Real English Conversations: noisy neighbors
Hi, Lori here with another hot, steaming fresh edition of Real English Conversations. Remember, you can find the full transcript at our website, Better at English dot com.
As you can hear, my cold is almost better now. Thanks to Katja and Marco for the nice get well wishes!
Today's conversation is between me and my friend Michael. We discuss my annoying neighbor and his habit of playing a very irritating song at very high volume, usually on Friday and Saturday evenings. I'm pretty sure it's a live version, too, so it's much longer than the original, thus extending my torture.
My best guess is that he plays it to get himself in the party mood. Here in Sweden, people usually “party” at home, that is, sit around and drink with their friends and make a lot of noise, until around 11 pm. After that, they go out to the bars, pubs and clubs. I think that's because in Sweden, it's so darn expensive to buy drinks when you're out. So it's good to drink a load of cheap alcohol at home to get a good healthy buzz going before you out on the town. I'm telling you this as a form of public service announcement in case you ever decide to come to Sweden. Now you know what to do when it's time to party…
Right then! Let's get on with it: here's the conversation.
Michael: So, do you live in a house or an apartment?
M: Okay but, but I thought you said that you were a musician? How do you get around playing your music when you live in an apartment?
L: Well, well, I'm lucky because, umm, with the equipment I use – I can use headphones to practice so I don't need to make a lot of noise and, and bother the neighbors.
M: Okay, that's good because that's, that's yeah, that, I would think that would be a problem for somebody playing music.
L: Oh man, tell me about it! I have this neighbor — I'm not sure which one it is, if he's the one directly above me or if he's on one of the adjoining apartments, but every weekend – Friday, five, six p.m. he's getting ready to party. And the way he gets ready to party — You know that song “Relax” by…who who's that, what, “Relax”?
M: Frankie Goes To Hollywood? That one?
L: Oh my God, yeah yeah yeah… yeah
L: Yeah [sings] “Relax, don't do it…” You know that song?
M: I'm afraid I do.
L: He blasts that song so loud. Like, over and over and over again. Every weekend. And it drives me crazy. And…
M: I, I guess that's his “getting-ready-to-go-out” music.
L: It must be. But it's SO annoying. I mean, ANY song but “Relax”!