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Soundcheck

Monday, October 23, 2006
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  • Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

    New Jersey vs. Long Island: Where's the Better Music?

    Last week, organizers announced a Long Island Music Hall of Fame, whose first inductees include Billy Joel, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Vanilla Fudge, Mose Allison, and Harry Chapin. At the same time, there's a music hall of fame in the works for New Jersey as well. Today, the organizers of both halls join us as we ask: Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra? Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel? Yo La Tango versus Blue Oyster Cult? Also: Folk singer Maria Muldaur made it big in the 70s with the hit "Midnight At The Oasis." She joins us to talk about her tribute to the love songs of Bob Dylan.

Long Island vs. New Jersey

The question you've always wanted to know: Who's got the better music, Long Island or New Jersey? Richard L'Hommedieu from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and Gary Wein of the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame join us with some answers.
Long Island Music Hall of Fame Web site
New Jersey Music Hall of Fame Web site
Long Island Music at Wikipedia

Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur

Singer Maria Muldaur shares her new album, "Heart Of Mine," a tribute to the love songs of Bob Dylan.

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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  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 4 (08/28/2008)
  4. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 3 (08/27/2008)
  5. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Democratic National Convention: Day 2 (08/26/2008)
  6. The Leonard Lopate Show: 1-2-3 (08/26/2008)
  7. The Leonard Lopate Show: Layered Look (08/27/2008)