THE POP SINGER

Before you listen

-Remember the last time you went to a pop concert or saw one
on TV.
a)

Who was playing?

b)

What was the atmosphere like?

c)

What kind of music was it?

-Juliet Roberts is the vocalist (= singer) of a successful band

called Working Week. On the audio file, Juliet compares her job
with another type of work. Which of these five types of job do
you think it will be?

actor
executive
long-distance lorry driver
architect
airline pilot

General listening
-Listen to the audio. Juliet sings part of a track from Surrender,
Working Week's third album. Answer the following:
a)

What do you think of the music?

b)
How would you describe Juliet's lifestyle? Would you like to
live like this? Why/Why not?
Detailed listening
-Are these statements true or false?
a)

Juliet doesn't look after her voice.

b)
Talking and laughing can damage your voice as much as
singing.
c)

Talking slowly helps protect your voice.

d)

Juliet works office hours.

e)

She occasionally works weekends.

f)

Juliet let down her friends by being late at the restaurant.

g)

Juliet doesn't like her old friends any more.

-Listen to the audio again. Write the missing words in the

blanks.
a)

'you have a very ____

b)

'so ___

c)

'I try not to get very tired, or______ myself out'

d)

'you put a lot of ___

e)

'is the___ very stressful?

f)

'I don't

g)

'and everybody was ___mad'

h)

'all your____

i)

'you___with more people in the business'

j)

voice, with a wonderful___

'

so good'

on the back of your cords there'

___have a schedule'

friends have got to get up'

'It's just that they're the ones that are ___'

Follow-up: Fluency activity

-Read this description of Juliet Roberts, and answer the
questions.
Juliet Roberts: Charismatic, bubbly, but with her feet
groundwardly mobile. Owner of an incredible vocal delivery and
sense of performance. Listens to music twenty-five hours a day.
Personable. Helluva talent.

a)
Two of the words in this description can't be found in a
dictionary, because they are deliberately informal. Which do
you think they are?
b)
Do you agree with the description of Juliet from what you
have heard of her on the audio? Do you agree with the
description of her voice?
c)
Would you describe the writing style as i) neutral, ii)
negative, or
iii)
enthusiastic? Why do you think the writer has
chosen this style?

Follow-up: Role play

DON'T RING US. WE'LL RING YOU .. .
-One of you is the artist, and the other is the manager. Devise
an imaginary description to 'sell' you as the artist to the
manager as a singer or musician. The language should be
informal and enthusiastic. Structure your presentation like this:

Personal qualities of the artist

Musical abilities

Musical experience (including tours and albums)

What the critics have said

Give the presentation to the manager (not more than twenty

lines).