BBC 6 Minute English | LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC | English CC | Daily Listening

source: Daily Listening     2016年9月27日

0:16 What tune are you humming, there?
0:20 Was I humming?
0:21 Oh, I woke up with it in my head.
0:24 It's that song - you know (hums a song).
0:28 No idea, what you're talking about, Neil, but it's very annoying, so could you just
0:33 stop it please.
0:34 But there's my problem.
0:35 I can stop humming it out loud, but it keeps on repeating in my head (more humming).
0:41 Did you know there's a name for that, Rob?
0:44 When a song keeps repeating in your head?
0:46 There's a name?
0:47 I don't know what it is – but I'm sure you're going to tell me.
0:49 You're right!
0:50 It's an earworm.
0:54 Sounds nasty - is there a cure for that?
0:55 I don't think so!
0:57 So let's move on.
0:59 In this programme we're talking about music - and how it influences us.
1:03 But first, Neil, can you answer this question: If a person has musical anhedonia, does it
1:10 mean they... a) hate music?
1:13 b) can't enjoy music? or c) can't hear music?
1:17 Well, um, 'anhedonia' sounds like an illness, so I'm going to go for c) can't hear music.
1:32 We'll find out if you're wrong or right later on.
1:35 But now let's listen to Professor Charles Spence telling us how music affects what we
1:39 choose to eat and drink.
1:41 Imagine you're going to the bar and thinking about a glass of wine.
1:44 There's French music playing behind the counter - more than likely you'll go for a glass of
1:49 French wine.
1:50 German music behind the counter - your likelihood of choosing German wine goes way, way up.
1:53 If they're playing classical music you might be tempted to spend that little bit more.
1:56 What's the likelihood of you spending more, Rob?
2:00 Quite likely, actually Neil - and likelihood means the chance of something happening.
2:05 I love a good glass of wine.
2:07 Me too.
2:08 But why do we spend more when there's classical music playing?
2:11 Good question.
2:13 It makes us feel a bit classy - that's stylish and sophisticated.
2:17 I'm guessing hip-hop doesn’t have the same effect.
2:20 Am I right?
2:21 You're always right, Rob.
2:22 So, the professor is saying that bars and restaurants use music to manipulate their
2:27 customers.
2:28 And that means to control or influence them.
2:31 Argh!
2:32 Earworms!
2:33 They're messing with our minds!
2:34 I know, I know, and it doesn't stop there.
2:37 Restaurants also use the tempo - or speed - of the music to change people's behaviour.
2:42 A fast tempo gets customers in and out quickly at busy times.
2:47 On the other hand, if there aren't many customers, the restaurant might want to keep people in
2:51 the place for longer.
2:53 So they put on music with a slow tempo to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
2:58 And atmosphere, in this context, means the mood or tone in a place or situation.
3:04 Now music is also used to create atmosphere in films.
3:08 So let's hear Debbie Wiseman talking about music in the movies.
3:13 A director might come to me and say "look, can you help bring the romance to this scene
3:18 with the music", and so I might write something beautifully romantic and lyrical working with
3:24 what I've got and suddenly the scene will feel much more romantic, much more tender,
3:29 much more sexy, whatever it needs to feel, and the music has the power to do that, to
3:33 achieve that effect.
3:35 Sexy, tender, lyrical, romantic - that's emotional stuff!
3:41 And lyrical actually means expressing strong emotions.
3:45 So what's your favourite romantic moment in a film, Rob?
3:49 Oh, there are so many.
3:51 I'm a sucker for romance.
3:53 Once the violins start playing, I start blubbing - and yes, Neil - that means I have a good
3:58 cry!
3:59 So sweet!
4:00 Now, if you're a sucker for something, for example romance, it means you can't resist
4:05 it.
4:06 I'm more of a sucker for horror myself...
4:08 And music is crucial - or extremely important - in creating atmosphere in horror films.
4:15 That's very true.
4:16 Music is often used to create tension and suspense – or feelings of anxiety and excitement.
4:23 Can you imagine Hitchcock's Psycho without that violin music?
4:26 (Neil does an imitation of the violin sequence from Psycho)
4:30 OK, let's not have a shower scene here in the studio, Neil.
4:33 You'll give me nightmares!
4:35 Now, remember at the beginning of the show I asked you what musical anhedonia means.
4:40 Is it someone who a) hates music b) can't enjoy music or c) can’t hear music?
4:45 I said can't hear music...
4:48 And that's the wrong answer.
4:49 It’s actually b) can't enjoy music.
4:53 Not a great job for a DJ then.
4:55 Anyway, Rob, before we go any further, how about those words again?
5:00 OK, the words we heard today were: earworm
5:04 musical anhedonia likelihood
5:07 classy manipulate
5:13 tempo atmosphere
5:16 lyrical blubbing
5:20 sucker for something crucial
5:23 tension suspense