5-minute listening: Practise your English with Conan Gray’s ‘Disaster’
- Practise your English with our short listening exercises: play the audio linked below; answer the questions; and check the answers at the bottom of the page
- This week, we listen to the latest single from one of pop music’s biggest names
A still from Conan Gray’s latest music video, “Disaster.” Photo: Captured from YouTubeListen to Conan Gray’s Disaster, and see how well you understand the lyrics by completing the quiz below. Check the answers on our site, and play the song again!
Scan the QR code to read the lyrics and find the answers to the questions below.
Questions
1. What does it mean to “set the scene”?
A. leave a place in a rush
B. behave in a loud, angry way in public
C. describe a place or situation in which something is about to happen
D. carefully examine a situation to find out the truth about it
2. Why was the singer at Blake’s place?
A. to celebrate Halloween
B. to have a date with his crush
C. to return a car he borrowed
D. to take back his car keys
3. What does the phrase “potential of us” imply?
A. the singer’s concerns about losing his driving licence
B. the risk of the singer having his feelings hurt
C. the possibility of the singer and his crush developing a relationship
D. all of the above
4. If something is keeping you up “all night long”, you …
A. feel exhausted
B. cannot go to sleep
C. do not feel well
D. are in a rush
5. What did the singer send his crush in verse one?
A. a video
B. a voicemail
C. a comment on Instagram
D. a text message
6. What might happen at the critical chapter, according to the chorus?
A. The singer realises he is not ready for a relationship.
B. The singer’s feelings are not reciprocated.
C. The singer discovers he doesn’t like the person.
D. The singer falls for someone else.
7. Which word best describes the singer’s feelings when he uses the phrase “pedalling backwards”?
A. regretful
B. sarcastic
C. aloof
D. defensive
8. How often does the singer get a phone call from his crush?
A. daily
B. occasionally
C. every fortnight
D. never
9. What advice does Ashley give the singer?
A. to block his crush on social media
B. to ignore his crush’s phone calls
C. to give up on his crush
D. none of the above
10. How does the singer feel about his crushes overall?
A. enraged
B. optimistic
C. confused
D. resigned
Lyrics
Verse One
Let me just set the scene
I’d just left the party at Blake’s and it’s Halloween
Had the keys to my car in my hand, but I didn’t leave
‘Cause the potential of us, it was keeping me up all night long
I left a text you won’t read all night long
Chorus
This could be a disaster
There’s so many factors, like, what if you freak out
And then we’re losing it all at the critical chapter
Where I say, “I love you” and you don’t say it after?
This could be a disaster
I’m pedalling backwards by saying that “I’m drunk
I really shouldn’t have called,” I’m a little bit plastered
You call me a liar, now I’m falling in faster
This could be a disaster
Post-Chorus
Oh-oh-oh, disaster
Oh-oh-oh, disaster
Verse Two
Let me just lose my mind
Is it purely platonic to call me, like, every night?
You know, Ashley believes that there’s something between you and I
But if I’m reading it wrong, then it’d be better off if I died, oh
And if you’re reading the text all night long
Chorus
This could be a disaster
There’s so many factors, like, what if you freak out
And then we’re losing it all at the critical chapter
Where I say, “I love you” and you don’t say it after?
This could be a disaster
I’m pedalling backwards by saying that “I’m drunk
I really shouldn’t have called,” I’m a little bit plastered
You call me a liar, now I’m falling in faster
This could be a disaster
Post-Chorus
Oh-oh-oh, disaster
Oh-oh-oh, disaster
Outro
Maybe I’m mistaken (Oh-oh-oh)
You’re not mine for taking (Oh-oh-oh)
Maybe I’m mistaken
Maybe I just made it up, messed it up
Answers
1. C
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. A
9. D
10. C