Pre-Teach Vocabulary

1. Match the words in the box to the definitions or translations below;

burst onto repercussions hip swivel cool quit cult(adj) plagued recluse babble obese hound rabbit high class lie knock down step slander

a. very fat __________________________ j. pisar ______________________________

b. cadena ___________________________ k. stop ______________________________

c. conejo ___________________________ l. someone who hides from others ________

d. move with a circular motion __________ m. a hunting dog _____________________

e. de Buena onda ____________________ n. mentir ____________________________

f. troubled, bothered __________________ o. derribar ___________________________

g. from the 'upper crust' _______________ p. to talk without sense _________________

h. talk badly about someone ____________ q. with a devoted following _____________

i. suddenly appear ____________________ r. consequences ______________________

2. Now complete these sentences with the words from the exercise above.

a. _______________ are used in some parts of the world to hunt _______________.

b. My grandmother fell down last week and broke her ____________.

c. "Don't ____________! You should always tell the truth."

d. Billy _____________ smoking after the doctor advised him to do so.

e. We had a fight last night, I hit him and ___________ him _____________.

f. He accidentally _______________ in dog shit when he was walking down the street yesterday.

g. He was so drunk that he was ________________, no one could understand him.

Hound Dog (1956)

3. Listen to the song and complete the lyrics.

You ain’t nothing but a (1)_________ dog
(2)___________ all the time.
You ain’t nothing but a hound dog
Crying all the time.
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit
And you ain’t no (3)_________ of mine.

When they said you was high (4)______________,
Well, that was just a (5)____________.
When they said you was high classed,
Well, that was just a lie.
You ain’t never (6)_____________ a rabbit
And you ain’t no friend of mine.

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

When Elvis Presley first burst onto the North American music scene in the 1950's he caused a musical revolution that had repercussions that were eventually felt all round the world. Presley performed this music with a natural hip swiveling sexuality that made him a teen idol and a role model for generations of cool rebels. Presley was repeatedly dismissed as vulgar, incompetent and a bad influence. However the force of his music and image signaled to the mainstream culture it was time for a change.

Presley became a national star in 1956 and had a series of number 1 records despite increasing criticism from authority figures at the time. After a live performance on March 25, 1961 Presley quit performing for several years and spent the next eight years making movies. Outwardly, Presley was more popular than ever and one of the biggest personality cults in modern history was taking hold. Off stage Presley was plagued with self doubt, poor management, and a basic dissatisfaction with his life. He repeatedly threatened to quit show business, but debts and financial obligations made that impossible. Presley turned to drugs. By the late Sixties he was an almost total recluse. Toward the end of his life he would babble incoherently on stage and rip his trousers, having grown quite obese, and at least once he collapsed on stage. June 26, 1977 Presley performed live for the last time in Indianapolis. On August 16, 1977, the day before his next scheduled concert, Presley was discovered by his girlfriend Ginger Alden dead in his bathroom at Graceland. His death was caused by congestive heart failure. Later it was determined that drug abuse may have been a contributing factor.

4. Listen to your teacher read the text above and decide and then number the following events (1 to 6) in chronological order.

______ Elvis died of heart failure ______ Elvis became a national star

______ Presley turned to drugs ______ Presley performed for the last time

______ Presley started making films ______ Presley became a recluse

Interview Questions

5. Listen to the interview and write notes to answer the questions below.

a. Who are Elvis' favourite actors?

b. What position did he play in American Football?

c. What music does he like?

d. Does he think Rock and Roll will last forever?

e. Where did he get the idea for his music?

f. Where was he appearing in concert that week?

Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

6. Complete the lyrics with the words in the box below, then listen to the song and check your answers.

steal ready honey slander anything show step

Well, it’s one for the (1)____________,
Two for the show,
Three to get (2)____________,
Now go, cat, go.

But don’t you (3)___________ on my blue suede shoes.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes.

Well, you can knock me down,
Step in my face,
(4)_______________ my name
All over the place.

Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh,
Honey, lay off of my shoes
Don’t you (5)_______________ on my blue suede shoes.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes.

You can burn my house,
(6)_____________ my car,
Drink my liquor
From an old fruit jar.

Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh,
(7)_______________, lay off of my shoes
Don’t you step on my blue suede shoes.
You can do (8)_________________ but lay off of my blue suede shoes.