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(d-fens/flickr)Rock in a Hard Place
Tech-savvy soldiers in Iraq are customizing their iPod playlists, whether going into battle or unwinding at their bases. Today, a music scholar and a soldier talk about what soldiers are listening to and what music means on the front lines. Also: Pacifika is a global pop trio that melds the sounds of Latin, moody electronica, '80 new wave and classic rock and which hails from an unlikely place – Vancouver. The group performs live in our studio. Finally: The story behind John Lennon's lyrics for "Give Peace a Chance."
How do you get your music fix?: Tell us how you spend your money on songs, albums and concerts in a Soundcheck poll.
Soldiers' Songs
Every war has had its songs of battle, but in Iraq today they are coming from iPods and being played through communications systems of tanks. What are soldiers listening to and what does music mean on the front lines? We’ll be talking with NYU music professor Martin Daughtry, who is one of a number of scholars researching these questions, and a solider and musician about his first-hand experiences and the music he has created as a result of his service.
Our Blog: John Schaefer on music and military might
Give Peace a Chance Lyrics up for sale
John Lennon's lyrics for Give Peace a Chance are to go under the hammer at an auction at Christie's this summer. The lyrics were handed to comedy writer Gail Renard, who was then 16, at Lennon and Yoko Ono's Montreal "bed-in" in 1969, along with other mementoes. She joins us to share the remarkable story.
More: view images of the lyric sheet.
Pacifika Live
Pacifika is a global pop/latin-tinged trio based in an unlikely place – Vancouver -- and with an unlikely combination of people -- a Peruvian singer who is an ex-pop sensation, a Canadian guitarist both into new wave and classical, and a Barbados-raised producer who likes metal and Caribbean grooves. They join us for a live performance and to share their new album, "Asunción."
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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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Introducing our Video Contest
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John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Matisyahu
Soundcheck
Hasidic star Matisyahu joins Soundcheck to play "One Day" live in studio.
- Comments [8]
In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles
Soundcheck
The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
- Comments [8]
Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
- Comments [1]
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.
