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Music and Torture
Torture memos and waterboarding are the subject of much debate in Washington, but few are talking about the use of music in detainee interrogations. Today: music as torture, past and present. Also: Ukrainian-born singer Alina Simone is acquainting Americans with the work of a tragic Soviet-era punk singer. She performs live.
Music in Detainee Interrogations
With the debate over torture continuing in Washington, relatively little attention has been focused on the practice of music as torture. The CIA has used loud music at deafening volumes as an "enhanced interrogation technique" -- recently drawing protest from groups like the American Musicological Society. We examine music and prisoner abuse and whether the practice will continue under the Obama administration.
Our guests are Jonathan Pieslak, a CUNY professor, composer and author of the book Sound Targets: American Soldiers and Music in the Iraq War; Moustafa Bayoumi, also a CUNY professor, and author of How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America; and Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Botelho, who has been deployed to Iraq three times.
Moustafa Bayoumi's Web site
Jonathan Pieslak's "Sound Targets" web site
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on music as torture
Alina Simone
With an album of cover songs, Alina Simone paid tribute to Russian punk poet and cult figure Yanka Dyagileva, who died tragically in 1991. Simone, a Brooklyn-based songwriter who was born in the Ukraine, talks about Dyagileva and her story. Plus, we hear a live performance.
Alina Simone Official Site
Alina Simone MySpace Page
"Everyone Is Crying Out to Me Beware" on Amazon.com
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Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, stars of the romantic indie film Once, will debate which is more powerful: a love song or a breakup song. And: live music from Grammy winning violinist Joshua Bell and Cuban stars Tiempo Libre.
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The Ill Effects of Urban Noise
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Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.
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