US pop diva Mariah Carey has produced many hits during her almost three-decade-long career. Among the songs, Carey’s classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has earned her and songwriter Walter Afanasieff over US$60 million (NT$1.8 billion) in royalties as of 2017, the Economist reports.
The song was originally released in 1994. With global sales exceeding 16 million copies, it is the 11th best-selling single of all time. Carey and Afanasieff reportedly finished the lyrics and melody for the song together in just 15 minutes. Some joke that the song could easily support her extravagant lifestyle for the rest of her life.
Carey held concerts in Taiwan in 1998 and 2014 respectively, conquering many fans with her “whistle register.” Several days ago, she returned to Times Square in New York to perform for the New Year’s Eve countdown party. She was humiliated at the previous year’s party by the microphone system that began to malfunction as she sang, and was determined to redeem herself this time around.
Photo: AP
照片︰美聯社
(Liberty Times, translated by Eddy Chang)
美國流行歌后「花蝴蝶」瑪麗亞凱莉出道近三十年，唱過多首膾炙人口夯曲。根據「經濟學人」雜誌報導，其中經典「你是我最想要的聖誕禮物」到二○一七年為止，竟讓她和作曲家華特亞方納席耶夫大賺超過六千萬美元（約新台幣十八億）的版稅！
該曲於一九九四年發行，在全球銷售超過一千六百萬張，榮登史上最暢銷單曲第十一名。瑪麗亞和華特據說當年只花了十五分鐘，便完成詞曲創作，該曲也被戲稱是維持瑪麗亞奢華生活的養老歌。
瑪麗亞於一九九八年、二○一四年兩度來台開唱，以「海豚音」征服許多歌迷。她前幾天再次參加了紐約時報廣場的跨年晚會，對比去年演唱因耳麥故障而蒙羞的慘況，這次則決心要一雪前恥。 （自由時報）
A: According to reporter Joon Lee’s analysis, what are other reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers made back baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani’s huge contract so quickly? B: Second, a lot of Japanese and global enterprises are eager to benefit from the “Ohtani effect”. . . A: That’s sure to increase the Dodgers’ bargaining chips in negotiations. B: Lastly, all this media coverage is elevating the Dodgers’ brand to a new level, boosting the value of the franchise. A: I can’t wait to see a battle between Ohtani and “Team Taiwan” at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. A: 根據記者Joon Lee的分析，洛杉磯道奇隊和球星大谷翔平的巨約快速回本還有哪些原因？ B: 第二、無數日本和全球企業都想和這股「大谷效應」沾上邊……。 A: 這也增加了道奇在各種商業談判中的籌碼吧。 B: 第三、媒體報導更將道奇的品牌形象推升至全新的高度，使該隊價值水漲船高。 A: 真期待在2026年「世界棒球經典賽」，看到大谷和台灣隊的經典對決！ （By Eddy
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 Kevin leaned over the bubbling pot. “Hey. . . are you okay? You’ve barely touched your food.” Zoey blinked. Her face was red — not from blushing, but from the “mala” spice and the heat of the room. Her blond hair clumped to her face like strands of fine spaghetti. Her carefully applied makeup now streaked. “This isn’t what I expected,” she said softly, forcing a smile. All around them, Kevin’s friends were laughing, shouting, and tossing ingredients into the broth. The air smelled of chili oil and garlic.
The subject of placebos has been fascinating scientists and medical professionals for decades. The word placebo comes from Latin and means “I shall please.” The concept of the placebo effect refers to the phenomenon in which treatments or procedures produce positive outcomes merely because individuals believe they will work. __1__ During medicine trials, researchers often include a “placebo group” as a control to measure the true efficacy of the medication being tested. While one group receives actual drugs, the placebo group is given an inert substance, such as a sugar pill. To ensure unbiased results, participants in the placebo
Picture this: contestants are walking gracefully across a stage, competing for the highly desired title of “most beautiful.” However, these participants aren’t fashion models—they’re camels. Welcome to the extraordinary world of the Pushkar Fair, where beauty contests take on an entirely different meaning. The Pushkar Fair is held annually in the small desert town of Pushkar, India, usually in November. It began as a livestock trading event where farmers and herders gathered to buy and sell camels, horses and cattle. Over time, it has grown into a major cultural carnival that attracts thousands of tourists from around the world.
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