Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Mormon Church on Gay Rights, Politics of the Hijab, and Songwriting Feuds
Tom Petty will now get writing credit for a hit song by musician Sam Smith. The two musicians settled out of court after Petty accused Smith of ripping-off a chorus. We take a look at the history of musical legal battles.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenWe start with a look at yesterday’s announcement by the Mormon Church on gay rights and religious freedom. Then, Michelle Obama didn’t wear a hijab yesterday during a visit to Saudi Arabia, sparking thousands of critical tweets. Why is the headscarf so politically charged? Next up, in our regular parenting segment, a look at a Maryland couple being investigated for letting their two children walk home a the park unsupervised. Are we living in an age of over-parenting? After that, Madeleine speaks with choreographer Amy O’Neal about her hip-hop piece “Opposing Forces,” which makes its California debut this weekend at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. And finally, Sam Smith and Tom Petty have reached a settlement over plagiarism allegations. We look at the legal standard for songwriting plagiarism, and some of the more famous song credit feuds from over the years.
Banner Image: Tom Petty playing at the Norwegian Wood music festival in 2012; Credit: NRK P3
In this episode
5 storiesThe Mormon Church and Gay Rights
Seven years ago, the Mormon Church was a major organizer and financial sponsor behind the anti-gay-marriage measure Prop 8. The proposition passed but was later overturned by the California Supreme Court. Then yesterday, leaders of the Mormon Church announced that they supports employment and housing protections for LGBT people.
Read the story9 minThe Politics of the Hijab
President Obama was in Saudi Arabia yesterday paying respects to King Abdullah, who died last week. The visit was short, but there was just enough time for the First Lady to find herself at the center of a controversy. Michelle Obama chose not to wear a headscarf to official proceedings.
Read the story8 minKids Walk Home Alone
A Maryland family is being investigated for letting their kids walk home from the park. The distance was about one mile, and the kids were 10 and 6 years old. The ongoing investigation into the family has sparked a conversation about how much freedom we should give our kids. Are we living in an age of over-parenting? Or appropriate caution?
Read the story8 minChoreographer Amy O’Neal’s “Opposing Forces”
Hip-hop has been firmly in the mainstream for decades when it comes to music, but less so when it comes to dance. Hip-hop and street dance styles rarely get the rarefied treatment of forms like ballet and modern. This weekend, however, hip-hop gets the fine art approach at Orange County’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Read the story13 minTom Petty, Sam Smith and the History of Music Legal Battles
When you heard Sam Smith’s hit "Stay With Me,” you might have noticed that the melody is similar to Tom Petty’s “I Won't Back Down." Tom Petty thought so, too. This week we learned that the two artists have agreed to share royalties from the Sam Smith song.
Read the story10 min
