English Listenign Lesson Lab Online
Views #23 | Mid Intermediate 5

Music and Such

Matt answers questions about music and talks about his singing ability.
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Todd: OK. Matt, we're back. We're gonna talk about music. What is your favorite kind of music?

Matt: My favorite kind of music is alternative music. Generally, I like all types of music apart from country music.

Todd: I'm the same way. I hate country except for Johny Cash.

Matt: Yeah. The older country is good but the newer, I don't like the newer stuff.

Todd: Yeah. How expensive are CDs in your country?

Matt: Well, a brand new CD is probably between about 15 and 20 dollars. Yeah, but you can find used CDs from anything to a dollar to.. you know, 20 dollars I guess, depending on the CD. So you can find cheap CDs.

Todd: Wow, that's pretty cheap. Do you play a musical instrument?

Matt: No, I don't. Although, when I was a kid I played the piano and a little bit of the guitar but I've long since forgotten all of that.

Todd: Usually, you pick up the guitar and you don't
stop playing it.

Matt: There was no talent.

Todd: Do you go to concerts?

Matt: I go. I really enjoy going to concerts but I like to go to small venues. Small shows. I don't like those big stadium shows where you need binoculars just to see the stage.

Todd: Yeah, I agree. And the last question, most importantly, do you sing in the shower?

Matt: Of course I do. Yeah, every chance I get.

Todd: Wow, what kind of songs do you sing?

Matt: Oh, wow! I guess anything that's in my head, the last thing I heard I guess.

Todd: Can you sing something right now?

Matt: I don't think so. This isn't a shower.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

alternative music

My favorite kind of music is alternative music.

'Alternative music' first developed in the 1980s and became really popular in the 1990s.  It is independent music that comes from punk rock.  Notice the following:

  1. She listens to nothing but alternative music.
  2. He was in an alternative music band when he was twenty.

apart from

Generally, I like all music, apart from country music.

We use the phrase 'apart from' when we want to give an exception to a general statement that we have given.  Notice the following:

  1. She doesn't like vegetables apart from broccoli.
  2. Do you eat any meat apart from chicken?

(anything) in my head

I sing just about anything in my head.

When we have a song 'in our head' we are singing it to ourselves inside of our mind.  Usually we say this when the song keeps repeating over and over again.  Notice the following:

  1. I have this tune in my head and I don't know what it is.
  2. Do you usually have a song in your head?

have long since forgotten

I used to play the piano, but I've long since forgotten that.

If we have 'long since forgotten' something it has been a long time since we have done it and now we can't remember how to do it.  Notice the following:

  1. She has long since forgotten how to sew.
  2. I have long since forgotten many childhood stories.

sing in the shower

I sing in the shower every chance I get.

When you 'sing in the shower' you literally sing a tune while you are taking a shower.  Many people do this because the voice usually sounds better in a small place like a shower.  Notice the following:

  1. I was really embarrassed that I sang in the shower when you were here.
  2. My roommate always sings in the shower.

Vocabulary Quiz

alternative • apart from • in my head
long since • sings in
  1. I have had that song all day.
  2. She the car on the way to work.
  3. They have great music at this bar.
  4. I like all fruit blueberries.
  5. She had forgotten the words to that song.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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