Haven't I Heard This Song Before?
A pinch of melody, a dash of groove. Pop music is built on making a song sound just new enough to be intriguing. So what happens when one song sounds a little too familiar?
Music & Culture
Fresh Air Remembers 'Piano Jazz' Host Marian McPartland
For more than 30 years, the jazz pianist hosted one of public radio's most beloved shows. She died of natural causes on Tuesday at the age of 95. McPartland spoke with Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 1987.
Robin Thicke: Smirky But Sincere On 'Blurred Lines'
Listen and look past his roué image, and the chart-topper is revealed as an earnest nostalgist.
'You're What I Wanted': Assembling The Family Stone
Members Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini say that, when crafting the lineup of his pioneering funk and soul band, Sly Stone was a man on a mission.
Marian McPartland, 'Piano Jazz' Host, Has Died
As the host of a weekly public radio program pairing conversation and duet performances, McPartland brought many jazz greats to an audience of millions. For more than 40 years, she offered an intimate perspective on the elusive topic of improvisation.
'Beauty' On Orrin Evans' Block
Evans can be a heavy hitter at the keyboard, but on his new album, he reins himself in a bit.
'Looking For The Next One' Reveals An Underappreciated Sax Trio
A new double set of unreleased S.O.S. tunes, Looking for the Next One on the Cuneiform label, was recorded in concert and in the studio in the mid-1970s. John Surman, Mike Osborne and Alan Skidmore could sound timeless, of and ahead of their time.
20 Years Ago, Tupac Broke Through
In January of 1993, Tupac Shakur was 21 years old. He was about to drop his contradictory second album, which would launch him to superstardom.
How To Win That Music Competition? Send A Video
A new study shows that judges base musical performances more on sight than on sound.
Vince Gill And Paul Franklin Break Down The Bakersfield Sound
Last year, country superstar Vince Gill left his record label, MCA, after more than 20 years. But he's leaving with one last album — a love letter, really — dedicated to the classic country songs of his youth. Titled Bakersfield, it finds Gill working with pedal-steel master Paul Franklin.