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Soundcheck

Monday, May 02, 2005
  • Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo: The Secret History of Yodeling Around the World by Bart Plantenga
    Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo: The Secret History of Yodeling Around the World (Bart Plantenga)

    Giving a Shout Out to Yodelers

    Yodeling is not just a Swiss thing. In fact, everyone from African pygmies to rhinestone cowboys to Bollywood film stars are known to yodel. Today Bart Plantenga author of Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo: The Secret History of Yodeling Around the World, visits to discuss on the countless patterns and regional variations of this age-old art form. (Yes, art form.)

    The Detroit Opera House has the opera world buzzing, as the world premiere of "Margaret Garner" takes place at the there this week. It features a libretto by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and music by Richard Danielpour, and Detroit Free Press music writer Mark Stryker joins us with a look at it. Also: Lorin Maazel is best known here as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, but in London, his first opera is about to debut – an adaptation of George Orwell's "1984." But critics are accusing it of being a vanity project. Norman Lebrecht, music critic of London’s Evening Standard gives us with the low-down.

Noteworthy New York

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We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.

The Journey of Quincy Jones

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During his 50-year career, Quincy Jones has worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Puff Daddy, founded Vibe magazine, collected countless awards, and earned a reputation as a jazz giant. (Somewhere in there, he found time to make possible an album called "Thriller.") Jones joins us on the occasion of his new book, "The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions."

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on Quincy Jones, Henry Rollins and the term "Renaissance man"

Pop's Love Affair With Death

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Death may be an unpleasant topic for conversation, but it ranks up there with sex and love as a basic ingredient in song lyrics. Today, we look at how pop music copes (and even thrives) with death. We're joined by Graeme Thomson, author of the self-explanatory book, "I Shot a Man in Reno: A History of Death By Murder, Suicide, Fire, Flood, Drugs, Disease and General Misadventure, as Related in Popular Song."

Soundcheck blog: What's your favorite song about death?

Behind the public face of John Lennon

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Writing a book about the Beatles is to enter a crowded market. But Philip Norman’s new 851-page biography, “John Lennon: The Life” is getting much buzz this fall for the unprecedented access provided by Lennon’s friends and relatives, including Yoko Ono. We talk with Norman about why Lennon remains such a fascinating and troubled figure.

The Soul of British Soul

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British soul divas like Amy Winehouse and Duffy owe a big debt to a '60s icon with a breathy voice and a beehive wig. Today: the story of singer Dusty Springfield. Later: folk-rock artist Ani DiFranco performs songs from her new album "Red Letter Year" live in our studio.