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DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC — a program in VOASpecial English about music and American life.
This is Doug Johnson. Two thousand five has arrived.
On our show today, we tell about the most popular books, moviesand songs of the past year.
Top Books of 2004
The newspaper U.S.A. Today has released a list of the mostpopular books of two thousand four. U.S.A. Today creates the listfrom information about the number of books sold during the year.Gwen Outen tells us about a few of them.
GWEN OUTEN: The newspaper says the most popular book in theUnited States last year was “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown. It wasthe third most popular book in two thousand three.
“The Da Vinci Code” is animaginary story about an art expert who attempts to solve a murdermystery. The mystery involves the Roman Catholic Church andquestions some of its beliefs. The questions asked in the bookinvolve clues to the murder. The painter and engineer Leonardo daVinci reportedly left the clues in his artworks.
The information provided in “The Da Vinci Code” has led somereaders to question the teachings of their church. Religious leadersand history experts have both praised and criticized the book. Theysay Dan Brown has placed a new meaning on an old story that has notbeen proved. And they all say that it is important to remember thatit is an invented story and not to be read as truth.
U.S.A. Today says the second most popular book last year was “TheSouth Beach Diet” by Arthur Agatston. Doctor Agatston has developeda way for people to lose weight and still eat the foods they enjoy.His book explains the need for people to change the way they eat. Hesuggests eating more high-fiber foods and healthy fats, whilecutting bread, rice, and fruit. The book also includes directionsfor suggested meals.
Dan Brown also wrote the third most popular book in the UnitedStates. That book is called “Angels and Demons.” It involves thesame art critic who appears in “The Da Vinci Code.” This storyinvolves a reported plot against the Roman Catholic Church by acenturies old secret organization known as the Illuminati. The artcritic must solve a murder mystery and save the Vatican, too.
Top Movies of 2004
DOUG JOHNSON: At the end of the year, the American movie industryreports about the most popular movies of the year. The results arebased on the number of tickets sold in theaters throughout theUnited States.
The most popular movie of twothousand four in the United States was a funny animated movie forchildren and adults called “Shrek Two.” It earned more than fourhundred thirty six million dollars.
The movie is the second one about Shrek, a large green creaturecalled an ogre. Shrek has rescued and married Princess Fiona. Herparents invite them to Fiona’s homeland, called Far, Far Away, tocelebrate their marriage. But her parents do not know that thenewlyweds are both ogres. The movie also involves characters fromchildren’s storybooks. They include Puss in Boots, Prince Charming,Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man.
The second most popular movie in the United States last year alsostarts where an earlier movie ended. This movie is “Spider-Man Two.”It earned at least three hundred seventy three million dollars lastyear.
Spider-Man is a super hero who helps people in New York City. Heis really a young man named Peter Parker who is in love with MaryJane Watson. But Peter cannot tell her that he is Spider-Man. In”Spider-Man Two”, Peter fears losing her forever because she isengaged to marry an astronaut. Peter wants to stop being Spider-Manbecause he feels it is ruining his life. But he is forced tocontinue his two lives because the city is threatened by DoctorOctopus, a creature with four metal arms.
The third most popular movie in the United States last yearearned more than three hundred seventy million dollars. It is “ThePassion of the Christ.” The movie is about the final twelve hours ofthe life of Jesus. Actor Mel Gibson directed and produced the movie.It used the Latin and Aramaic languages to tell its story. Criticssaid the film used extreme violence in showing the death of Jesus.But millions of people who saw the movie called it a religiousexperience.
Top Recordings of 2004
Each December, Billboard magazine lists the most popularrecordings and performers of the year. Faith Lapidus tells us abouta few of them.
FAITH LAPIDUS: Billboard magazinesays the top selling record album of two thousand four was”Confessions” by Usher. It has sold more than seven million copies.The top single from that album is this song, “Yeah.”
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“Billboard” magazine says the group OutKast produced the secondbiggest record album of the year. It is called “Speakerboxxx/TheLove Below.” Here is OutKast performing their song, “Hey Ya.”
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“Billboard” says the third most popular album in the UnitedStates last year came from American singer Josh Groban. The album iscalled “Closer.” We leave you now with Josh Groban performing, “YouRaise Me Up.”
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DOUG JOHNSON: This is Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed AMERICANMOSAIC.
We are sad to report to you the death of VOA Special Englishannouncer Richard Rael. He died earlier this week following abicycle accident. We will miss our co-worker and friend. But youwill be able to continue to hear his voice on some of our repeatbroadcast features.
This program was written by Nancy Steinbach. Paul Thompson wasthe producer. And our engineer was Efeem Drucker. Join us again nextweek for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA.’s radio magazine in Special English.