Robert Palmer
 MTV's favorite lounge
lizard of the Reagan era, Robert Palmer is best known for the
bevy of leggy models that pouted and swayed their way through
three of his chart-topping music videos. These black-clad bombshells
not only cradled instruments and wore hot lipstick, they also lifted
Palmer's easily digestible guitar rock to the peak of popularity with
their on-screen renditions of "Addicted to Love," "I Didn't Mean to
Turn You On" and "Simply Irresistible." Testosterone-fueled and shallow
as these videos were, they did succeed in introducing the world to
Palmer's unique blend of rock, soul, electronica and R&B after
a decade of disappointments.
1.lounge: n. 闲逛, 休闲室, 长沙发 vi. 闲荡, 懒洋洋地躺卧 vt. 虚度光阴
2.lizard: n. [动]蜥蜴
3.pout: n. 撅嘴, 板脸, 生气, 大头鱼类 v. 撅嘴, 绷脸
Born Alan Palmer in Bentley, England, Palmer is the son of a naval
officer who never saw a movie or TV until age 12. With only music
to keep him company, Palmer admired the rhythm and blues of Lena
Horne and Nat King Cole at a very young age. A clean and sober three-piece-suit
kinda guy, Palmer played in locally renowned British bands
like Dada, Vinegar Joe and the Alan Bown Band in his 20s, but never
embraced the excessive rock 'n' roll lifestyle. For this reason,
Palmer happily pursued a tame solo career with Island Records, where
he could enjoy great artistic freedom as well as a little peace
and quiet. His 1974 debut, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley,
impressed critics and critics alone. Island stood by Palmer despite
his commercial failings and allowed him to experiment with synthesizers
and international rhythms, both of which made his next two albums
musically compelling yet financially fruitless.
1.naval: adj. 海军的
2.kinda: adv. 有一点, 有几分(=kind of)
3.synthesizer: n. 综合者, [电子]合成器
Palmer's first American hit came in the form of "Every Kinda People"
from Double Fun and was followed by the even higher ranking
"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" from Secrets in
1979. Luck then knocked on Palmer's door in 1985, when John Taylor
and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran asked him to join their side project
band, Power Station. Two hit singles later, Palmer quit.
One year later "Addicted to Love" hit No. 1 with its smooth, understated
and poppy, cool guitar. The album Riptide made Palmer a household
name, but it was 1988's Heavy Nova that made him a star and
an unlikely sex symbol. Thanks to those leggy brunettes,
the videos for "Simply Irresistible" and "I Didn't Mean to Turn
You On" clung to the top of the charts all year, catapulting Palmer's
synth-influenced pop to music award ceremonies and onto Pepsi commercials.
His next two albums reverted to a more eclectic international sound
and showcased Palmer's mellow baritone - MTV fans had trouble
following the progression and dumped him like a washed up supermodel
in a tight black mini skirt.
1.brunette: n. 浅黑肤色的女人 adj. 深色的
2.baritone: n. 男中音
Palmer's latest album (and first studio recording in five years),
Rhythm And Blues, was released in 1999.
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