想卖唱？先试唱！

By Lauren Frayer

Announcer： And heres a reminder that a tough economy can change life in ways large and small. Spain has an unemployment rate of 26%. With six million people without jobs， the countrys seen a 2）spike in the number of 3）buskers， street musicians. These performers have long been a part of Madrids lively culture， but with so many people singing and 4）strumming for money， the city is now requiring them to audition for permits， and those who dont 5）comply face fines.

Reporter： On the train， in the park， on the streets， Madrid is famous for its buskers. With more than a quarter of Spaniards out of work， more and more people are 6）crisscrossing the city with their violins and voices for extra cash. People squeeze giant 7）accordions onto the Metro and roll 8）amplifiers on carts across cobblestones. Its a happy 9）clamor， but Madrids mayor says its reached its limit. A new law will prohibit amplifiers， require buskers to move along every two hours and stay 75 yards away from the next 10）crooner. People whove been singing on the streets here for years are angry. Laura： People know the city because of its life， its night life， day life， music on the streets， happy people， but we dont know why the city mayor wants us to be sad.

Reporter： Laura Nadal is a professional pianist who sings in the street with her group， the Potato 11）Omelette Band. She and more than 300 other musicians were forced to audition at this big cultural center in downtown Madrid for the privilege of holding out a hat in the street.

Carlos： Its a joke， yes. OK， you have five minutes. Play.

My name is Carlos. Mr. Black is my artistic name. I play in the streets ten years [sic].

Gerardo： Now you have to make a test to…to sing in the street.

Reporter： Gerardo Yllera is another member of the Potato Omelette Band. “For the unemployed，” he says.

Gerardo： The street is the only place that you can go， so if you cant sing in the street now， what are you going to do？

Reporter： What the Potato Omelette Band did was use a hidden camera to secretly videotape their audition. The video went viral on Spanish social media because of their lyrics.

Laura： So it is like “Oh， my poor Madrid， my city. They are taking the artists away to put police. There is no 12）jury better than the hat—the hat that you put on the floor to give you the money.”

Reporter： That video of Laura and Gerardos audition got several hundred thousand hits on YouTube. Theyve become the face of opposition to Madrids noise reduction law. Their street performances draw crowds now.

And the band just got some news. They passed the audition and got a one-year permit to perform in the streets.

播音员：下面的这则新闻提醒我们，经济不景气会从大大小小各方面改变我们的生活。西班牙的失业率高达26%，在六百万人失业的情况下，整个国家街头艺人的数量激增。这些街头表演者们长期以来都是活力十足的马德里文化的一部分，但现在有如此多的人要靠弹唱来挣钱，以至于马德里政府规定这些人员需要通过试唱来取得卖唱资格，不遵守规定的卖唱者会被罚款。

记者：马德里这座城市以街头艺人著称，在火车上、公园里、大街旁，卖艺人的身影随处可见。西班牙有超过四分之一的人口处于失业的困境，越来越多的人带着一把小提琴和凭着一副好嗓子在城市里忙碌穿梭，以谋些外快。卖艺人们将大架的手风琴塞进地铁，推着装有扩音器的小车穿过卵石路。这热闹的情景看着很欢乐，但马德里市长说这已经到了极限。一项新的法律即将出台，禁止卖艺者使用扩音器，并且要求艺人们每两小时就要换一个地点，两个艺人之间至少要相隔75码（约69米）。在马德里街头卖唱了多年的人们对这项新的法律表示强烈不满。

劳拉：这座城市是以它的活力而闻名的，这里充满活力的夜生活和白天生活、街头音乐、欢乐的人们，我们不知道为什么市长想要我们不开心。

记者：劳拉·纳达尔是一位专业的钢琴演奏者，她和她的“土豆煎蛋乐队”在街头演唱。劳拉还有其他300多名艺人被迫要在马德里市中心的这个大型文化中心试唱，以获得街头卖艺的资格。

卡洛斯：这真是笑话，没错。好了，给你五分钟，开始演奏吧。

我叫卡洛斯，藝名是布莱克先生，我在街头卖艺已经有十年了。

赫拉多：现在你要通过考试才……才能在街上卖唱。

记者：赫拉多·耶尔拉是“土豆煎蛋乐队”的另一名成员。“这是失业者的一条出路，”他说。

赫拉多：街上是你惟一能去的地方，如果连在街上唱歌都不允许了，你还能做什么呢？

记者：“土豆煎蛋乐队”做的事情是：他们用一个隐藏的摄像头把自己试唱的片段偷偷录了下来。由于歌词内容不同寻常，这段视频在西班牙的社交媒体上传得火热。

劳拉：歌词大概是：“哦，我可怜的马德里，我的城市啊。他们正把艺人们赶走，代之以警察。没有比帽子——那顶你放在地上收钱的帽子更好的评委了。”

记者：劳拉和赫拉多试唱的那段视频在YouTube上获得了数十万的点击量，他们成了反对马德里降噪法的代表性人物，他们的街头表演也因此吸引了大批的观众。

而这个乐队刚刚也传来喜讯——他们通过了试唱，获得了为期一年的街头表演资格。