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Soundcheck

Thursday, April 07, 2005
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  • broadway lights and marquees

    Is American Idol Killing Broadway?

    Today on Soundcheck, New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley joins us to discuss the hit reality series American Idol and its effect on our beloved Broadway musicals. In his article featured on the front page of the Sunday New York Times' Arts & Leisure section, Brantley muses on the qualities that American Idol encourages in its singers – namely, loudness and vocal acrobatics – and how this is echoed in many new Broadway musicals like Brooklyn the Musical, or Rent and Bombay Dreams, both of which now feature American Idol veterans. And the 92nd Street Y is presenting the world premiere of a new dramatic work based on Eudora Welty’s short story "Music from Spain." We'll have a live performance here in the studio.

Additional Information:
» More on "A Fire Was in My Head"

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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