2007年VOA标准英语-'Idols West Africa' Starts Search for Africa's
时间：2019-02-07 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（一月）
Dakar
17 January 2007
A South African television company is choosing contestants 2 for its new audience participation 3 and reality television music show, Idols 5 West Africa. Auditions 6 are under way for a music competition series that combines audience participation, brutally 7 honest judges and live performances. Thousands of West Africans are competing for the chance to become the continent's next pop star "Idol 4." Phuong Tran reports from VOA's West African bureau in Dakar.
More than 3,000 would-be music stars turned out for the first of four open auditions in West Africa. The contestants were eager to prove that they deserved a chance to be Africa's next idol.
"I want to be famous. I want the world to know me," said one male contestant 1.
"Hello Pop Idol West Africa. I want to be a pop idol, because I know I have got all it takes to be one," said a female contestant.
"I will be able to tell the whole world that we have got it here in Africa," said another contestant.
These are a few of the young singers who are competing to star in a television series that features a real music competition in which one contestant will be eliminated each week through a combination of audience voting and judges' marks.
The singer who gets the highest rating will win prize money and a recording 8 contract.
The first competition will be broadcast by the South African television company M-NET in early March.
Auditions are taking place in cities in Nigeria and Ghana - countries in West Africa with the most M-NET subscribers. Following these auditions, judges will select 10 contestants. Though M-Net only has subscribers in two other countries in West Africa now, Senegal and Sierra Leone, it hopes Idols West Africa will attract new viewers.
Joseph Hundah, Director of Operations for Idols West Africa, is counting on the almost universal appeal of reality television to make it a hit.
"Reality shows have been quite a popular format 9 for television," he noted 10. "M-NET, like any broadcaster in the world, would be foolish to ignore that."
M-NET introduced its first idols show in South Africa in 2002. Called Idols South Africa, it was based on Britain's Pop Idol, a format also copied by the U.S. in its American Idol series.
Hundah says the competition has been a big hit in South Africa since it began four years ago.
"Amazing how popular reality TV is with African audiences," he added.
Karin Kortje, 2005 Idols South Africa winner
The 2005 winner of Idols South Africa was Karin Kortje, a former fruit packer. She won a prize of almost $500,000 and a recording contract with SONY BMG. Hundah says one of the real pleasures of the show is discovering a real star.
"Talent is talent and when you unearth 11 it, it is the most wonderful thing you can do," he said.
While Hundah hopes he can repeat the success of the Idols South Africa in West Africa, he also hopes the show will discover some unique talents.
"One hopes every pop star looks different," he explained. "You do not want the same thing. You want someone different to break out now and again. We are looking for someone young, vibrant 12, who is going to be able to sell their music internationally."
Like so many discoveries in the music world, the show's criteria 13 for stardom are simple, yet unforgiving.
Contestants are now waiting to hear if they will make it to round two.
Idols West Africa will air early March and continue to the end of May.
- The company will furnish each contestant with a free ticket.公司将为每个参赛者免费提供一张票。
- The personal appearance and interview of the contestant is another count.参加比赛者的个人仪表和谈话也是一项。
- The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
- Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
- The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
- As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
- Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。
- The genii will give evidence against those who have worshipped idols. 魔怪将提供证据来反对那些崇拜偶像的人。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
- Teenagers are very sequacious and they often emulate the behavior of their idols. 青少年非常盲从，经常模仿他们的偶像的行为。
- Find modeling auditions, casting calls& acting auditions, all in one place. 找一个立体感试听，铸造呼叫和表演试听一体的地方。 来自互联网
- We are now about to start auditions to find a touring guitarist. 我们现在准备找一个新的吉他手。 来自互联网
- The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
- A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。
- How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
- I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
- Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
- The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- Most of the unearth relics remain intact.大多数出土文物仍保持完整无损。
- More human remains have been unearthed in the north.北部又挖掘出了更多的人体遗骸。
- He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
- She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。