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"Telephone" - Lady Gaga & Beyonce

"Telephone" - Lady Gaga & Beyonce

Date: Apr 19 2010

Grammar: Count and Noncount Nouns

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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The music video for Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s song “Telephone” is nine minutes long and features insane costumes, a mass murder, a prison fight, a girl-on-girl make-out, and a whole lot of exposed skin. And those aren’t the only causes for controversy in the video. It’s also drawing criticism for how much product placement it uses. But some people are calling “Telephone” the future of music videos.

Whether you love it or hate it, Gaga and Beyonce’s epic new video is hard to ignore. Find out what Ella and Devan think about “Telephone.”

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Ella

Ella

Devan:  So have you seen the new epic that is the Gaga-Beyonce “Telephone” video?

Ella:  Have I? Of course. I have it on my cell phone, on my computer, like playing in my living room just for fun. I love it.

Devan:  You love it?

Ella:  Yes.

Devan:  See, I personally hate it.

Ella:  Oh, you’re killing me Devan!

Devan:  Tell me why you loved it.

Ella:  I just think it’s so creative, and you just wouldn’t ever think to combine Beyonce and Lady Gaga, ever, because I just feel like they’re so different. And then to see them in the same room and just kinda like little superheroes in the video is just like…I don’t know, I just liked it, I thought it was really creative.

Devan:  See, now my problem with the video is the insane amount of product placement.

Ella:  Oh yeah, that’s true.

Devan:  I was like keeping a tally of how many products they pitch in there. It’s like Coke and mayonnaise and computers and websites and cell phones, and everything with like all these labels all over the video, and I just…You know, everyone’s talking about how it like really raises the bar for music videos, but for me, it was just a giant commercial. I didn’t see any artistic value when you’re selling that much ad space in your video.

Ella:  That’s true. I did not think about that. That’s probably how they could afford it to be nine minutes long.

Devan:  Yeah. It was nine minutes long but for me, the artistic quality wasn’t enough. I just felt like I was watching a really weird Miracle Whip commercial.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Devan and Ella disagree about Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s new music video for their song “Telephone.” Ella thinks the video is really creative. She loves seeing Lady Gaga and Beyonce together. She can’t believe that Devan isn’t a fan of the video.

Devan is annoyed by how much product placement there is in the “Telephone” video. For her, the video isn’t very interesting artistically. It just seems like a nine minute commercial for a bunch of different products.

What do you think about the “Telephone” video? What makes a great music video in your opinion?

 

Comments

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Tila Tequila

United States

LadyGaga! There's no other singer with a voice like her! 

07:26 PM Feb 22 2011 |

ciccleo

ciccleo

Brazil

I just loved it, but I don't think it should be passed on tv during the afternoon when kids can see… and.. you know what? I didn't realize the ads, only the lot of skin exposed lol

02:19 AM May 23 2010 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I agree with Devan…I didn't see any interesting artistic thing in this video just a bunch of brands…But I confess to see many women in the same place and in saveral situations is very very sensual :P hahaha

08:29 PM May 21 2010 |

Gorgon

Gorgon

Romania

I'm not a fan of (Lady) Gaga, nor Beyonce. Even the music in this video seems to me like nameless, but the video itself is staggering! I like it and all those so called product placements are welcome. What's the problem with them?

02:20 PM May 11 2010 |

vivivi^^

vivivi^^

China

 strong personality,but …

11:05 AM Apr 28 2010 |

syant

syant

Indonesia

sometimes what we need is something unusual, out of the box, and fresh idea. so this world will not be turn out to be a boring place to life :). She made it :D

04:21 AM Apr 27 2010 |

1 person likes this

wishtolearn

El Salvador

just another long-tired commercial on this video…. i just dont like it at all…......

02:29 PM Apr 25 2010 |

Doritos

Doritos

Greece

I agree with Devan because i think that the 'Telephone' video shouldn't be commercial for  a bunch of different products .I don't like it . Sorry !!!

11:56 AM Apr 25 2010 |

mossavi

mossavi

Afghanistan

great, issue, i liked it

 

08:13 AM Apr 25 2010 |

l3th1ha1du0ng

Viet Nam

I'm a big fan of Gaga,i know she's weird,she's even lunatic,so scandalous but she's UNIQUE. Her music is so fantastic and her appearance's eye-catching. People can love or hate her,but they can't ignore her,i'm sure :-D

04:46 AM Apr 24 2010 |

wIwId

wIwId

Indonesia

she put amazing ideas on this video. weird costumes but great :)

02:20 AM Apr 24 2010 |

karen12090

karen12090

China

hi, nice meeting u , i am karen from China

09:37 AM Apr 23 2010 |

julia liu

julia liu

China

i have watched this video, i like this song somehow , but what attract me is not the odd custumes nor the  strange scene,,,i just like this song purely,,anyway gaga is special really,,

04:00 AM Apr 23 2010 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

I think this video clip is very unusual. I can't tell you for sure if  I like it or not. I mean when I saw it at first I was nearly shocked, but later I changed my mind. At least I am sure it's the kind of video that can cause a revolution of consiousness, in a way.

12:35 PM Apr 22 2010 |

bad-lady

bad-lady

Russian Federation

To my mind the video is very unusual))And I like Lady Gaga, she is so creative and talented! I am not her huge fan,but I respect her for doing her thing:))

12:06 PM Apr 22 2010 |

lulu6151

lulu6151

China

I LOVE LADY GAGA AND BEYONCE. I NEED TO SEE THIS VIDEO.

06:43 AM Apr 22 2010 |

tonydang3120

Viet Nam

I like the video, it's so creative….. and you know,Beyonce is my idol….yeah…keep it going girls !

03:34 AM Apr 22 2010 |

Yuliana20

Yuliana20

Russian Federation

I dont like this music video. There is smth strange and I think Lady and beyonce are not really compatible..becouse I think  Lady Gaga looking like martian from another cosmic world …she looks comical)))

07:12 PM Apr 20 2010 |

yeorche

Mexico

I did not see the video but since many viewers watched on youtube I guess it has something interesting in it…

05:35 PM Apr 20 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

Funny video.

05:05 PM Apr 20 2010 |

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