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Daddy YankeeThe Relevance of Reggaeton
Five years ago, Puerto Rican politicians criticized reggaeton music as base and immoral. Today the music has become the soundtrack of the nation and is studied in the halls of academia. On today’s show: we look at the poetry and politics inside the Caribbean hip-hop genre known as reggaeton. Also: Argentinean pianist Fernando Otero performs live.
The Relevance of Reggaeton
The rhythm that mixes hip-hop with Caribbean music was born in Puerto Rico in the 90s and became a continental phenomenon with irreverent songs about sex, race, and immigrants. Today, we talk to Raquel Rivera, editor and author of Reggaeton, about the genre's relevance and legacy.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on the right to rap en español
Reggaeton on Amazon.com
Soundcheck's Picks of the Week
This week’s picks take us to the cradles of civilization, the depths of YouTube and an uninhabited island in Massachusetts. Read our full reviews and download a free track from the new Grizzly Bear album, Veckatimest, here.
Kronos Quartet, Floodplain (Nonesuch)
Kutiman, ThruYOU: Kutiman Mixes YouTube
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest (Warp Records)
Read our full reviews -- and download a track from the new Grizzly Bear album.
Fernando Otero
Argentinean pianist Fernando Otero comes from a family of artists – his father was an actor and his mother and grandmother were famous opera singers. So he decided early that we wanted to be a musician, as long as tango had something to do with it. He joins us to play live pieces from his Nonesuch debut, Pagina de Buenos Aires.
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Join us Tuesday, Nov. 10 at The Greene Space
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
Soundcheck
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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