– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

-I was so touched

when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association

chose me to receive its highest honor,

the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

And I was even more moved

when a past recipient -- Mr. Sidney Poitier --

handed it to me.

So, in my house,

it's also known as the Sidney Poitier Award.

It is my distinct pleasure to announce

that the 2018 Cecil B. DeMille Award honoree is

Oprah Winfrey.

Let me be the first to congratulate you, cuz.

You're in for an incredible night.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
touched /tʌtʃt/ B1	adjective - emotionally affected; moved verb - to feel an emotion or be affected by something
chose /tʃəʊz/ A2	verb - past tense of choose; to select from a number of options
receive /rɪˈsiːv/ A2	verb - to be given, take, or get
honor /ˈɒnər/ B1	noun - a great respect or privilege verb - to show respect for someone or something
recipient /rɪˈsɪpiənt/ B2	noun - a person who receives something
distinct /dɪˈstɪŋkt/ B2	adjective - clearly different or of a different kind
pleasure /ˈpleʒər/ A2	noun - a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
announce /əˈnaʊns/ B1	verb - to make something known publicly or officially
honoree /ˌhɒnəˈriː/ B2	noun - a person who is being honored
congratulate /kənˈɡrætʃuleɪt/ B1	verb - to express pleasure to someone because of their success
incredible /ɪnˈkredəbl/ B2	adjective - difficult to believe; extraordinary

Key Grammar Structures

• I was so touched when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association chose me

  ➔ Past Perfect Continuous/Simple Past Tense & Relative Clause

  ➔ The sentence uses the past tense ("was", "chose") to describe a past event. The phrase 'when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association chose me' is a subordinate clause acting as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause. The use of 'so' intensifies the feeling of being touched.

• It is my distinct pleasure to announce that...

  ➔ It + be + possessive adjective + abstract noun + to + infinitive

  ➔ This is a common idiomatic expression used to politely introduce a formal announcement. 'Distinct' emphasizes the sincerity of the pleasure.

• Let me be the first to congratulate you, cuz.

  ➔ Imperative mood & Informal Address

  ➔ The phrase 'Let me' introduces an imperative sentence, offering to be the first to congratulate. 'Cuz' is a colloquial shortening of 'cousin', indicating a close relationship and informal tone.

• You're in for an incredible night.

  ➔ Contraction & Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ 'You're' is a contraction of 'you are'. 'In for' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'about to experience something, usually something good'.