An argument for the art of whistling

It's Been a Minute

NPR

News Commentary, Society & Culture, News, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 8.8K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2024

⏱️ 28 minutes

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Summary

Some of us whistle while we work, but what happens when your work is whistling? This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by professional whistler, Molly Lewis. Lewis' catalogue spans across the film and music industries, from features on the Barbie soundtrack to performances alongside Karen O. From NPR's New York Bureau, Brittany sits down with Lewis to talk about the world of competitive whistling, how she hones a craft many people see as fidgeting, and why older generations are more likely to whistle. This episode also features a special live performance with songs from Lewis' new album, On The Lips.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Johnny O'Hanson Jr.
0:02.6	Join me each week on in Black America
0:04.8	as we profile current historically significant figures
0:08.1	whose stories help illuminate life in Black America.
0:11.3	You don't want to miss the conversation. K-U-T radio in Black America. You don't want to miss the conversation.
0:13.2	K-U-T radio in Black America are members of the NPR Network.
0:17.3	Thanks for listening to in Black America.
0:19.6	Hello Hello. I'm Brittany Loose and Hello,
0:23.0	I'm Brittany Loose, and you're listening to It's Been a Minute from NPR,
0:27.0	a show about what's going on in culture
0:30.0	and why it doesn't happen by accident. The clear high-pitched melody you just heard was not a bird that wasn't a flute.
0:56.6	That was a whistler.
0:58.8	Allow me to introduce you to America's whistling sweetheart, Molly Lewis. And today we're going to get all up in her mind.
1:07.8	I've been whistling now for 30 years probably. My parents decided to show me this documentary called Pucker Up.
1:15.7	It's about the International Whistling Competition. It was the first time I'd ever seen professional whistlers performing classical pieces and
1:36.6	operatic songs and I kind of realized that I could whistle like they could and that was quite
1:42.2	a realization.
1:44.0	Since then, Molly has earned titles at some of the biggest whistling competitions in the country,
1:49.4	including the Masters of Musical Whistling Competition in LA.
1:53.0	And chances are, you've probably heard her before.
1:56.0	Her whistling was featured in the Barbie movie,
1:58.0	where she whistled the cover of Billy Eilish's
	...

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