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Soundcheck

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
  • Clinton and Obama
    (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

    Clinton, Obama and the Power of Music

    As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama square off in today's Pennsylvania primary, we pose another Soundcheck Smackdown: "Which candidate has the best music?" Later: guitarist Habib Koité mixes the sounds of his native Mali with Western influences. He performs live in our studio.

Soundcheck Smackdown: Clinton vs. Obama

With today's Democratic showdown in the Pennsylvania primary, we stage a battle of our own: Which of the two Democrats has the best music on their side? Obama has inspired musical tributes, and his Facebook page says that he listens to Bob Dylan, The Fugees and J.S. Bach. Clinton recently appeared at Radio City Music Hall with Elton John; her campaign rallies feature songs from Dolly Parton to K.T. Tunstall. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we welcome Democratic political analayst and former Rock the Vote president Jehmu Greene and Danny Goldberg, president of Gold Village Entertainment and author of several books about music and politics.

Tell us: Which Democratic candidate has the best music on their side?

Our blog: John Schaefer offers up a campaign song for each candidate.

Jehmu Greene's blog, The Greene Room
More about Danny Goldberg

Habib Koité

Malian guitarist Habib Koité descends from a line of griots -- traditional troubadours -- and his music is all about his continent. But Koité mixes those native sounds with Western influences, enlisting help from people like American saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, known for his work with the James Brown band. He joins us for a live performance during his first US tour.

Habib Koité website

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