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Soundcheck

Friday, November 04, 2005
  • Vivaldi - segment of painting (François Morellon La Cave)
    Vivaldi - segment of painting (François Morellon La Cave)

    Better Sport Through Vivaldi

    Forget drugs. A strong dose of James Brown, Steppenwolf or even Vivaldi is more likely to enhance athletic performance. Three new studies show that the right music can make you quicker, stronger and more focused during exercise - even enhancing performance by as much as 20 percent. In advance of Sunday's New York City Marathon, Costas Karageorghis, a sports psychologist at Brunel University in West London, joins us to discuss the correlation between music and athletic performance. We also take your calls. Also on the show: musician and artist R. Crumb once posed the question, "Where has it gone, all the beautiful music of our grandparents?" His own answer: "It died with them, that's where it went." Contrary to that opinion is the new album by The Fiery Furnaces, that features their own delightfully quirky musical takes on the life of their octogenarian grandmother, Olga Sarantos, who herself contributes vocals to the recording. They join us to perform live. To begin, a look at last night's Latin Grammy Awards with Antonio Mejias Rentas, entertainment editor of La Opinion, Las Angeles' Spanish language newspaper.

Latin Grammy Awards

A look at last night's Latin Grammy Awards with Antonio Mejias Rentas, entertainment editor of La Opinion, Los Angeles' Spanish language newspaper. » Complete List of Latin Grammy Winners

Why Music Makes you Exercise Harder

Sports psychologist Costas Karageorghis discusses new research into the connection between music and sport.
» Why Music Makes you Exercise 20% Harder (Times of London)

The Fiery Furnaces

The Fiery Furnaces perform from their ambitious, stream-of-consciousness concept record about the life of 83-year-old Olga Sarantos.
» The Fiery Furnaces Web site

Best Live Performances of 2008

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We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

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Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

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Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

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.