Stephen M. Deusner interviews Jessica Hopper....

In his new biography, John Szwed argues Billie Holiday was a method actor: she burrowed to the core of the song, determined what type of person might be voicing such sentiments in what kind of situation, and let that guide her interpretation of it....

"Rock ’n’ roll acts as a language rather than a genre — one whose health is measured not by chart positions or album sales, but by artists and listeners."...