Hearing Voices - Radio Stories / Music

Iraq: Soldier’s Soundtrack Jake Warga

Producer/photographer Jake Warga was embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, Baghdad, in Dec 2009-Jan 2010. He plugged into the soldiers’ iPods, asked them about their music and lives, and snapped their photos.

Broadcast: Jul 4 2010 on HV WebworkSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: War, Music

Iraq: Sgt Crystal Halbert- Home 1:44 Jake Warga

Our final Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, ("Home" Blake Shelton)Sergeant Crystal Halbert : "Home is sitting at my mom's, waiting for her to finish cooking dinner. All the family's starting to come over; my kids are running around..."

Broadcast: Jun 4 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Iraq: SPC Bowers- Kiss My Country Ass 1:57 Jake Warga

An Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, ("Kiss My Country Ass" Rhett Akins) Specialist Bowers: "Iraqi culture and American culture are two totally different things. It's total culture shock here..."

Broadcast: Jun 3 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: War, Music

Iraq: PFC Dalere- Undead 1:30 Jake Warga

An Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, ("Undead" Hollywood Undead) PFC Michael Dalere: "I’ll always remember my buddy that got killed, how young he was. I don’t think you get over having a friend get killed for trying to better another country..."

Broadcast: Jun 2 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Iraq: SPC Kriegshauser- Raindrops 1:15 Jake Warga

Another Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, ("Raindrops" Stunt/remix: Alex K) Specialist Kriegshauser: "I think the country will survive; they’re a thriving, caring, generous people..."

Broadcast: Jun 1 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Iraq: SPC Lawrence- Indestructible 2:04 Jake Warga

Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, Specialist "Laser" Lawrence ("Indestructible" Disturbed): You got to show people that soldiers aren't just war fighters, they're peace keepers too..."

Broadcast: May 31 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Iraq: Sgt Treen- The Clowns 3:04 Jake Warga

Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, Staff Sergeant Adam Treen ("Send in the Clowns" Barbra Streisand): "They're not really geared towards a democratic or republic sort of society... The biggest issue will be trying to keep Iran or Syria from moving into the power vacuum when we leave..."

Broadcast: May 31 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Iraq: Sgt Richardson- Jesus 1:50 Jake Warga

Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack, Staff Sergeant Ike Richardson (sings "There is a Name" by Douglas Miller): "I think that we’re in spiritual warfare all the time... Most religions are the same, they teach about peace."

Broadcast: May 31 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

Major James Lockridge after learning of an IED explosion that killed 5

Iraq: Major Lockridge- Bohemian Rhapsody 2:47 Jake Warga

The first of our Iraq Soldier's Soundtrack series: Embedded with the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army, Baghdad, the producer plugged into the soldier's iPods and asked them what they were listening to, why they liked the song, and what their lives were like. To Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Major James Lockridge tells us, "The United States Army can go anywhere at anytime or anyplace. I learned that during the first war. I wouldn't want to be anybody that had to face the United States."

Broadcast: Mar 22 2010 on PRI/WGBH/BBC The WorldSeries: Soldier's Soundtrack- Iraq Subjects: Music, War

A student learning to play the Thana in Mae La refugee camp

Burma Blues for Karen 5:30 Jack Chance

The stories of Burmese refugees, the Karen people, recorded in the camps on the Thailand-Burma border, and in their new American homes. Thru it all their music preserves their culture. More Chance music and pix at Guerilla Ethnomusicology. (With support from KGLT.)

Broadcast: Nov 18 2008 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Music, War