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May 17th American Idol results (americanidol.com)American Idol Worship
Over 30 million viewers are expected to tune into the American Idol finale, which airs tonight. Soundcheck looks into the reasons behind phenomenon. Beyond the passionate singing and pop tunes, the show has become a barometer of popular culture. We'll look at why it's so influential on the music industry, how it embraces the notion of failure, and how it stems from a long tradition of amateur talent contests. Later in the show an Americana idol, bluegrass musician Del McCoury performs live in studio. He'll talk about what it was like singing lead with Bill Monroe in 1963 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album last year.
American Idol Worship
The next American Idol will be announced tonight, and over 30 million viewers are expected to tune in for the occasion. We look into the reasons behind the frenzy with Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University's Center for the Study of Popular Television and
Katherine Meizel, a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
» Katherine Meizel on American Idol
Del McCoury: Americana Idol
Bluegrass musician Del McCoury performs live in-studio. He's performed with Bill Monroe and won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album last year.
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
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In Studio: Stephanie McKay
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The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
