Shadowing Practice: Måneskin - GOSSIP ft. Tom Morello - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Welcome to the city of lies Where everything's got a price
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Gonna be in your favorite place You can be a movie star
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and get everything you want Just put some plastic on your face This place is a circus,
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you just see the surface They cover shit under the rug You can't see they're faking,
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they'll never be naked Just fill your drink with tonic gin This is the American dream
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So sip the gossip drink till you choke Sip the gossip burn down your throat You're not iconic,
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you are just like them Oh, don't act like you don't know So, sip the gossip, drink till you throw Oh,
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sip the gossip, burn down your throat Well, you're not iconic, you are just like them Oh, don't act like you don't know
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Keep drinking and acting cool Don't care if your day is blue Nobody loves a curming face
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Just take your pills and dance all night Don't think it'll best get by So come on, let's try it just to taste
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This place is a circus You just see the surface They cover shit under the rug
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You can't see they're faking They'll never be naked Just fill your drink with tonic gin, this is the American dream So sip the gossip,
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drink till you choke Sip the gossip, burn down your choke Oh you're not iconic,
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you are just like a mole Don't act like you don't know So sip pick your sip, drink till you throw Oh,
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dip, pick your sip, burn down your throw Oh, you're not iconic, you are just like them,
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oh, don't act like you don't know Hey
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You like that, Monuskine?
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Fuckin' hell!
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Yeah!
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Yeah!
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Shit!
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So sip the gossip drink till you throw a sip the gossip burn down your throat Well you're not iconic,
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you are just like them all Don't act like you don't know Oh
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Thank you.

Who Will Benefit from This Video?

This video is perfect for intermediate English learners aiming to improve English pronunciation and practice conversational fluency. Its fast-paced, energetic delivery makes it ideal for those working on rhythm and natural speech flow—key goals for anyone focusing on english speaking practice. Whether you’re prepping for real-world interactions or refining your shadowing skills, the song’s repetitive structure and vivid lyrics provide a dynamic tool to build confidence.

Words & Idioms to Add to Your Toolkit

The video is packed with standout phrases that capture modern, colloquial English. Here are a few to master:

  • "City of lies": A place where deception is common. Example: "The tabloid industry feels like a city of lies."
  • "Cover shit under the rug": To hide problems or mistakes. Note the informal "shit"—use "issues" in polite settings. Example: "The company tried to cover their mistakes under the rug."
  • "Sip the gossip drink": To engage in spreading rumors. Metaphorical, but the structure ("sip the [noun] drink") is versatile. Example: "She loves sipping the drama drink at work."

Mastering the Accent: Tips for Authentic Pronunciation

The speaker’s bold, rhythmic delivery is perfect for shadowspeak (repeating speech in real time). Focus on two key areas: First, stress and intonation. The chorus ("Sip the gossip, drink till you choke") uses strong stress on "sip," "gossip," "drink," and "choke"—mirror this to sound natural. Second, linking sounds. Notice how "burn down your throat" becomes "burn down yer throat" (linking "your" to "throat" with a soft "er" sound). Practice with a shadowing site to match the pace—start slow, then gradually sync with the video. For tricky words like "iconic," emphasize the "i" (eye-KON-ik) and shorten the "o" to avoid over-enunciating. Remember: shadow speech works best when you mimic not just words, but the energy—this video’s intensity is your secret weapon to sounding confident.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itbe naked
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionthey'll never be · it'll best
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around nowthey're faking

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →