Practise your English listening comprehension with this Simply Red version of the beautiful song "If You Don't Know Me by Now", written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the Philly soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. I advise you to go about it like this: first you just listen to the song without looking at the words, and then you play it again looking at the lyrics to check if you understood correctly:
(This video has been downloaded from YouTube for educational purposes only).
It's Halloween tomorrow, so here's something about its origin, and a typical Halloweeen song.
Origin: From the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. The Celts used the day to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and also believed that this transition between the seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead. Over the millennia the holiday has transitioned from a somber pagan ritual to a day of merriment, costumes, parades and sweet treats for children and adults.
And now the song 'It's Much Too Spooky for Me', in case you want to have a bit of fun singing it in the classroom:
(This video has been downloaded from You Tube for educational purposes only)
Vocabulary help spooky - espeluznante bat - murciélago scary - aterrador witch - bruja jack-o'-lantern - lámpara hecha con una calabaza ahuecada, típica de Halloween (ver imagen arriba)
Para las personas como yo que ya tenemos una edad, el comienzo de la época otoñal es tiempo de nostalgia, de recuerdos de cuando eramos más jóvenes. Los recuerdos pueden ser de hechos trascendentes, como cuando terminaste los estudios, te casaste o tuviste tu primer hijo. Pero a veces vienen a nuestra mente recuerdos más triviales, como puede ser una película que te encantó o la lectura de un libro que te impactó. He recordado en estos días, por ejemplo, el título de la primera novela en inglés que leí cuando todavía era casi un niño. Curiosamente, no era de un autor inglés, sino del belga George Simenon y ni siquiera me acuerdo de su argumento. Pero el título de la novela, 'The Man Who Saw The Trains Go By', ha vuelto a mi memoria con toda nitidez, envuelto en el perfume del jazmín del patio de la casa de mis padres, donde la leí. Siendo algo mayor y dando ya clases particulares de inglés para ganarme la vida, vi una película, que me dejó huella. Se trata de My Fair Lady, basada en la obra teatral Pygmalion de Bernard Shaw, con la encantadora Audrey Hepburn como Eliza, el distinguido Rex Harrison, como el Profesor Higgins, el entrañable Wilfrid Hyde White, como el Coronel Pickering y el pícaro Stanley Holloway, con su fuerte acento Cockney, como Alfred Doolittle, el padre de Eliza, en los papeles principales. Me gustó tanto la película y el acento británico del Profesor Higgins, que no dudaba en recomendar a mis alumnos que lo imitaran. Eran otros tiempos, claro! Hoy os dejo 'The Rain in Spain', una de mis canciones favoritas, con el único propósito de que la disfrutéis y que os guste tanto como a mí:
Os dejo hoy esta preciosa canción de Barbra Streisand, subida hoy por mi amiga Carmen Meliveo, ex-alumna en mi recuerdo y magnífica profesora de inglés en la actualidad. Encuentro la canción muy apropiada para este tiempo otoñal, lleno de nostalgia, y mi deseo es que os sirva de relax dentro de vuestra actividad diaria, al tiempo que disfrutáis de la música y la letra de esta canción, y de su perfecto inglés.
Leo en Internet que se cumplen en estos días 40 años de la adaptación cinematográfica del musical Jesus Christ Superstar y que, con este motivo, esta aclamada ópera rock vuelve a los escenarios del teatro Sistina de Roma, con el mismo reparto original del film, a excepción de Carl Anderson (Judas), que falleció hace 10 años. Me sumo hoy con mi post al homenaje a esta superproducción, que me impactó en su día, dejándoos la canción King Herod's Song, en la queun Jesús indefenso soporta estoicamente las burlas e improperios de un Herodes, magistralmente presentado como prototipo de reyezuelo vicioso y decadente. Mi objetivo es que disfrutéis de la canción, al tiempo que probéis vuestra destreza auditiva, que podéis medir completando el texto mutilado que os dejo a continuación.
Lyrics
Jesus, I am overjoyed to (1)...... you face to face. You've been getting quite a name all around the
place. (2)....... cripples, raising from the dead. Now I understand you're God, At least, that's what you've said. So, you are the Christ, you're the great Jesus
Christ. Prove to me that you're divine; (3) ....... my water
into wine. That's all you need do, then I'll know it's all (4) ...... Come on, King of the Jews. Jesus, you just won't believe the hit you've
made around here. You are all we talk about, you're the (5) .......of the
year. Oh what a pity if it's all a lie. Still, I'm sure that you can rock the cynics if
you tried. So, you are the Christ, yes the great Jesus
Christ. Prove to me that you're no fool; walk (6) ...... my
swimming pool. If you do that for me, then I'll let you go (7) ...... Come on, King of the Jews. I only ask what I'd ask any superstar. What is it that you have got that puts you where
you are. I am waiting, yes I'm a captive (8) ....... I'm dying to be shown that you are not just any
man. So, if you are the Christ, yes the great Jesus
Christ Feed my household with this bread. You can do it on your (9) ....... Or has something gone (10) ....... Jesus, why do you
take so long? Oh come on, King of the Jews. Hey! Aren't you scared of me Christ? Mr. Wonderful Christ? You're a joke. You're not the Lord. You are nothing but a (11) ....... Take him away. He's got nothing to say! Get out you King of the, Get out King of the, Oh get out you King of the (12) ......! Get out of here! you, you! Get out of here you, Get out of my life.
Aquí os dejo hoyesta conocida canción de Bob Dylan en versión de Mickey Delfino, al que doy las gracias por permitirme subir a mi blog esta maravillosa canción para beneficio de mis seguidores, estudiantes de inglés:
Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal that liked to growl Big furry paws and he liked to howl Great big furry back and furry hair "Ah, think I'll call it a bear". Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal up on a hill Chewing up so much grass until she was filled He saw milk coming out but he didn't know how "Ah, think I'll call it a cow".
Man gave names to all the animals
In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal that liked to snort Horns on his head and they weren't too short It looked like there wasn't nothing that he couldn't pull "Ah, think I'll call it a bull". Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal leaving a muddy trail Real dirty face and a curly tail He wasn't too small and he wasn't too big "Ah, think I'll call it a pig". Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. Next animal that he did meet Had wool on his back and hooves on his feet Eating grass on a mountainside so steep "Ah, think I'll call it a sheep". Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, in the beginning Man gave names to all the animals In the beginning, long time ago. He saw an animal as smooth as glass Slithering his way through the grass Saw him dissappear by a tree near a lake ..... Ayuda de vocabulario to growl - gruñir big furry paws -grandes zarpas peludas to howl - aullar to chew up - masticar to snort - bufar, resoplar horns - cuernos leaving a muddy trail - dejando un reguero de barro a curly tail - una cola rizada wool - lana hooves - pezuñas (pl. de hoof) mountainside - ladera de una montaña steep - escarpada smooth as glass - lisa como el cristal slithering his way through the grass - deslizándose por la hierba
Comparto hoy con vosotros We'll Meet Again, cantada por Vera Lynn, que hoy debe de tener cerca de cien años. Ésta fue la canción por excelencia de las tropas aliadas en la 2ª Guerra Mundial, pero podría perfectamente aplicarse a cualquier otra guerra, pues es un homenaje a los héroes que van al frente a combatir por su patria y un deseo de que vuelvan sanos y salvos. A mí me encanta la música y la letra de esta canción y viene a mi memoria cuando me despido de algún buen amigo o amiga que se va fuera de España y que no sé si volveré a ver en esta vida: We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day..... En otro orden de cosas, opino que We´ll meet again es un canto de despedida al partir, pero también de esperanza en volver, por lo que me parece apropiado para poner punto final a mi programa preparing for the 'oposiciones'. Mi mensaje para mis seguidores que se presentan como candidatos a las oposiciones a profesor de enseñanza secundaria que empiezan dentro de pocos días es el siguiente: Conseguir o no plaza depende de muchos factores, que no están todos en vuestras manos, pero seguir adelante después, con renovada ilusión, dependerá siempre de vosotros mismos. Por ahora os diré cómo se le dice en Inglaterra a los actores el día del estreno: break a leg! Nota. Hay muchas explicaciones sobre el origen de esta expresión, siendo la más simple que en el mundillo del teatro existe la superstición de que desear buena suerte, trae mala suerte. En España, se suele decir ¡mucha mierda! (del francés 'merde!, porque también en Francia, en el mundo del teatro se usaba antiguamente esta expresión para desear buena suerte a los actores, según parece porque cuantos más señores de alta alcurnia asistieran al teatro en lujosos carruajes tirados por muchos caballos, más excrementos de estos animales quedaban esparcidos por el suelo en la entrada del teatro, lo que venía a significar que más posibilidades había de que estos grandes señores lanzaran monedas al escenario si les gustaba la obra). Según algunas versiones, esta curiosa explicación está relacionada también con break a leg!, por la posibilidad que había de que un actor se rompiera una pierna, en su intento por recoger tantas monedas. Naturalmente, nada de esto es científico, sino simple folclore, pero no cabe duda de que, como yo suelo decir a menudo, parodiando a Doolittle, Eliza's father, in My Fair Lady musical, a little bit of luck es siempre necesario en la vida. Bueno, aquí tenéis la letra de la canción, que puede servir de despedida para mi programa de preparación para las oposiciones, pero en ningún caso (espero) de mis queridos seguidores y amigos:
LYRICS
We'll meet again
Don't know where Don't know when But I know We'll meet again Some sunny day
Keep smilin' thru Just like you Always do 'Til the blue skies drive The dark clouds Far away
So will you please say hello to the folks that I know Tell'em I won't be long They'll be happy to know That when you saw me go I was singing this song
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know We'll meet again Some sunny day
We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know We'll meet again Some sunny day
Keep smilin' thru Just like you always do 'Til the blue skies Drive the dark clouds Far away
So will you please say hello To the folks that I know Tell'em I won't be long They'll be happy to know That when you saw me go I was singing this song
[with choir] We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know We'll meet again Some sunny day
(This video has been downloaded from YouTube for educational purposes exclusively).
(This video has been downloaded from YouTube for educational purposes exclusively)
I've always maintained that listening to songs is a pleasant way to learn English, and here is a good example: A Woman in Love, sung by Barbra Streisand. It is one of my favourites, one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard. Enjoy it!
Lyrics Life is a moment in space when the dream is gone it's a lonelier place. I kiss the morning goodbye but down inside you know we never know why. The road is narrow and long when eyes meet eyes and feeling is strong. I turn away from the wall I stumble and fall but I give you it all. I am a woman in love and I'd do anything to get you into my world and hold you within. It's a right I defend over and over again. What do I do? With you eternally mine in love there is no measure of time. We planned it all at the start That you and I live in each other's heart. We may be oceans away you feel my love I hear what you say. No truth is ever a lie I stumble and fall but I give you it all. I am a woman in love ............................... I am a woman in love and I'm talking to you. I know how you feel what a woman can do. It's a right I defend over and over again. I am a woman in love ................................. Memory test Fill in the gaps: LYRICS Life is a moment in space when the ...... is gone it's a ..... place. I kiss the .... goodbye but down ..... you .... we never know why. The road is .....and long when eyes ...... eyes and the feeling is ...... I turn away from the wall I ....... and fall but I give you it all. I am a woman in love and I'd do anything to get you into my ..... and .... you within. It's a right I ...... over and over again. What do I do? With you eternally ..... in love there is no ..... of time. They planned it all at the start that you and I live in each other's ....... We may be ..... away you feel my love I ..... what you say. No ...... is ever a lie I stumble and fall but I give you it all. I am a woman in love and I'm ..... to you. I know how you ..... what a woman can .... It's a right I defend over and over again.
I share with you today this beautiful song by the great Frank Sinatra (The Voice). It's one of my favourites and I hope you like it too:
(This video has been downloaded from YouTube for educational purposes exclusively)
EXERCISE Here are the lyrics; you just fill in the gaps: And now the end is near And so I face the final (1) ....... My friend, I'll say it (2) ......., I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and every (3) .......... But more, much more than this, I (4) ...... it my way. Regrets, I've had a few, But then again, (5) ......few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course, Each careful (6) .......along the highway, But more, much more than this, I did it my way. Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I (7) .........chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it (8) ........ I faced it all and I stood tall, And did it my way. I've loved, I've laughed and (9) ..... I've had my fill; my share of losing. And now, as tears subside, I find it all so (10) ......... To think I did all that, And may I say - not in a (11) .......way. No, oh not me, I did it my way. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has (12) ........ To say the things he truly feels, And not the words of one who (13) ....... The record shows I (14)......the blows - And did it my way! KEY 1.- curtain; 2.- clear; 3.- highway; 4.- did; 5.- too; 6.- step; 7.- could; 8.- out; 9.- cried; 10.- amusing; 11.- shy; 12.- naught; 13.- kneels; 14.- took.
I share with you today 'You've got a friend' by the great Carole King. I find this song a hymn to friendship, and it gives me a thrill every time I listen to it, as I think of my friends, from the past, from the present and from the future.
LYRICS When you're down and troubled And you need some loving care And nothing, nothing is going right Close your eyes and think of me And soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest night You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there Yes, I will You've got a friend If the sky above you Should turn dark and full of clouds And that old north wind should begin to blow Keep your head together And call my name out loud Soon you'll hear me, soon you'll hear me knocking on your door You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there Yes, I will Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend When people can be so cold They'll hurt you and desert you And take your soul if you let them Oh, but don't you let them You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again Winter, spring, summer or fall All you have to do is call And I'll be there Yes, I will You've got a friend Ain't it good to know you've got a friend I'm so glad to have a friend in you And know you're glad to have a friend in me ......................... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah You've got a friend MEMORY TEST Provide the missing words: When you're down and ....... And you need some ........ care And nothing, nothing is going ........ Close your eyes and ........ of me And ...... I will be there To brighten up even your ......... night You just ...... out my name And you know ......... I am I'll come ....... to see you again Winter, spring, summer or ........ All you have to do is call And I'll be there Yes, I will You've got a friend If the ...... above you Should turn dark and full of ....... And that old north ...... should begin to blow Keep your ...... together And call my name out ....... Soon you'll hear me, soon you'll hear me .......... on your door
Os propongo hoy como ejercicio de comprensión auditiva Guilty de la película Amélie, que tiene para mí una connotación especial, porque fue la canción con la que mi querido hijo Pedro y Ruth, su encantadora esposa, abrieron el baile en la celebración del día de su boda. Con la nostalgia del recuerdo de un día feliz, a ellos va dedicada esta entrada:
EJERCICIO Rellenad los espacios en blanco y tendréis la letra de esta bonita canción: Is it a (1) .... , is it a crime Loving you, Dear, (2) ..........I do? If it's a crime (3) ........I'm guilty, Guilty (4) ........loving you Maybe I'm (5) .........., dreaming of you Dreaming (6) ..........in my room If it's a crime, then I'm guilty Guilty of dreaming (7) .... you What (8) ........I do, what can I say After I've (9) ...........the blame? You say you're through, you go your (10) ...... But I'll always feel just the (11) ......... Maybe I'm (12) ........., maybe I'm wrong Loving you, (13) ........., like I do If it's a (14) ........then I'm guilty, Guilty of loving you. KEY 1.- sin; 2.- like; 3.- the; 4.- of; 5.- wrong; 6.- alone; 7.- of; 8.- can; 9.- taken; 10.- way; 11.- same; 12.- right; 13.- Dear; 14.- crime.
