Pop stars have traditionally not come from the upper classes of society. Eminem grew up on a trailer (活动住屋) park. 50 Cent is from the dangerous shelters of New York. The Beatles grew up in the poor city of Liverpool.
However, some musicians have come from the army. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, served with the American Army in Germany while Jimi Hendrix was in the parachute regiment (伞兵团). Following in that tradition comes a British hit, James Blunt. His single, You re Beautiful, was a huge success, and his concerts have sold out all over the country.
James Blunt, born on February 22, 1977, comes from a family with a long tradition of military service. His early life was not filled with music. His army officer father thought all music, even classical, was unnecessary noise. His life seemed certain to follow that of his father's before him—private schools, a good university and a career as an officer in the British Army. The thought of pursuing a career in music had never occurred to him until he witnessed an older boy playing an electric guitar at age 14. When he was sent to Kosovo in 1999, he didn't just take his gun he also took his guitar, attached to the side of his tank. As he drove through villages damaged by the war, he used to sing the John Lennon song Give Peace a Chance. “Well,” he later said, “we were peacekeepers.”
In 2003 he left the army and went to Los Angeles to make a record. In 2004, his first album Back to Bedlam was released, and the singles High, Wise Men and You're Beautiful have been great successes. For the singing soldier, putting down a gun for a guitar has been a good choice.
【小题1】What do Elvis Presley and James Blunt have in common?| A．They were from lower social classes. |
| B．They were kings of Rockand Roll. |
| C．They rose to fame in Britain. |
| D．They used to serve in the army. |
| A．His father's support. |
| B．The Beatles' influence. |
| C．A guitar performance. |
| D．Family tradition of music. |
| A．Blunt's journey to the US. |
| B．Blunt's success as a singer. |
| C．Blunt's devotion to singing. |
| D．Blunt's best-selling records. |
| A．Positive. | B．Critical. |
| C．Grateful. | D．Cautious. |
