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Singers perform the Olympic Games' theme song. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Music has a big role in China's extravagant packaging of the Beijing Olympics. On today's show, China-based music writer Ken Smith talks about the opening ceremony, and about the complex dance between the music industry, the Olympic organizers, and the Chinese government. And composer Zhiyi Wang joins us from Beijing to talk about the music he wrote for the opening ceremony. Later on the show: The East Village Opera Company could best be described as a cross between Freddy Mercury and George Frederic Handel. The rock band/opera troupe has a new album, "Olde School," which we sample today.
Listen to Soundcheck's 2007 interview with soul singer Isaac Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65.
Listen to Soundcheck's 2007 interview with soul singer Isaac Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65.
Olympian Musical Feats
The Olympic Games are the biggest sports and entertainment event on the planet and the music industry is eager to capitalize. Today, China-based music writer Ken Smith talks about the secrecy surrounding the opening ceremony, and about the complex dance between the music industry, the Olympic organizers, and the Chinese ...
On your marks, get set, compose!
A big public event requires a big fanfare. Composer Zhiyi Wang provided just that for the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics on Friday. Today, the 27-year-old graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and University of Louisville joins us to talk about how he got the gig, and how ...
From Handel to Headbangers
The East Village Opera Company accomplishes what seems like a really bad idea on paper: taking some of the most recognizable arias by Wagner, Handel, Verdi, Puccini and others and re-imagining them as epic rock songs. But somehow it works. Today, the group’s creators, Peter Kiesewalter and Tyley Ross, share ...
Open Mind for the Opening Ceremonies
I am, and have always been, a big sports fan. And therefore, I have always hated the Olympics opening ceremonies. Huge spectacles, garish costumes and even more garish music, and not ...
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