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How to Sound Gay

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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Can a piece of music sound gay? Sony-BMG and AOL Music are just a few media outlets trying to cater to the gay audience through special marketing efforts. But some critics say they're making assumptions about taste that stumble into stereotype. Jim Farber, music critic of the New York Daily News joins us with his analysis. Also with us is Nadine Hubbs, a musicologist and cultural historian at the University of Michigan, whose latest book, "The Queer Composition of America's Sound" has generated fierce debate in music circles. Also: Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut has a new CD that features unusual covers of songs by Roberta Flack, Fats Domino, and 70s soft-rock band Bread. He joins us with a live performance in the studio. And finally, an appreciation of the Greek composer and architect Iannis Xenakis.

Since When Did Music Become gay?

Jim Farber, music critic of the New York Daily News looks at recent efforts by media companies to target gay audiences.
» AOL strikes chord with 'gay music'

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Unfamiliar Chestnut

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut joins us with a live performance.
» Cyrus Chestnut on Telarc

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Don't Xenakis Until You've Tried It

An appreciation of the late Greek composer and architect.
» Iannis Xenakis's Web site

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