美式新闻英语第 8 课：49th Annual Grammys Recognize Controversial Acts, Star Drawing Power
第49届格莱美奖承认有争议歌手，明星凝聚力量-3

Audience members could vote among three finalists via the Internet and text messaging - a nod to American Idol , which last year crushed the Grammy ceremony in head-to-head viewership on a Wednesday night. 观众可以通过网络与短信为决赛者投票，回应美国偶像在去年一个周三晚上以与观众面对面的方式对格莱美的践踏。

This year, the Grammies retreated to Sunday - when Idol wasn't on. 今年的格莱美选在周日，美国偶像并不播出的日子。

The Dixie Chicks weren't the only winners to court controversy. Atlanta, Georgia rapper Ludacris, who's drawn fire for his lyrical content, made sure to mention two of his best-known critics - talk show host Oprah Winfrey and political commentator Bill O'Reilly - in his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album. 南方小鸡并不是唯一在争论中获奖的人。乔治 亚州 亚特兰大市 Rap 歌手 鲁达克里斯因他的歌词内容受指责。在他的最佳 Rap 专辑的获奖感言中提到了两个批评他最多的人：脱口秀主持奥普拉·温弗丽和政治评论员比尔·欧雷利。

Ludacris : So, y'all telling me all I had to do was cut my hair to win the Best Rap Album? That what y'all telling me? Huh? Special shout-out to Oprah. And, special shout-out to Bill O'Reilly. I love ya! 鲁达克里斯：“难道说我只要剃个头就能获最佳 Rap 专辑奖吗？这就是你们告诉我的？呒？向奥普拉大声致意！向比尔欧雷利大声致意。我爱你们！”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers kept their comments short and safe - lead singer Anthony Keidis even made sure to thank his mother. 红辣椒乐队保证自己的发言简短、安全，主唱安东尼·凯迪斯甚至感谢到了他的母亲。

The California alternative rockers took home four awards, including Best Rock Song for "Dani California." 加利福尼亚的选择摇滚乐队搬回家 4 个奖杯，包括年度最佳摇滚歌曲 ——Dani California.

Now approaching their first half-century, the Grammy Awards and the recording industry face turbulent times. 近半个世纪来，格莱美奖与唱片业正面临混乱。

U.S. album sales have dropped about 25 percent in just seven years - a figure not yet offset by burgeoning digital downloads. 美国唱片销量在短短七年内降了 25% ，这个数据由于网络下载的发展至今未有转机。

Still, the Grammy carry extra weight with artists, as it is their peers in the music industry - and not consumers - who determine winners. 但格莱美奖对于音乐家仍然举足轻重，因为是他们在音乐界的伙伴决定他们是否能胜利，而不是那些消费者们。