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Soundcheck

Wednesday, January 24, 2007
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  • Kristin Hersh at the Tractor Tavern February 27, 2004 (Mike Baehr)
    Kristin Hersh at the Tractor Tavern February 27, 2004 (Mike Baehr)

    The Rhythm of Power

    While CEOs are gathering in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, lefties are in Nairobi for the World Social Forum. Today we look at which musicians are aligning themselves with each event. Also: former Throwing Muses singer Kristin Hersh performs live in our studio.

The Rhythm of Power

While CEOs are gathering in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, Lefties are in Nairobi for the World Social Forum. WNYC's culture reporter, Siddhartha Mitter, speaks with John Schaefer about which musicians are aligning themselves with each event and why.

Drama for DJ's

DJ Drama was arrested January 16 for producing unlicensed mixtapes even though his compilations have been used as promotional tools by record executives. New Yorker music critic, Sasha Frere Jones, and DJ Pete Miser, discuss the RIAA's awkward relationship with mixtapes and what the recent crackdown on DJ's could mean for the hip-hop community.

Sasha Frere Jone's Website
DJ Pete Miser's website

A Throwing Muse On Her Own

Kristin Hersh performed as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group Throwing Muses and the hardcore punk-influenced power trio 50 Foot Wave. She has a new solo record out and plays some of it live in our studio.

Kristin Hersh's Website

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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