Lesson 5_Opinions_Listening Check

Gilles:Thanks for waiting, gentlemen. Now, where were we?

Ivan:Roshan and I were just discussing what your mysterious phone call could be about.

Roshan:We were talking about the guitarist in the Ian and Sylvia Revival.

Ivan:Yes, that badly dressed guitarist.

Gilles:Come on, Ivan. We really shouldn't be talking about looks here …

Ivan:Well, he is. If we're talking about crowd appeal, that guitarist is a big man, and his shirt is too small. There's no sugar-coating it. By the way, Gilles, you might want to talk to Claire. She looks like she's losing weight. So tired these last few days. Is she stressed? Is her business suffering? Something with her daughter?

Gilles:Come on, Mr. Broz. Can we focus on the music, please?

Ivan:Are you two still in a fight? Ivan:Sure, sure. Well, the Ian and Sylvia Revival do write their own songs. That's good. Not like that other group, the Smashing Beats. They sounded like screaming cats, not folk musicians.

Gilles:Yeah, their singing was a little … difficult to listen to.

Roshan:I had to turn off their video. I'm not sure why people like them so much. The way the one guy sticks out his tongue?

Ivan:Disgusting.

Gilles:A bit unappealing. They appeal to more of a younger generation … they have a bit of a pop sound.

Roshan:Well, they don't appeal to me.

Ivan:Like I said, screaming cats.

Gilles:You know who was really good? The Ghost Tree Ensemble.

Roshan:Oh, uh, you mean, the senior, uh, elderly, um …

Ivan:You can say it. The old guys. The old farts.

Roshan:The geezers?

Ivan:Don't push it.

Gilles:The Ghost Tree Ensemble sounded great. Their lead singer, Jacques LaBonte, is amazing.

Ivan:I like their mix of old and new. They write their own songs, and sometimes sing an old favourite.

Gilles:And their audience connection was amazing. The performance was sincere, fun, sometimes playful … and I mean they could use a little more cowbell, but overall … Yeah, I really, really liked these guys. I watched the whole video.

Ivan:And what's the young man's perspective?

Roshan:They included an electric guitar in some really cool places. It was a little unexpected but still showed respect to the folk style. And I liked how their songs told a story. Like, that is a really important part of folk. Being sincere and telling a good story. I was really engaged.

Ivan:Very good, young man. You're not as inexperienced as I thought, then.

Roshan:Uh … thanks?

Gilles:Great! I think that's enough for today. I'll combine your scorecards and comments with what I got from the rest of the panel. I think we have enough information to decide the winners.