Explore every episode of the podcast Strong Songs
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Way" by Meshell Ndegeocello | 19 Apr 2024 | 00:57:34 | |
Meshell Ndegeocello is: a fearless songwriter, an outrageously funky bassist, and a groundbreaking producer who knows just how to get the most out of each musician she hires. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into "The Way," the second track off of her 1996 record Peace Beyond Passion, and shines a light on some of the things that make her one of the greats. Written by: Meshell Ndegeocello Album: Peace Beyond Passion (1996) Special Guest: Sam Howard Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED:
-------------------- APRIL 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Bob Tucker – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey APRIL 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Mordok’s Vape Pen – Inmar Givoni – Michael Singer – Merv Adrian – Joe Gallo – Michael York – Lauren Knotts – Dave Kolas – Henry Mindlin – Monica St. Angelo – Stephen Wolkwitz – Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian John Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – David Futter – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nell Morse – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – D. Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Brad Callahan – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Satisfied" from Hamilton (Updated!) | 01 Jul 2020 | 00:49:36 | |
A toast to the groom! To the bride! To knowing you'll always regret the sacrifice you made for your sister! In this updated 2019 episode, Kirk takes a dive into Lin-Manuel Miranda's epic Broadway musical Hamilton, focusing on Renée Elise Goldsberry's first act showstopper, "Satisfied." Regret tinges an otherwise joyous day as Angelica Schuyler remembers the night she met Alexander Hamilton, fell in love with him, and quickly realized they could never be together. It's a heady mix of complex rhyme schemes, powerhouse vocals, and musical character motifs so densely interwoven that it's hard to keep track of them all. (Note: This is an updated version of an episode that originally ran on May 1, 2019. It includes a new intro and outro, a couple of small editing tweaks, the show's current theme music, a new aside about Angelica's introduction to Alexander, and some added mentions of Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton's fabulous musical director.) Artist: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lin-Manuel Miranda Album: Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2015 Composed by: Lin-Manuel Miranda Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: Tracks from The Hamilton Instrumentals, 2017 Listen/Buy via Album.Link OUTRO SOLOIST: Rob Reich This episode's outro soloist is the wonderful bay area pianist/accordionist Rob Reich. He's got a bunch of albums you can check out and contributes to an array of interesting projects and experiments. Find more at his website, http://www.robreich.com/. -------------------- June 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Narelle Horn - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Viki Dun June 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Conway - AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Geddes - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Geoff Golden - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - Joe C - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Latifah Makuyi - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Pascal Rueger - Randy Souza - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robyn Fraser - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Kiss" by Prince | 24 Jun 2020 | 00:56:47 | |
You don't have to be beautiful, rich, OR cool to appreciate Prince - you just need a little extra time, a pair of ears, and a pulse. It's finally time to talk about the Purple One on Strong Songs, specifically his 1986 chart-topper "Kiss." How did a song that was originally written for a standard band become so stripped-down and distinct? Why do those vocal and guitar parts work so well? And who was responsible for some of the sounds and styles Prince was channeling when he recorded it? All that and more, on this episode. Artist: Prince Album: Parade (1986) Written by: Prince Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
Update 6/24: A couple listeners pointed out that Prince actually *wrote* The Bangles' "Manic Monday," which is too fun of a fun-fact not to mention on the episode. OUTRO SOLOIST: Sam Howard This episode's outro soloist is bassist Sam Howard. Sam lives in Nashville, TN, where he performs and tours with all kinds of artists. Sam played all the way through the Strong Songs outro, so keep an ear out for his playing mixed under the horns on the way out. You can find out what Sam's up to at his website, https://samhowardmusic.com. -------------------- June 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Narelle Horn - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Viki Dun June 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Conway - AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Geddes - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Geoff Golden - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - Joe C - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Latifah Makuyi - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Pascal Rueger - Randy Souza - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robyn Fraser - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes & Transposing Horns | 10 Jun 2020 | 01:00:47 | |
On this Strong Songs mailbag episode, Kirk answers your most pressing questions on subjects ranging from horn transposition, to why audiences have a hard time clapping on 2 and 4, to what the heck that sound is on the bridge to "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic." REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
BLACK LIVES MATTER As Kirk mentioned on the show, below are some things to read and watch to learn more about America's shameful history of systemic racism. Just three things, actually:
There's a huge number of additional articles, books, and videos a person could check out to better educate themselves about this often overwhelming subject. But if you listen to this show and are looking for somewhere to start, start with those three. OUTRO SOLOIST: You? A bunch of listeners have requested a solo-free version of the Strong Songs outro music to play around with. So, now there is one! You can find it on Kirk's Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kirkhamilton/strong-songs-outro-music-no-solo -------------------- June 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Narelle Horn - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Viki Dun June 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Conway - AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Geddes - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Geoff Golden - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - Joe C - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Latifah Makuyi - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Pascal Rueger - Randy Souza - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robyn Fraser - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens | 27 May 2020 | 00:57:10 | |
D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago," the centerpiece of his brilliant 2005 album Illinois. It's a towering construction supported by four chords, with building blocks of vibraphones, wurlitzers, strings, and choral harmonies. D, A, C, G. Eyes on the road; all things go. Artist: Sufjan Stevens Album: Illinois (2005) Written by: Sufjan Stevens Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Kirk Hamilton Kirk is, well, the host of Strong Songs. He decided to finally record an outro solo at the start of 2020. He's playing tenor sax, and there's actually a video of him recording the solo here: https://twitter.com/kirkhamilton/status/1214319584959877123 -------------------- May 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Andrew Walters - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jared Norris - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Steve Philpot - Viki Dun May 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Clint Johnston - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Peter Scott - Queen Latifah - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Craig Maron - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor | 20 May 2020 | 01:10:02 | |
Kirk is joined by Dallas Taylor, sound designer and host of the fabulous sound-focused podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz. The two of them talk about what makes a great recording, the ineffable energy of live music, the history of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, album mastering and the "Loudness Wars" of the 1980s and 90s, how music can take you back to certain times in your life, and the merits of listening to albums on vinyl. They also nerd out pretty hard about Hamilton. FEATURED/DISCUSSED:
LISTEN TO TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ: It really is a great podcast, and if you like Strong Songs you will almost certainly like it, too. You can find the show on all podcast platforms and on its website, https://www.20k.org/. -------------------- May 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Andrew Walters - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jared Norris - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Steve Philpot - Viki Dun May 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Clint Johnston - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Peter Scott - Queen Latifah - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Craig Maron - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox | 13 May 2020 | 00:59:07 | |
Are you living in an empty room, with all the windows smashed? Then this is the podcast episode for you. It's time for a deep dive into Annie Lennox's 1992 pop banger "Walking on Broken Glass," with all its syncopated pianos, string section interludes, ever-changing backup vocals, and tasty guitar cameos. Won't you pick the pieces up? Artist: Annie Lennox Album: Diva (1992) Written by: Annie Lennox Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen Clark This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Galen Clark. Galen plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic; you can find playing regularly around Portland, Oregon and occasionally on tour. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net. -------------------- May 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Andrew Walters - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Jared Norris - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Simon Cramp - Steve Philpot - Viki Dun May 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Fuller - Brant Brantphillip - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Clint Johnston - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jaehoon Jeong - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - MH - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Peter Scott - Queen Latifah - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Stephen - Steven Craig Maron - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Zoe Little -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley | 29 Apr 2020 | 00:59:02 | |
The bells in the church tower chime, so it's time to grab our Telecasters and talk about Jeff Buckley. Specifically, it's time for a deep dive into Buckley's "Last Goodbye," one of the centerpiece songs on his sole studio album, Grace. There'll be spacious drums, grand basslines, spiraling string parts, alternative guitar tunings, and of course, loads of beautiful singing. Artist: Jeff Buckley Album: Grace (1994) Written by: Jeff Buckley Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons - in fact, he taught Kirk some of the guitar parts for "Last Goodbye" back in the day. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/ -------------------- April 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Clint Johnson - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - R Watson - Ryan Torvik - Viki Dun April 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Phillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - DuncannLL - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Gerry Nelson - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robert Paul - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Devo, AC/DC, and a Mystery Solved | 15 Apr 2020 | 01:04:43 | |
It's time for another Strong Songs listener Q&A, as Kirk goes into the mailbag to answer your most burning musical questions. How does Devo make 11/8 time sound so smooth? What makes one song sound like a train, while another one sounds like a pack of horses? Why does the turnaround of Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel" sound so odd? What kinds of effects did Michael Brecker use on his saxophone? How does AC/DC's Angus Young rock the intro to "Thunderstruck" so hard? Those questions and many more... on this ep. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
Note: An earlier version of this episode incorrectly stated that Ben Platt wrote Dear Evan Hansen, which was in fact written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, with book by Steven Levenson. Platt starred as Evan Hansen in the original cast. Correction 10/2021: At long last, Kirk has corrected his description of Angus Young's guitar solo on "Thunderstruck." It is played entirely on the B string, which makes it so much cooler. OUTRO SOLOIST: Kyle Molitor Kyle is a Portland-based trombonist who plays in all sorts of bands, and the dude can really get it done. Find him on Instagram @tbonemolitor and find his upcoming shows on his website: https://klmolitor.wixsite.com/tbone -------------------- April 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Clint Johnson - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - R Watson - Ryan Torvik - Viki Dun April 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Phillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - DuncannLL - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Gerry Nelson - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robert Paul - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "So What" by Miles Davis | 01 Apr 2020 | 00:59:22 | |
On this episode, Kirk dives in to one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time. As the lead track on Miles Davis's landmark album Kind of Blue, "So What" signaled a new era in jazz harmony, composition, and improvisation. This episode will get into what that actually means, how the tune works, and why the seven musicians who played on Kind of Blue were each such a crucial part of the album's magic. Artist: Miles Davis Album: Kind of Blue (1959) Written by: Miles Davis Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
2026 Edit: Correctly identified the second note in Miles' opening phrase. The Strong Songs Kind of Blue Playlist Kirk made a new playlist of the recordings discussed on this episode, in the hopes that it would give a sense of how the seven musicians on Kind of Blue went on to make all kinds of great music as bandleaders. It's in chronological order, so don't put it on shuffle. Unless, you know, you want to. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1X2ETUpsFfH03FHOZDCiic?si=UHahG4EcRcSQ_tBlpzSakA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/strong-songs-kind-of-blue-playlist/pl.u-mJy8DG8t1g8Ka OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ Cord This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fantastic trumpet player based in Portland. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets -------------------- April 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Clint Johnson - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - R Watson - Ryan Torvik - Viki Dun April 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Gerry Nelson - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robert Paul - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| April Makes Fools of Us All | 01 Apr 2020 | 00:10:30 | |
On this episode... a prank. April Fools’ Day has run its course, which means it’s time to update this episode description to accurately reflect what’s in the episode. Hopefully this joke made some listeners laugh, and didn't ruffle too many feathers. The actual full episode on Miles Davis’s “So What” should be live as of this update, and next in your feed. To give credit where it's due: Song: "Never Gonna Give You Up" Artist: Rick Astley Album: Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) Written by: Stock Aitken Waterman Listen/Buy via Album.Link Special thanks to Emily for being an excellent test audience. -------------------- April 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Clint Johnson - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - R Watson - Ryan Torvik - Viki Dun April 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Albukitty - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Gerry Nelson - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robert Paul - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Strong Covers, Vol. 3 | 05 Apr 2024 | 00:57:18 | |
For the third edition of Strong Covers, Kirk takes on two famous covers of two equally famous songs: Jimi Hendrix's 1968 cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," and The White Stripes' early 2000s cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." Written by: Bob Dylan & Dolly Parton Albums: Listen/Buy: Watchtower Original | Cover — Jolene Original | Cover ALSO DISCUSSED:
-------------------- FEBRUARY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey FEBRUARY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys | 18 Mar 2020 | 00:56:12 | |
As sure as there are stars above you, Strong Songs will be here to deliver musical deep-dives straight into your eardrums. This week is no different, as Kirk picks apart Brian Wilson's chamber-pop masterpiece "God Only Knows." The sleigh bells ring, the french horn solos, and The Wrecking Crew lays down the foundation for an immaculate collection of chords and melodies, all placed over a bass line that's as Bach as it is Beach-y. Turns out there's a reason so many people call this the greatest song ever written. Artist: The Beach Boys Album: Pet Sounds (1966) Written by: Brian Wilson & Tony Asher Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Luke Price This episode's outro soloist is the wonderful Portland fiddle player Luke Price. When he's not working as a side man in a variety of killer bands, Luke joins his wife Rachael to form the excellent songwriting duo DEAN!. They've got a new album coming soon and it's gonna be pretty great; in the meantime you can follow them on Instagram and listen to some of their stuff on their website, wearedean.com. -------------------- March 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik March 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| A Playlist For Trying Times | 13 Mar 2020 | 00:10:56 | |
It's a pretty stressful time, and I (Kirk) had a feeling some of you might be cooped up, staring at your phones and anxiously checking the news. I'm right there with you. I've found a lot of comfort in music over the last few days, and occasionally, some much-needed distraction. I wanted to try to share that with all of you, so I made a new playlist featuring songs from artists I've talked about on Strong Songs. You can find it here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3OYYGNNXWw6lNvYU2OY1Mi?si=5DtK6owKS3Cv-s3-tpkTzw Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/a-playlist-for-trying-times-strong-songs/pl.u-11zBvz3hmqpG7 Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/preview/pl/AMaBXylOrnWocYbzZ6XTVYPJuHh1APp_ZyXr_769Ztu9a_CQzYVUVbi_zxRdY3w0O36oCbDW9bMiUuaYvWljw-7_J9uWejR9hw==?u=0 (Thanks Thomas!) Here's the track list, for those who may want to create it for themselves: 1. Toto - Rosanna 2. Paul Simon - Spirit Voices 3. Beyoncé - Love On Top 4. Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke 5. ABBA - Take a Chance on Me 6. Queen - Love of my Life 7. Frozen 2 - Into The Unknown 8. Art Blakey - Come Rain or Come Shine 9. Electric Light Orchestra - Across the Border 10. Lin-Manuel Miranda - Piragua 11. Elton John - This Song Has No Title 12. Janelle Monáe - Wondaland 13. Heart - Love Alive 14. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees 15. Madonna - Borderline 16. Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer 17. Seal - Crazy 18. Danny Elfman w/ Oingo Boingo - Just Another Day 19. Dolly Parton - The Light of a Clear Blue Morning 20. Led Zeppelin - The Battle of Evermore 21. The Cardigans - Great Divide 22. Rush - La Villa Strangiato 23. Nina Simone - Feelin’ Good If you have some free time, consider sitting down with the playlist, turning up the volume, and seeing what you hear. Where's the thump? Where are the pop and sizzle? What are the vocals doing? How about the bass? Are there any unexpected instruments in the mix? Barring unforeseen events, I'll be back this coming Wednesday with a new episode. Stay safe, and take care of each other out there. ~KH -------------------- March 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik March 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Sinnerman" by Nina Simone | 04 Mar 2020 | 00:55:15 | |
Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to? To the rock? To the river? To the sea? Well, wherever you run, you'll still be starring in a Strong Songs analysis of one of Nina Simone's greatest recordings. Yes, it's time for Strong Songs' first-ever analysis of a live recording, as Kirk digs in to legendary pianist/vocalist Nina Simone's 1965 interpretation of the traditional spiritual song "Sinnerman." It's time for some syncopated piano, popless grooves, band crash-landings, hand-clap breakdowns, hip hop samples, and one spectacular vocal cadenza. Artist: Nina Simone Album: Pastel Blues (1965) Written by: Traditional, arr. Nina Simone Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Rob Reich This episode's outro soloist is the wonderful bay area pianist/accordionist Rob Reich. Rob performs all over the place with a bunch of different groups, and is a total pleasure to see play. He's got a bunch of albums you can check out and contributes to an array of interesting projects (Live silent-film scores! Circus music!) and experiments. Find more at his website, http://www.robreich.com/. -------------------- March 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik March 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brant Brantphillip - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Leigh Sales - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Muse, Mars, and a Mystery | 19 Feb 2020 | 00:57:24 | |
It's time for the first Strong Songs listener Q&A of 2020, so let's get into it! Kirk answers listener questions on topics like Zeppelin and Cake counting, the decline (and rise) of the saxophone, Muse's approach to vocal processing, whether piano is an "easy" instrument, Bruno Mars's musical magpieism, and in a first, a listener's request that Strong Songs help him solve a mystery. Update 2/25/20: Mystery solved! Fabian's mystery song is "Me, Myself, I" by Joan Armatrading. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with the answer, and thanks as well to Fabian, who did a pretty great job re-creating it from memory. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen Clark Galen Clark plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic; you can find playing regularly around Portland, Oregon and occasionally on tour. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net. -------------------- February 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik February 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" from The Witcher | 10 Feb 2020 | 00:16:29 | |
What's that you say? You'd like a bonus mini-episode all about the cheeseball fantasy earworm "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher"? Well, Kirk is happy to oblige. This mini-sode started as a segment in next week's mailbag episode, but it became involved enough that Kirk decided to spin it out into its own little thing. Hopefully it gives all you Witcher fans out there a better appreciation for why you can't get this song out of your head, and if it gets the song BACK in your head in the process... well, sorry. Or maybe you're welcome? Band/Artist: Joey Batey, aka Jaskier, aka The Bard Dandelion Album: The Witcher: Music from the Netflix Original Series Written by: Sonya Belousova & Giona Ostinelli Lyrics by: Jenny Klein Listen/Buy via Album.Link -------------------- February 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik February 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Tom Sawyer" by Rush | 05 Feb 2020 | 01:00:12 | |
A modern day warrior's mean, mean stride; today's Strong Song has mean, mean pride! Yes, it's time for Kirk to tackle a song by the legendary Canadian rock trio Rush, and what better song than "Tom Sawyer"? Of course, what starts with Tom doesn't end there, as Kirk takes a broader look at Rush's musical legacy, with extra attention for the band's legendary drummer Neil Peart, who tragically died last month. It's a longer-than-usual episode covering a variety of topics, from odd meter counting; to "kite and anchor" solos; to drum snobs; to just what kind of person spends 30 years conquering the world of rock drumming, only to seek out a new teacher and reinvent himself. Band/Artist: Rush Album: Moving Pictures (1981) Written by: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart Lyrics by: Neil Peart and Pye Dubois Listen/Buy via Album.Link Note: This episode has been updated to correct the pronunciation of Neil Peart's last name, which, as it turns out, is pronounced "Peert" and not "Pert." ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ CORD This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fantastic trumpet player based in Portland who recorded this, the first-ever Strong Songs outro solo. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets -------------------- February 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik February 2020 Half-Note Patrons AJ Schuster - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Christer Lindqvist - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Sam Fenn - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Rhythm + Harmony = Music | 29 Jan 2020 | 00:54:04 | |
Kirk breaks down the two most fundamental aspects of music: rhythm and harmony. There's the Y-axis, harmony, which tells us which frequencies we're hearing in which combinations. And there's the X-axis, rhythm, which tells us how those frequencies are playing out over time. Much like most music, it's a mix of math and magic that takes many moons to master. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- January 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik January 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Georgandis - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Lovefool" by The Cardigans | 22 Jan 2020 | 00:49:36 | |
You don't have to cry, pray, or beg - Kirk is happy to break down one of the 90s' most iconic pop hits without any further encouragement. Yes, it's time to take apart The Cardigans' 1996 hit "Lovefool," a song that sounds one way when it's that Romeo + Juliet song that's on the radio all the time, and another way when it's the centerpiece of First Band on the Moon. Kirk zooms out a bit more than usual to place this song in the context of its (fantastic) corresponding album, and to hopefully help everyone better appreciate the meticulous mastery of The Cardigans. Band/Artist: The Cardigans Album: First Band on the Moon (1996) Written by: Nina Persson and Peter Svensson Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Kyle Molitor Kyle is a Portland-based trombonist who plays in all sorts of bands, and the dude can really get it done. Find him on Instagram @tbonemolitor and find his upcoming shows on his website: https://klmolitor.wixsite.com/tbone -------------------- January 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik January 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Georgandis - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin | 08 Jan 2020 | 00:57:12 | |
Do you hear a faint.... bustling? It's coming from your hedgerow. It's not just a spring clean for the May queen... it's a new episode of Strong Songs, straight from the Internet to your eardrums! Yes, Strong Songs is back from the holidays and ready for a lush new year of thumps, pops, sizzles, and higgada-buggadas. On the first episode of 2020, Kirk goes deep into Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," a song that develops with unusual subtlety, from those quiet opening guitar arpeggios to that howling, rocking culmination. Band/Artist: Led Zeppelin Album: Led Zeppelin IV (1971) Composed by: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Kirk Hamilton Kirk is, well, the host of Strong Songs. He realized he'd never actually done an outro solo, so he figured he'd kick off year two by recording one. He's playing tenor sax, and there's actually a video of him recording the solo here: https://twitter.com/kirkhamilton/status/1214319584959877123 -------------------- January 2020 Whole-Note Patrons AccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik January 2020 Half-Note Patrons Adam Georgandis - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Year One, In Review | 27 Nov 2019 | 00:50:50 | |
Strong Songs is one year old! In honor of that anniversary, Kirk takes a look back on the year that was, sharing musical highlights from each of the show's 20 single-song episodes. SCHEDULING NOTE: Strong Songs will be off in December, and will return for Year Two on January 8, 2020. If you're a patron over on Patreon, that means you won't be charged for the month of December. That also makes December a great month catch up on episodes you may have missed, share the show with your friends, listen to Year One playlists, and enjoy a hopefully very musical holiday season. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
YEAR ONE PLAYLISTS: You can find new playlists with these 20 songs on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/strong-songs-year-1/pl.u-V9D7gaGiJ7o0a and Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5d9ym1sUymGoySMXOw3zbZ?si=knUCLdHHTQ2lTIQq-uXYmQ OUTRO SOLOIST: All Of Them! Thanks to all of the outro soloists we've featured over the past few months: BJ Cord, Galen Clark, Rob Reich, Dan Nervo, Sam Howard, and Steve Pardo. We'll feature plenty more great soloists in Year Two. -------------------- November 2019 Whole-Note Patrons Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik November 2019 Half-Note Patrons Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kingy - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Molly Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer Thanks everyone for listening - see you in 2020! -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Águas de Março (The Waters of March)" by Antônio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina | 22 Mar 2024 | 00:56:22 | |
Kirk digs into the work of master composer Antônio Carlos Jobim via his timeless 1974 duet with Elis Regina on his song "Águas de Marçco," known Stateside as "The Waters of March." He's joined by special guest Frederico Barros, Professor of Musicology at Federal University of Rio De Janeiro. Written by: Antônio Carlos Jobim Performed by: Jobim and Elis Regina Album: Elis & Tom (1974) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED:
-------------------- MARCH 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Robyn Metcalfe MARCH 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Lauren Knotts -------------------- FRED'S PLAYLIST NOTES:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton | 13 Nov 2019 | 00:58:57 | |
It takes an extremely strong song to top the charts three separate times in three separate decades, but "I Will Always Love You" is just such a song. Written and recorded (twice) by Dolly Parton and then re-recorded in show-stopping fashion by Whitney Houston, the ballad has morphed from a fond farewell to a former mentor, to a theatrical goodbye to a lover, to a soaring ode to the very notions of love and loss. We follow that journey from the beginning, with all the vocal tricks, dramatic line-readings, and epic key changes that were added along the way. Band/Artist: Dolly Parton & Whitney Houston Albums: Jolene (1974), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992) Composed by: Dolly Parton Listen/Buy (Jolene) via Album.Link Listen/Buy (TBLWIT) via Album.Link Listen/Buy (The Bodyguard) via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo Mr. Dan Nervo has the tiller for this episode's outro solo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/ -------------------- November 2019 Whole-Note Patrons Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan Torvik November 2019 Half-Note Patrons Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kingy - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Molly Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Making Christmas" from The Nightmare Before Christmas | 30 Oct 2019 | 00:50:48 | |
When the full moon starts to climb, we'll all sing out... it's time to talk about the best stop-motion animated Halloween/Christmas movie musical ever made! Hee hee hee hee heeee! Tim Burton and Danny Elfman's maniacal miniature-musical The Nightmare Before Christmas was unusual when it came out in 1993 and, despite the fact that it went on to became a beloved Disney classic, is still unusual today. The centerpiece ensemble song "Making Christmas," during which the well-meaning but hopeless denizens of Halloween Town attempt to craft their own kind of creepy Christmas, is a crucial turning point for the film, both narratively and musically. In this episode, Kirk takes a closer look at what makes "Making Christmas" tick, from its densely interwoven character motifs to its ever-shifting orchestration to its earth-shaking contrabass woodwinds. Band/Artist: Danny Elfman and the Halloween Town Cast Album: The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, 1993 Composed by: Danny Elfman Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
Update 10/31: After I published this episode on the 30th, several listeners wrote in to tell me about the Dies Irae, a 13th century Gregorian death chant that also shares the first four notes of the "Making Christmas" motif and has turned up in a TON of movies besides. I wasn't familiar with the Dies Irae (I know!), so I've updated the episode to include a mention of it. You'll have to redownload the episode if you want to hear that version. You can also watch a great Vox explainer video about the Dies Irae here: https://www.vox.com/videos/2019/9/16/20868789/creepy-melody-movies-catholic-chant-lion-king-shining - Kirk OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve Pardo This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve and Kirk met when they were both jazz saxophone students at the University of Miami; Steve currently lives and performs around the Nashville, TN area. He's a producer, composer, and does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped make music games like Rock Band and Dance Central. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/ -------------------- October 2019 Whole-Note Patrons Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann October 2019 Half-Note Patrons Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal | 16 Oct 2019 | 00:52:39 | |
There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say... especially if that man is named Kirk, and the thing he's telling you about is Seal's "Kiss From a Rose." Kirk goes back to the 90s for a close look at Seal's Grammy-winning, Batman-adjacent power ballad and finds a song that's much more interesting than he even remembered. It's an indulgent world of thick counterpoint, long phrases, harp flourishes, and oboe solos, with some of the richest vocal arranging this side of a chamber choir. Band/Artist: Seal Album: Seal II, 1994 and the Batman Forever soundtrack, 1995 Composed by: Seal Produced by: Trevor Horn Listen/Buy via Album.Link OUTRO SOLOIST: Sam Howard This episode's outro soloist is bassist Sam Howard. Sam lives in Nashville, TN, where he performs and tours with all kinds of artists, most recently hitting the road with the wonderful singer/guitar-shredder Molly Tuttle. Sam played all the way through the Strong Songs outro, so keep an ear out for his playing mixed under the horns on the way out. You can find out what Sam's up to at his website, https://samhowardmusic.com. -------------------- October 2019 Whole-Note Patrons Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann October 2019 Half-Note Patrons Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Fiddle Battles and Bad Sax | 02 Oct 2019 | 00:55:48 | |
Kirk opens the Strong Songs mailbag to tackle your questions about demonic fiddle playing, lousy sax solos, Led Zeppelin counting, fake-out intros, reverb, children's music, and more. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OTHER LINKS:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Rob Reich This episode's outro soloist is the wonderful bay area pianist/accordionist Rob Reich. Rob performs all over the place with a bunch of different groups, and is a total pleasure to see play. He's got a bunch of albums you can check out and contributes to an array of interesting projects (Live silent-film scores! Circus music!) and experiments. Find more at his website, http://www.robreich.com/. -------------------- OCTOBER 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS andrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann OCTOBER 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Secrets of a Great Band Director, with Janis Stockhouse | 25 Sep 2019 | 00:55:17 | |
In this Patreon-funded special episode, Kirk sits down with his former high school band director Janis Stockhouse to talk about her life as a music educator. Janis started teaching at North high school in Bloomington, Indiana, in the early 1980s. It was a time when "jazz education" as a concept was still a relatively new thing. She retired 38 years later, having grown the North band program into a well-known Midwest institution, winning countless awards at festivals around the world and regularly turning out graduates who would go on to become professional musicians, as well as many others who would simply have a lifelong love of music. On this episode she tells the story of starting out at North and developing the program, along with her thoughts on how to get students to practice, which composers she prefers for student groups, women in jazz, funding for the arts, and some good old-fashioned album recommendations. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: Janis's 2004 book Jazzwomen: Conversations With Twenty-One Musicians, which she co-wrote with Wayne Enstice - there are used copies on Amazon, and you should really track down a copy and read it The late great jazz legend David Baker, whose NYT obituary captured at least some of his legacy: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/arts/music/david-baker-who-helped-bring-jazz-studies-into-the-academy-dies-at-84.html MUSIC ON THIS EPISODE:
OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ CORD This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fellow Bloomington North graduate and fantastic trumpet player based in Portland. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets -------------------- SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONS andrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara Walsh SEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Think" by Aretha Franklin | 18 Sep 2019 | 00:50:50 | |
Let's go back, let's go back, let's go way on back to that time Aretha Franklin recorded one of her best songs. On this episode, Kirk dives into two different versions of Franklin's classic tune "Think." First it's the laid back groove and roomy mix of the 1968 original, then it's time to fast-forward 12 years for the juiced-up arrangement she recorded with the Blues Brothers band in 1980. It's a story of how different production techniques, arrangements, and tempos can lead to two very different—but equally excellent—versions of the same song. We've done Dancing Queen, we've covered the band Queen, so it feels like it's past time for the Queen of Soul. NOTE: This episode is best enjoyed along with four fried chickens and a Coke. Band/Artist: Aretha Franklin Albums: Aretha Now, 1968 and The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack, 1980 Composed by: Aretha Franklin and Teddy White Listen/Buy (Original) via Album.Link Listen/Buy (Blues Brothers) via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen Clark This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Galen Clark. Galen plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic; you can find playing regularly around Portland, Oregon and occasionally on tour. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net. -------------------- SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONS andrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara Walsh SEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Like a Prayer" by Madonna | 04 Sep 2019 | 00:44:50 | |
Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone... except for everyone listening to this episode, because we're traveling together through doubt and deliverance with Madonna's "Like a Prayer." Kirk takes a look at the high-contrast drama of the megastar's 1989 megahit, with its cathedral-like verses, bus-driving guitar rhythms, bouncy basslines, and perfectly placed Latin percussion flourishes. The music video got a lot of attention back in the day, but there's plenty in the song itself to celebrate, from Prince's mystery guitar to Madonna's vulnerable vocals to the joyful power of the Andraé Crouch Choir. Band/Artist: Madonna Album: Like a Prayer, 1989 Composed by: Madonna and Patrick Leonard Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve Pardo This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve and Kirk met when they were both jazz saxophone students at the University of Miami; Steve currently lives and performs around the Nashville, TN area. He's a producer, composer, and does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped make music games like Rock Band and Dance Central. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/ -------------------- SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONS andrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara Walsh SEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot - Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Pyramid Song, Nirvana & Marty McFly | 21 Aug 2019 | 00:49:18 | |
Kirk opens up the Strong Songs mailbag to answer your questions about Marty McFly's musical instructions, Ian Anderson's flute style, Kurt Cobain's guitar tone, how to count songs by P!nk and Radiohead, and what to do if you play an "unsexy" instrument. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
PYRAMID SONG COUNTING BREAKDOWN: Keyboard (eighth notes): [(3 3 4 3 3) + (3 3 4 3 3)] x 2 = 64 eighth notes, aka 32 beats Drums (quarter notes): [(3 2 3) + (3 2 3)] x 2 = 32 quarter notes, aka 32 beats Kirk also made this ludicrous infographic: https://twitter.com/kirkhamilton/status/1164239460604641280 ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: The Wikipedia entry for the Mere-Exposure Effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo No new outro soloist this episode - we're re-sharing a guitar solo by the fantastic Dan Nervo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/ -------------------- AUGUST 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Sara Walsh AUGUST 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Nick Clements - Ravy Vajravelu - Richard Toller - Shane DeLeon - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Strong TV Songs: Animated Edition | 07 Aug 2019 | 01:10:20 | |
It's time for something a little different, as Kirk takes a look at the theme songs from some of the most beloved animated TV shows of all time. This super-sized episode focuses on five different pieces of music, each of which is the theme for a different animated show. It's a ton of music in a variety of styles, full of frantic key shifts, earwormy melodies, bodacious drum fills, and a surprising number of saxophone solos. FEATURED SONGS, IN ORDER:
ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Rob Reich This episode's outro soloist is the fantastic bay area pianist/accordionist Rob Reich. Rob performs all over the place with a bunch of different groups, and is a total pleasure to see play. He's got a bunch of albums you can check out and contributes to an array of interesting projects (Live silent-film scores! Circus music!) and experiments. Find more at his website, http://www.robreich.com/. -------------------- AUGUST 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Sara Walsh AUGUST 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Nick Clements - Ravy Vajravelu - Richard Toller - Shane DeLeon - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead | 24 Jul 2019 | 00:55:11 | |
Brace for a pressurized descent, as Kirk braves the undercurrents of Radiohead's alt-rock masterpiece "Paranoid Android." It's a structurally distinct, sonically adventurous, harmonically varied, and unexpectedly Bohemian Rhapsodyesque journey into the human psyche as Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and the rest of their not-so-merry band plumb the depths of 90s alienation. Band/Artist: Radiohead Album: OK Computer, 1997 Composed by: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, Philip Selway Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
(This episode's audio was edited to correct some flanger/phaser confusion, thanks to listener Oblong Thong for sharing this cool catalogue of Greenwood's guitar effects: https://thekingofgear.com/jonny/effects) OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen Clark This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Galen Clark. Galen plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic; you can find playing regularly around Portland, Oregon and occasionally on tour. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net. -------------------- JULY 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Sara Walsh JULY 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Shane DeLeon - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden | 08 Mar 2024 | 00:56:37 | |
Turns out some songs stand on their own, however memorable-slash-horrifying their music video might have been. Written by: Chris Cornell Produced by: Michael Beinhorn Album: Superunknown (1994) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED:
-------------------- FEBRUARY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey FEBRUARY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Barracuda" by Heart | 10 Jul 2019 | 00:47:24 | |
It's time for the hardest rocking song ever written about sea life, as Kirk takes a deep dive into Heart's 1977 body-shaker "Barracuda." A deceptively complex song written around a deceptively straightforward riff, "Barracuda" opens the door for a discussion of the particulars of guitar tone, stompbox effects, the long history of the "galloping groove," why Ann Wilson's vocals rock as hard as they do, and a brief tribute to her sister Nancy's killer guitar chops. Band/Artist: Heart Album: Little Queen, 1977 Composed by: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Roger Fisher, Michael DeRosier Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo This episode's outro soloist is the fantastic Dan Nervo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/ -------------------- JULY 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Sara Walsh JULY 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang Jaehoon Jeong J- ames Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Mueller Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Shane DeLeon - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer A huge thank you to all of Strong Songs' patrons - your support makes it possible to make the show what it is! -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe | 26 Jun 2019 | 00:54:46 | |
Whether you're high or low, you got to tip on the tightrope... and Kirk's got to tip right into a Strong Songs analysis of "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe. It's time for some thump, some pop, and some sizzle, along with some clever rap phrasing, phrygian harmonies, surprise ukulele, and the funkiest horn section in Metropolis. Band/Artist: Janelle Monáe Album: The ArchAndroid, 2010 Composed by: Janelle Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Antwan “Big Boi” Patton Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ CORD This episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fantastic trumpet player based in Portland by way of Chicago. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets THE STRONG SONGS THEME! You can listen to a (basically) final mix of the Strong Songs Theme Song on Kirk's Soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/kirkhamilton/strong-songs-theme-song ----------- JUNE WHOLE-NOTE BACKERS: Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Sara Walsh HALF-NOTE BACKERS: Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Michael Blackwell - Shane DeLeon - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John | 12 Jun 2019 | 00:46:42 | |
Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote so many great songs over the years that it was impossible to pick a single one for Strong Songs. So, why not do two? Kirk dives into a pair of classics by the storied songwriting duo, talking about Elton's chameleon-like voice, his love of pedal tones and embrace of the circle of fourths, the fascinating relationship between lyricist and songwriter, and what it means for a song to sound "piano-y." Both songs by: Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin Album 1: Madman Across the Water, 1971 Listen/Buy via Album.Link Album 2: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973 Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
NEW THEME MUSIC! Strong Songs has a new theme song! It'll evolve a bit over the next few episodes as Kirk adds a couple more musicians to the mix, so that should be fun. Hope you dig it. --------------- WHOLE-NOTE BACKERS: Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Sara Walsh HALF-NOTE BACKERS: Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Michael Blackwell - Shane DeLeon - Tom Lauer -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Hamilton, Hozier, Multiphonics & Modes | 29 May 2019 | 00:58:11 | |
Mailbag May returns for round two, as Kirk continues catching up on listener questions. The Strong Songs mailbag continues to overflow. This week we've got some follow-ups on Hamilton as well as questions about Mariah's whistle register, vocal multiphonics, rhythmic misdirection, the lydian mode, and the differences between a sequencer, a sampler, and a synthesizer. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Tool, Game of Thrones & More Cowbell | 15 May 2019 | 00:42:29 | |
It's time for Mailbag May, a long-running (aka brand new) Strong Songs tradition where Kirk spends the month of May catching up on listener questions. The Strong Songs mailbag overfloweth, and Kirk's got enough material recorded for two Q&A episodes. For this first part, we've got questions about chords, Tool, fire extinguishers, perfect pitch, Avengers and Game of Thrones music, the popularity of the flute, earworms, drum solos, and the inherent humor of the cowbell. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Five Albums That Shaped Me | 08 May 2019 | 00:21:54 | |
Kirk gets his Patreon pitch out of the way up front, then lists five albums that have shaped him as a musician over the years, talking a little bit about why each one is great. There could've been like a hundred different albums on this episode, but hey, let's start with five. Those albums are: -- Frank Zappa, The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life, 1991 Listen/Buy via Album.Link -- The Cardigans, First Band on the Moon, 1996 Listen/Buy via Album.Link -- Stan Getz, Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio, 1958 Listen/Buy via Album.Link -- Spacehog, The Chinese Album, 1998 Listen/Buy via Album.Link -- Maria Schneider, Allégresse, 2000 Listen/Buy via Album.Link | Maria Schneider's Website
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Satisfied" from Hamilton | 01 May 2019 | 00:49:36 | |
A toast to the groom! To the bride! To knowing you'll always regret the sacrifice you made for your sister! Kirk takes an overdue dive into Lin-Manuel Miranda's epic Broadway musical Hamilton, focusing on Renée Elise Goldsberry's first act showstopper, "Satisfied." Regret tinges an otherwise joyous day as Angelica Schuyler remembers the night she met Alexander Hamilton, fell in love with him, and quickly realized they could never be together. It's a heady mix of complex rhyme schemes, powerhouse vocals, and musical character motifs so densely interwoven that it's hard to keep track of them all. (UPDATE 6/30/2020: This episode's audio file has been updated since it originally ran on May 1, 2019. It includes a new intro and outro, a couple of small editing tweaks, the show's current theme music, a new aside about Angelica's introduction to Alexander, and some added mentions of Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton's fabulous musical director.) Artist: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lin-Manuel Miranda Album: Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording), 2015 Composed by: Lin-Manuel Miranda Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: Tracks from The Hamilton Instrumentals, 2017
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| "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra | 17 Apr 2019 | 00:35:06 | |
Today's forecast calls for blue skies, and today's Strong Songs calls for an in-depth analysis of Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky." It's time to welcome all our pretty faces to the human race, thanks to ELO's most enduring concert-rock classic. Kirk goes for a sunny stroll on a beautiful musical day full of layered vocals, fire extinguisher drumming, time-tested chords, Les Paul solos, vocoders, and... unexpected saxophone interludes? Band/Artist: Electric Light Orchestra Album: Out Of The Blue, 1977 Composed by: Jeff Lynne Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Moanin'" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers | 03 Apr 2019 | 00:42:46 | |
Dust off your head charts and brush up your best licks, cause it's time to wade into the warm, welcoming waters of jazz. This episode's Strong Song is Bobby Timmons' gospel-tinged "Moanin'," from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' 1959 album of the same name. Kirk zooms out a bit more than usual to talk about jazz small-group arranging, how a great solo is constructed, how jazz song-form works, and how (hopefully) to have a better appreciation for what's going on on a given jazz recording, even if you don't play. He also talks about anime. Band/Artist: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Album: Moanin', 1959 (recorded in 1958) Composed by: Bobby Timmons Personnel: Lee Morgan, trumpet; Benny Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass; Art Blakey, drums Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| Syncopation, Subdivision & The Four Chords | 21 Mar 2019 | 00:45:25 | |
The Strong Songs mailbag is overflowing, so it's time to dive in and answer some listener questions. Kirk digs into creative subdivision, syncopated melodies, major 9th chords, famous drum fills, chiptunes, "bad" singing that's actually good, jazz chords, Indian drum languages, and how to be a better music listener. Update 12/23/2020: Kirk has traveled back in time to correct this episode's erroneous diagnosis of a strange sound on Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You." REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel | 23 Feb 2024 | 00:53:54 | |
Strong Songs Season Six kicks off with a widely requested classic: Peter Gabriel's 1986 yearner "In Your Eyes." Because why hire one rhythm section when you can hire two for twice the price? Written by: Peter Gabriel Produced by: Daniel Lanois Album: So (1986) Listen/Buy via Songwhip ALSO DISCUSSED:
-------------------- FEBRUARY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Robyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Dan Austin – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave Florey FEBRUARY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Christopher Bruno – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Sean Murphy – Thirteen71 – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Whit Sidener – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Meghan O’Leary – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Wen – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo -------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Let It Go" from Frozen | 06 Mar 2019 | 00:51:11 | |
What happens when you put a straight-up power ballad in the middle of a Disney movie? "Let it Go" happens, that's what. On this episode, Kirk climbs to the top of a snowy peak and summons all his magical powers to figure out why Elsa of Arendelle's self-coronation song rocks as hard as it does, and what it says about the evolution of Disney musical numbers over the past 30 years. Band/Artist: Idina Menzel Album: Frozen Original Soundtrack, 2013 Composed by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen | 20 Feb 2019 | 00:49:50 | |
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Well, either way, this is definitely an episode of Strong Songs about Queen's genre-blending rock saga "Bohemian Rhapsody." Kirk dives into Freddie Mercury's operatic opus and learns a lot about vocal technique, piano motifs, harmonic easter eggs, studio production, Strategic Brian May Deployment™, and all the ways doubling a track can make your voice sound cool in the studio. Band/Artist: Queen Album: A Night At The Opera, 1975 Composed by: Freddie Mercury Produced by: Roy Thomas Baker Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
-------------------- 💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺 ----LINKS----- 💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! 🏠 HOMEPAGE 👚 MERCH 📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA: 🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG: 🎨 SHOW ART: | |||
| "Dancing Queen" by ABBA | 06 Feb 2019 | 00:38:07 | |
It's time to get lost in the bittersweet beats of ABBA's 1976 hit "Dancing Queen." On this longer-than-usual episode, Kirk tries to tease out some of the things that make this song so iconic and enduring, from its lush arrangement to its clever harmonies, repeating melodic motifs, and maximalist audio production. Band/Artist: ABBA Album:Arrival, 1976 Composed by: Benny Anderson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson Produced by: Stig Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus Listen/Buy via Album.Link
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| The Beatles, Brubeck, Bond and Beyond | 23 Jan 2019 | 00:48:46 | |
It's time for an extra-long episode as Kirk answers your questions about Phil Collins drum solos, musical Wilhelm screams, odd time signatures, Beatles instrumentation, drop-tuned guitars, Bond music, and much more. REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
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| "Thriller" by Michael Jackson | 09 Jan 2019 | 00:29:34 | |
Darkness falls across the land, and it's the right time for Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Kirk picks apart Rod Temperton's dance floor classic in all its groovy, corny, sound effect-y glory. Band/Artist: Michael Jackson Album: Thriller, 1982 Composed by: Rod Temperton Produced by: Quincy Jones Listen/Buy via Album.Link ------ A NOTE FROM KIRK: It’s been a couple months since I produced this episode, and just a few days since I watched the first part of “Leaving Neverland,” a devastating new HBO documentary in which two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, detail their alleged childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Michael Jackson. It’s an intense and difficult documentary to watch, but I recommend that everyone listening to this episode do so. Jackson’s estate denies it all, but watching people on camera relaying such painful memories, in such excruciating detail, is both wrenching and convincing. It’s impossible to separate an amazing song like “Thriller” from the man who sang it. I still think Thriller is a great song and admire the many people involved in making it, but hearing Robson and Safechuck’s accounts, on top of the similar stories I and the culture at large brushed aside or shrugged our shoulders at when they first surfaced many years ago, has certainly changed the way I hear Jackson’s voice. I’m leaving this episode as is, but I wanted to add this note, as well as to link to this New York Times editorial on Jackson’s legacy by Wesley Morris, which says so much, so well. ~KH 3/6/2019
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