g George Ezra - Shotgun B Which of George Ezra s songs do you know? Do you like his music? Read the article below and try to remember as many of the details as possible. The Guardian April 2018 George Ezra: Staying at Tamara s review the sound of summer barbecues Time was when all any summer hit needed was a guitar-playing man in a hat faintly acquainted with ska. That simple time is over, the sound of the summer is now self-loathing set to slinky dancehall. It makes Ezra s second album a total anachronism, and potentially more charming for it: horns parp, hands clap and scream bonhomie. It s easy to forget that Ezra s debut, Wanted on oyage, made him 2014 s third biggest-selling artist behind his much higher-profile peers Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. On Staying at Tamara s, Ezra opts for near-relentless positivity. The album nobly sets out to bring cheer to the world in uncertain times, and reassure the anxious that it s fine to check out of the news cycle if it s messing with their mind. With the scary stuff sidelined, Ezra focuses on the good things in life: holidays (the terribly catchy Shotgun), dreams (Get Away) and allconsuming romance. This would constitute saccharine overload were it not for two things. First, towards the end of the album, Ezra exchanges euphoria for a few darker songs, including Hold My Girl, Only a Human and Saviour. The second thing that saves Staying at Tamara s is its disarming likability. With his optimistic baritone, Ezra has the boyish gravitas of a youth pastor, and as artless as his lyrics are, his hooks stick firm in the mind. These are songs destined to soundtrack supermarket adverts extolling the virtues of barbecuing. They stand up to scrutiny about as well as a cheap sausage, but slip down just as easily. Cover the article and answer these questions from what you can remember: 1 According to the journalist, what were the only things summer songs needed in the past? 2 What does the journalist say the sound of the summer is now? 3 How many albums has Ezra released? 4 According to the journalist, how does the album reassure the anxious? 5 Why does the album not constitute saccharine overload, according to the journalist? 6 In the journalist s opinion, what are the album s songs destined for? Which of the journalist s comments about the album do you think are positive and which are negative? How much do you think she likes the album? Review the latest album you bought for the other members of the class. b Before listening, try to complete the lyrics of Shotgun. Then listen and check your ideas. 1/3
b George Ezra - Shotgun Homegrown alligator, see you The sun it changed in the Architecture unfamiliar I could get to this flies by in the yellow and green Stick around and you ll see what I mean There s a mountaintop that I m of If you need me you where I ll be I ll be riding shotgun underneath the hot I ll be riding shotgun underneath the hot The south of the, navigator Deep-sea diving round the, bikini bottoms, lager tops I could get to this We got two in the Two in the Sailing along And we don t look back Do you like the song? The journalist calls it catchy. Do you agree? Find words and expressions in the song that mean the following. 1 produced, developed or appearing within a given area; native 2 leave, start or resume a journey 3 become accustomed to or familiar with 4 (of time) pass quickly 5 remain in a place for longer than you originally intended, especially in order to wait for something to happen 6 sit next to the driver in the front part of a car 7 all day and all night Complete these sentences with the correct form of the words and expressions: 1 Don t leave now,. Laura and Steve are coming soon and they would love to meet you. 2/3
E 2 Let s before the traffic gets really bad. 3 I hate when Paul is driving. I prefer to sit in the back. 4 Is it midnight already? Time when you are having fun. 5 All the members of the band are from this town. It s all talent. 6 The machines in the factory never stop. They run. 7 I living in a hot climate really quickly. All I needed to do was wear lighter clothes and remember to drink a lot. You just looked at the meaning of the expression to ride shotgun. Where does the expression come from? There are other gun idioms in English. What do you think these mean? the smoking gun 1 go great guns 2 jump the gun 3 stick to one s guns 4 the smoking gun 5 put a gun to somebody s head 6 under the gun 7 with all guns blazing 8 gun for Match the idioms to these explanations: jump the gun to start too soon to go very well to force someone to do what you want under pressure to remain firm in one s convictions the indisputable sign of guilt to go after in earnest; set out to obtain with a lot of force and energy Complete these sentences with the idioms: 1 Despite all the criticism, she, didn t change what she was doing and finally achieved her goal. 2 The June 23, 1972 tape from the Watergate affair was called the tape because it contained clear evidence of wrongdoing. 3 How s your business? It s thanks. We re doing really well. 4 You don t have to come if you don t want to. I m not. 5 I was and made a quick decision to expand into Asia and I think I because it s more difficult than I expected. 3/3
Teacher s notes 1/2 student pages 3 week of 24.04.18 intermediate+ (B1+) E Find words and expressions in the song that mean the following. 1 homegrown 2 hit the road 3 get used to 4 fly 5 stick around 6 ride shotgun 7 round the clock Complete these sentences with the correct form of the words and expressions: 1 stick around 2 hit the road 3 riding shotgun 4 flies 5 homegrown 6 round the clock 7 got used to You just looked at the meaning of the expression to ride shotgun. Where does the expression come from? The expression, riding shotgun, was used to describe the guard who rode alongside a stagecoach driver, ready to use his shotgun to ward off bandits. In modern use, it refers to the practice of sitting alongside the driver in a moving vehicle. The phrase has been used to mean giving actual or figurative support or aid to someone in a situation. Match the idioms to these explanations: 2 to start too soon 1 to go very well 5 to force someone to do what you want 6 under pressure 3 to remain firm in one s convictions 4 the indisputable sign of guilt 8 to go after in earnest; set out to obtain 7 with a lot of force and energy Complete these sentences with the idioms: 1 stuck to her guns 2 smoking gun 3 going great guns 4 putting a gun to your head 5 under the gun / jumped the gun
2 Teacher s notes 2/2 Transcript week of 23.04.18 intermediate+ (B1+) Homegrown alligator, see you later The sun it changed in the atmosphere Architecture unfamiliar I could get used to this Time flies by in the yellow and green Stick around and you ll see what I mean There s a mountaintop that I m dreaming of If you need me you know where I ll be I ll be riding shotgun underneath the hot sun I ll be riding shotgun underneath the hot sun The south of the equator, navigator Deep-sea diving round the clock, bikini bottoms, lager tops I could get used to this We got two in the front Two in the back Sailing along And we don t look back