Song
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Books
How ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ Got the ’80s Right
The Netflix documentary revels in nostalgia. But the heart of the film spotlights the relationships between the pop superstars who recorded “We Are the World.”
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Newyork
Listening to Music Is Better When It’s a Conversation Among Friends
At group listening sessions, everybody gets a turn to speak by choosing a song.
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Newyork
Toby Keith’s Pre-Partisan Patriotism
Toby Keith already had a string of country hits before he wrote the 2002 song that cemented his place in the then-burgeoning culture wars: “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).” He later said the song was written in 20 minutes as ...
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Books
Toby Keith Was More Than Mere Bluster
His choice to become a post-9/11 culture-war champion overshadowed the work of a musician who was funnier, subtler and more politically slippery than his most famous work let on.
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Books
How an Obscure Song Became an a Cappella Sensation
Few people were aware of the 1994 single “Insomniac” by the rock duo Billy Pilgrim, and it quickly sank into obscurity. But a cappella groups can’t stop singing it. We set out to find an explanation.
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Books
Oasis and Stone Roses Musicians Team Up, and 7 More New Songs
Hear tracks by A.G. Cook, Mary Timony, Bela Fleck and others.
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Newyork
‘Fairytale of New York’ Isn’t Like Any Other Christmas Song
I fell in love with “Fairytale of New York,” the indelible Christmas song by the Pogues, before I’d heard a note. I grew up in the boarded-up, bombed-out Northern Ireland of the Troubles. There wasn’t an abundance of galleries in Derry, where I lived ...
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Newyork
Essra Mohawk, Self-Described Flower Child Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 75
She missed a shot at Woodstock glory. But she recorded well-received albums under her own name and worked with Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia and others.
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World
‘Buena Vista Social Club’ Review: Bringing a Classic Record to Life
A new Off Broadway musical adds the thrill of intimacy and the weight of history to the Cuban songs popularized on a 1997 album.
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Books
Rock Gods Call Him When They Need a New Thunderbolt
After producing hits for Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus, Andrew Watt has become a go-to for new music by rock legends: Ozzy. Elton. Mick and Keith. Even Paul.