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Talking about music

Episode 241101 / 01 Nov 2024

(Photo: Getty)

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Introduction

Neil and Beth have a real conversation in easy English about music and how they listen. Learn to talk about the music you like.

Vocabulary

stream
listen to music using the internet

pop music
the music that most people listen to

gig
a concert, where musicians perform live to an audience

fan
someone who supports something, such as a person, band, genre or sport

Transcript

Beth
Welcome to Real Easy English. In this series, we have everyday conversations in easy English to help you learn. I'm Beth.

Neil
And I'm Neil. Visit our website to read along with this episode, bbclearningenglish.com.

Beth
How are things with you today, Neil?

Neil
I'm very well, thank you, Beth. How about you?

Beth
Yeah, I'm good, thank you. What topic are we talking about today, Neil?

Neil
Well, today we're talking about music. We’ll talk about some of our favourite music and how we listen to it.

Beth
OK, very good. Let's start the conversation. So, Neil. What kind of music do you like?

Neil
Well, I like listening to all kinds of different music, depending on how I'm feeling.

Beth
OK, that's similar to me. So I listen to a really wide variety of music, I think. I actually really like musicals, but I also listen to music from many years ago from my dad's and even my grandparents' generation. I'm not such a big fan of new music.

Do you listen to new music?

Neil
I listen to some new music, yes. I listen to lots of old music as well. And I listen to music that's recommended to me by people who I like and also music suggested to me on streaming platforms.

Beth
OK I do the same, actually. Sometimes there's something I really like and then a new song comes on and I think I really like this because it already knows what I like.

How do you listen to music, then?

Neil
Yeah, I like streaming apps to listen to music. I also like records, but to be honest, they are a bit of a pain to listen to. When you can listen to any music in any order, that's more convenient.

Beth
Yeah, I guess with streaming music, it's so easy because whatever you want to listen to it can be right there at your fingertips.

Do you ever listen to music on the radio?

Neil
Yes, so I have some radio stations and some presenters that I like and I trust their taste in music. I like what they play and what they recommend. How about you?

Beth
I don't really listen to music on the radio. I listen to the radio to get news and that sort of thing instead. But actually, quite a lot of the music I hear is because of going to gigs or going to the theatre. Like I said I like musicals. So I quite like listening to live music. Do you do that?

Neil
Yeah, I like going to gigs, that’s concerts. I like seeing live music and I used to go to lots and lots of gigs. Now I don't go so often, but I really enjoy it when I do.

Beth
OK, and is there any particular group or any kind of music that you're a really big fan of?

Neil
So, I'm a big fan of some of the great legendary musicians from the 60s and if they are still alive or on tour, I might go to see them, but I also really like new modern groups. Rock, pop, indie bands that are playing now in a small venue.

And Beth, you like live music too. What kind of things do you like to see?

Beth
Well, I think what I usually go and watch in terms of live music is musical theatre because of working in London, we’re by the West End. So I like to go to theatres and then there I hear lots of people singing and I'm definitely a big fan of that.

Let's recap the vocabulary we heard during the conversation.

We had stream, listen to music using the internet. And you can also stream videos.

Neil
We had pop music, the music that most people listen to.

Beth
Gig, a concert where musicians perform live to an audience.

Neil
Fan, someone who supports a band, person, genre, sport. So, for example, I'm a fan of 60s music.

Beth
That's it for this episode of real easy English. Find more programmes to help you with your English on our website: bbclearningenglish.com.

Neil
Next time, we'll talk about our home towns.

Beth
Bye for now.

Neil
Goodbye.

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