cole Porter became famous for his parties. His guests were

wealthy, pleasure-loving people from all over Europe. They liked him because

he was smart and funny and knew how to enjoy life. And they loved his songs,

which he played at his parties. Here Cole Porter sings his song, "You're the

Top."

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VOICE ONE:

In France, Cole Porter met the woman who became his wife. She was a beautiful

and rich American named Linda Lee Thomas. They were married in nineteen-

nineteen. The Porters gave parties that lasted for days. They had so much

money they could do anything they wanted. And they did. Their life together

was a search for excitement, adventure and pleasure.

Still, Cole Porter remained a serious, hard-working songwriter. He wrote both

the words and the music for his songs. The words and music always fit

together perfectly⁴. His songs were funny, sexy and intelligent. They were

playful -- full of little jokes and hidden meanings.

One of his earliest big hits is called "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)." It

was written in nineteen-twenty-eight for a show called "Paris." Alanis

Morrissette sings the song in the movie about Cole Porter called "De-Lovely."

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VOICE TWO:

Some of Porter's friends thought he might not be a success. One friend, Elsa

Maxwell, told him: "You are too good. The humor and poetry of your words are

far beyond the people. One day, however," she added, "you will bring the

public up to your own level. Then the world will be yours."

VOICE ONE:

Most of Cole Porter's songs are about love and desire. When they were

written, they stretched the limits of what was socially acceptable⁵. The words

were often unexpected, sometimes even shocking. They spoke both directly and

indirectly⁶ about sex, about drug use. Some songs he sang only for his

friends.

Critics consider "Love for Sale" to be one of Porter's finest songs. He wrote

it in nineteen-thirty for a Broadway musical called "The New Yorkers." For

years, the song was banned on American radio. Here is a new version by Vivian

Green.

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VOICE TWO:

Many of Porter's songs were written in a minor⁷ musical key. This gives them a

feeling of sadness and longing⁸. Yet they also can have a feeling of great

excitement. American songwriter Alan J. Lerner said only Cole Porter could

really "write" passion. One example is "Night and Day." It is considered

perhaps the finest song Cole Porter ever wrote. It is about the kind of

romantic love that is almost a form of insanity⁹.

Porter got the idea for the song while traveling in Morocco. He heard drums

and a man singing a prayer. The song has a sound that beats endlessly, over

and over. It is like a lover who thinks of nothing but his love, over and

over, night and day.

The song "Night and Day" was introduced in a nineteen-thirty-two Broadway

musical comedy called "The Gay Divorcee." The great dancer and singer Fred

Astaire played the leading male character and sang the song.

"Night and Day" became famous around the world. And Cole Porter was becoming

one of the greatest songwriters America had ever produced. Today there are

many recordings¹⁰ of the song by different singers and musicians. Here is

"Night and Day" from the movie about Cole Porter called "De-Lovely." John

Barrowman and Kevin Kline sing it.

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VOICE ONE:

On our program next week, we will tell more about Cole Porter's life, and

bring you more of his music.

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This program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis.

This is Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Steve Ember. Join us again next week for People in America in VOA

Special English.