Shadowing Practice: Rex Orange County - Best Friend (Official Audio) - Learn English Speaking with Video

I should've stayed at home

Cause right now I see all these people that love me

But I still feel alone Can't help but check my phone

I could've made you mine

But know it wasn't meant to be And see I wasn't made for you

And you weren't made for me Though it seemed so easy And that's because I wanna be your favorite boy

I wanna be the one

that makes your day The one you think about as you lie awake I can't wait to be your number one

I'll be your biggest fan and you'll be mine But I still wanna break your heart and make you cry

Won't you wait?

You know it's too late I'm on my own shit now Let me tell you how it feels to be fucking great

I feel great You need to be yourself

Love someone for loving you instead of someone really cool

that makes your heart melt Who knows what you truly felt You're still my favorite girl You better trust me

when I tell you there ain't no one else more beautiful in this damn world In this damn world

You're gonna wanna be my best friend baby You're gonna wanna be my best friend

You're gonna wanna be my best friend baby You're gonna wanna be my best friend Best friend

You're gonna wanna be my best friend,

baby You're gonna wanna be my best friend I say that I'm happy

I say that I'm happy But no, no, no, no No, no,

no I still wanna be your favorite boy

I wanna be the one

that makes your thing The one you think about as you lie awake And I can't wait to be your number,

your number one I'll be your biggest fan and you'll be mine

But I still wanna break your heart and make you cry I

I still wanna be your favorite boy I wanna be the one I might just be the one

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33 sentences

What You'll Practice in This Lesson

This lesson uses the lyrics of "Best Friend" by Rex Orange County to help you improve your English speaking and pronunciation. You'll work on understanding conversational tone, natural phrasing, and rhythm—skills that are key for IELTS speaking practice and everyday communication. Whether you're new to shadowing or looking to refine your technique, this video’s mellow pace and relatable lyrics make it perfect for english speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Learn

"Ain't no one else": A casual way to say "there is no one else," common in spoken English.
"On my own shit": An informal phrase meaning "doing things my own way" (use carefully in casual settings).
"Meant to be": Describes something that feels fated or intended, e.g., "We weren't meant to be together."
"Biggest fan": Someone who supports you strongly, e.g., "She's my biggest fan."
"Lie awake": To stay up thinking, e.g., "I lie awake thinking about my plans."

Practice Tips for Shadowing Success

The video’s slow, expressive delivery is ideal for shadow speech practice. Here’s how to make the most of it: First, listen to a 10-second clip and focus on the singer’s intonation—notice how he stresses words like "favorite" and "great" to convey emotion. Then, repeat the clip immediately, mimicking his rhythm and tone. For better results, use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare it to the original; this helps spot differences in pronunciation. Since the lyrics are personal and conversational, they’re also great for improving English pronunciation of everyday phrases. Don’t rush—take time to match the singer’s pace, and practice 5-10 minutes daily. Over time, you’ll notice your speech sounds more natural, which is a big win for both casual chats and IELTS speaking practice!

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	should've stayed · could've made
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	wasn't meant · weren't made
Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming	gonna wanna
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	I'll be · Won't you

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 →

Shadowing Practice: Rex Orange County - Best Friend (Official Audio) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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What You'll Practice in This Lesson

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Learn

Practice Tips for Shadowing Success

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?