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Soundcheck

Monday, June 02, 2003
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  • sgt_pepper

    What if Sgt. Pepper Never Taught the Band to Play?

    Could you imagine a world where the Beatles never existed? Irish expatriate, songwriter, singer in the legendary group Black 47 and playwright Larry Kirwan visits the Soundcheck studio. He discusses his new book Liverpool Fantasy, a work of fiction inspired by The Beatles. Adam Makowicz takes time out from dazzling audiences throughout the world to chat with John. The internationally acclaimed pianist stops by to play some live music. Also, the New York Philharmonic is packing up their music cases and moving to Carnegie Hall after playing at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall for over 40 years. We get the insider's perspective from Robert Harth, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall and from Zarin Mehta, Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic.

Additional Resources:
More on the New York Philharmonic's move to Carnegie Hall
More on Larry Kirwan
More on Adam Makowicz
audience

Soundcheck Smackdown: When Contemporary Met Classical

Soundcheck

Like vegetables stuck into a delicious meal, contemporary classical music is forced on concert audiences before they are allowed to enjoy their Brahms. So says humorist, critic and author Joe Queenan. Today, Queenan and John Berry, Artistic Director with English National Opera, join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the merits of contemporary music.

musical clouds

You Are What You Hear

Soundcheck

Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi takes us through some of the most famously botched song lyrics in rock history. We’ll explore why the words we make up are usually more interesting than the real version. Then, listeners confess their favorite and most embarrassing reinvented lyrics.

Leave a comment: Give us your favorite set of misheard lyrics! Were you disappointed when you learned the actual words?

Rosanne Cash and Mark O'Connor

Soundcheck

For her, he was a father. For him, he was a boyhood hero. For the nation, he was an icon. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and composer and violinist Mark O'Connor join us to talk about how Johnny Cash has inspired their musical collaboration. And they will play live.

Katy

Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll

Soundcheck

Every year, popular and critical opinion somehow converge to settle on a "summer song." In 2007, it was Rihanna's "Umbrella." The year before, it was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. The practice stretches back to the very dawn of pop radio. Yet defining the essence of a "summer song" is a bit elusive. We enlist the help of Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman -- and of our Soundcheck listeners, in an online poll.

Cast your vote: Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll 2008

Can't decide? Check out audio and video clips of the contestants here.

Our blog: John Schaefer asks what makes a good summer song,

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