“Happy Birthday to You”

　　The main problem in discussing American popular culture is also one of its main characteristics：it won’t stay American.No matter what it is，whether it is films，food and fashion，music，casual sports or slang，it’s soon at home elsewhere in the world1. There are several theories why American popular culture has had this appeal.

　　One theory is that it has been“advertised”and marketed through American films,popular music,and more recently，television. 1 They are，after all，in competition with those produced by other countries.

　　Another theory，probably a more common one，is that American popular culture is internationally associated with something called“the spirit of America.” 2

　　The final theory is less complex：American popular culture is popular because a lot of people in the world like it.

　　Regardless of why it spreads,2 American popular culture is usually quite rapidly adopted and then adapted in many other countries 3 “Happy Birthday to You，”for instance，is such an everyday song that its source，its American copyright，so to speak，is not remembered.Black leather jackets worn by many heroes in American movies could be found,a generation 1ater,on all those young men who wanted to make this manly-look their own.

　　Two areas where this continuing process is most clearly seen are clothing and music.Some people can still remember a time when T-shirts，jogging clothes，tennis shoes，denim jackets,and blue jeans were not common daily wear everywhere.Only twenty years ago，it was possible to spot an American in Paris by his or her clothes.No longer so：those bright colors, checkered jackets and trousers，hats and socks which were once made fun of in cartoons are back again in Paris as the latest fashion.3 4

　　The situation with American popular music is more complex because in the beginning.when it was still clearly American,it was often strongly resisted.Jazz was once thought to be a great danger to youth and their morals，and was actually outlawed in several countries.Today, while still showing its rather American roots，it has become so well established.Rock‘n’roll and all its variations，country & western music，4 all have more or less similar histories.They were first resisted，often in America as well，as being“low-class，”and then as“a danger to our nation’s youth.” 5 And then the music became accepted and was extended and developed，and exported back to the US.

　　词汇：

　　appeal n.吸引力 copyright n.版权

　　spot v.认出 market v.推上市场，销售

　　denim n.粗棉布

　　注释：

　　1.No matter what it is，whether it is films，food and fashion，music,casual sports or slang,it’s soon at home elsewhere in the world.：不论是哪一种形式的通俗文化，不论是电影还是食物和时装，是音乐还是休闲运动，或者是俚语，它都能很快在世界上别的地方安家。at home除了表示“在家”外，还有“自在，安然自得，得心应手”的意思，如：He is quite at home with the computer now.

　　2.Regardless of why it spreads：不管它(美国通俗文化)传播的原因是什么

　　3.No longer so: those bright colors，checkered jackets and trousers，hats and socks which were

　　once made fun of in cartoons are back again in Paris as the latest fashion.：情况不再如此，一度在卡通片里作为笑料的艳丽颜色、格子面料的上衣和裤子、帽子和袜子，作为最新的时尚重返巴黎。

　　4.Rock‘n’ roll and all its variations，county ＆ western music:摇滚乐及其变体，乡村音乐和西部音乐

　　练习：

　　A As a result，its American origins and roots are often quickly forgotten.

　　B But this theory fails to explain why American films，music，and television programs are so popular in themselves.

　　C American in origin，informal clothing has become the world’s first truly universal style.

　　D The BBC,for example，banned rock and roll until 1962.

　　E American food has become popular around the world too.

　　F This spirit is variously described as being young and free，optimistic and confident，informal and disrespectful.

　　参考答案：1.B 2.F 3.A 4.C 5.D