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Soundcheck

Friday, October 08, 2004
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  • Jean-Michel Pilc - photo copyright Mephisto
    Jean-Michel Pilc (© Mephisto)

    Remakes and Rocket Scientists

    The Neville Brothers have released their first album in five years, “Walkin' in the Shadow of Life” which includes a remake of The Temptations song "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)." The group has updated lyrics of the 1970 original to reflect modern concerns—including changing references from the Vietnam War to the Iraq War. They drop by with a preview. Also: It has been said that we are little more than our cumulative experiences. This is particularly true for Jean-Michel Pilc, a satellite engineer turned jazz pianist. Pilc graduated from France's leading telecommunications research university in the early 80s and worked as a scientist with the French space agency. But launching satellites couldn't match his musical passions, which have been called “unpredictably exploratory.” He joins us with a live performance.

Additional Resources:
» Jean-Michel Pilc’s Web site
» Neville Brothers Web site

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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