Foo Fighter

Foo Fighters Music Feb 18 2008

Intro

What on Earth is Foo? It’s tough to say. But one thing’s certain, it’s not just the unusual name that makes the Foo Fighters memorable. The name would mean nothing without the talents of lead singer, songwriter, and former Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl.

Mason has been listening to the Foo Fighters since the mid-nineties, and so have millions of others. The Foo Fighters continue to grow, challenge themselves and make new music. Their latest album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is doing well and Mason and Beren are impressed that Grohl has remained grounded through years of being a rock star.

Dialogue

Listen to streaming audio of this English lesson >

Beren

Mason

Mason: You know, I got to say a band that is like always on my radar is the Foo Fighters.

Beren: Oh Yeah. Yeah.

Mason: ‘Cause I was into Nirvana as a younger kid and that whole thing.

Beren: I loved Nirvana. Yeah, yeah.

Mason: And then their first album that Dave Grohl made all on his own in the aftermath of Kurt Cobain dying was so angry. It was really raw.

Beren: Yeah.

Mason: It was in the period of time that like music kinda mattered more than it usually does.

Beren: Yeah. I think that’s true.

Mason: So just, like, even though I don’t necessarily like where they have gone as a band they’re just someone that I always kinda keep an eye out for.

Beren: Yeah. I am a big fan of the name.

Mason: Yeah.

Beren: I just thought that was just the best name.

Mason: Because what does it come from again? I kinda forget.

Beren: It’s the Japanese…what the Japanese call UFOs, apparently. Foo Fighters.

Mason: Right. Foo Fighters, they called the UFOs. Or was it like an Air Force thing that, like, looked out for UFOs.

Beren: Ohh. I’m not exactly sure. But I just always thought that was is such a great…

Mason: Something Air Forcey, right? And their first album cover was a like weird laser gun. So that would…

Beren: But, so have you heard the new one?

Mason: Oh yeah.

Beren: I actually heard Dave Grohl being interviewed and he was talking about how he plays music with his daughter and how he’s teaching her words via music. I just thought that was so cool. what a great way, you know, to connect with your infant daughter.

Mason: Rock and roll dad.

Beren: Yeah, exactly. What a cool dad, Dave Grohl!

Mason: Who would have thought.

Beren: But yeah the Foo Fighters. No I think they are a good band.

Mason: Sure. Sure.

Discussion

Mason likes the Foo Fighters. He has for a long time. Even before Dave Grohl started the Foo Fighters, Mason liked him as the drummer in Nirvana. He says that those bands made music seem like it mattered more at that time than it seems to now. Beren agrees. She likes both bands too.

Beren is generally impressed with Dave Grohl, both as a musician and a father. Turns out Dave Grohl is a family man. He plays music with his daughter and even takes his mother with him on tour. How sweet!

Do you think it’s possible to be a rock star and a good parent? Or is it too hard?

Grammar Point

If you add a “y” on the end of a noun, you make an adjective…even if the word doesn’t exist! It can be used as slang. So when Mason said “Air Forcey,” he meant the name Foo Fighters has something to do with the Air Force. It was similar to the Air Force in some way.

In addition to slang, some real adjectives are actually English nouns with a “y” on the end, like salty, faulty and juicy. Can you think of more?