(cutting-edge outstanding
Influential an epic
An event a string)
An icon
1) What were the most important happenings in 1979?
2) She is one of the most famous artists of our time.
3) She uses modern methods in her work.
4) There was a line of customers near the shop today.
5) After her heroic deed, she became a well-known person admired by everyone.
6) I’ve seen a new film about heroic deeds and adventures in the Roman Empire.
7) My cousin is a man of high status, great wealth and power.
5. Read the text and check your thoughts about Madonna:
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958) moved from Michigan to new York in 1977 with dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. She studied dance with the choreographer, did some modeling and ended up in a couple of pop/dance groups before signing with ‘Sire Records’ in 1982. Madonna’s first album ‘Madonna’ came out in 1983 and since then she has had a string of hits and become an international icon.
Madonna’s power and success has a lot to do with her ability to adapt. If Madonna were an animal she would best be described as a chameleon because she changes her image and persona very often. Her outstanding business sense, shock ability and cutting-edge videos starred in a lot of movies including the epic ‘Evita’, a role she wanted to play very much.
Today Madonna has complete control of her music and runs her own company, ‘Maverick Records’, that has signed artists like Alanis Morisette and ‘Prodigy’. In 1998 Madonna released ‘Ray of Light’, stepping into the world of electronic music. It was a big hit- she hasn’t sold as many Cds since 1989’s ‘Like a Prayer’. Now a mother of two Madonna has mixed electronic-pop-funk to create the album “Music’. The first single “Music’ was even nominated for a Grammy Awards. In 2002 Madonna performed a song to the film James Bond movie “Die another Day’. And she still works really hard till these days.
Apart from her career success, Madonna has had personal success as well- she married a film director Guy Ritchie, the father of her baby boy Rocco, now divorced. This was her second marriage. Her first husband was an actor Sean Penn, who she married in 1985. Unfortunately, Madonna’s marriage to Sean ended in the big divorce after 4 years.
So what has been Madonna’s inspiration lately? She hasn’t given many live performances. Now Madonna has said she has missed touring and would like to come back again and again. Keep your fingers crossed.
6. Read the text carefully and complete the sentences:
1) Madonna’s childhood dream was to become __________.
2) Her first ___________ was called ‘Madonna’.
3) Madonna changes her __________ so often that she can be compared to _________.
4) Madonna was married to _______, a __________.
5) She has __________ children.
6) Madonna got married with _________ in 1985.
7) Madonna is not only a singer, she is also __________.
8) One of her songs was performed for film ________ about__________.
9) She plans to _________-in support of her albums.
7. What do the following words refer to in the text?
To step into inspiration
To praise to sign with
To confirm to end up
To nominate live performance
To keep one’s fingers crossed
8. Study the sentences below and find the words which mean:
-to invite somebody to fight, argue against you;
-to give an informal name;
-to make a film, record, available so the public can see or hear it.
9. Do you know that Madonna….?
1) Considers that life’s best medicine is giving
2) Arrived in New York in 1977 with only #35$
3) Was working at the Russian Tea Room
4) Challenged society’s view on religion and sex
5) Made a book called ‘Sex’
6) Modeled for Versace
7) Got nicknamed Madge
8) Practices yoga
9) Plays the guitar
10) Worked on a collection of children stories
11) Works on her autobiography
10. Work in pairs:
1) Write a list of 6 key words based on the text.
2) Take your partner’s list. Reproduce the text about Madonna using the key words from the list.
LESSON 21
