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PODCAST

Strong Songs

Music: it"s good. On each episode of Strong Songs, host Kirk Hamilton takes listeners inside a piece of music, breaking it down and figuring out what makes it work.

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:59:31

Muppet Whistles, Throat Singing & Steely Dan

Strong Songs ·

2020/08/05

Mailbag! Episode! We've got questions about Tuvan throat singing (how does it work??), the Unsolved Mysteries theme (why is it so creepy??), the intro to Don McLean's "American "Pie" (how do they count it??), Steely Dan (why do some people hate them??), Andrew Bird's whistling solo from 2011's The Muppets (how did he do that??), Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" (what key is it in??), and more. DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE: “Unsolved Mysteries Theme” composed by Gary Malkin and Michael Boyd

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00:55:25

"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age

Strong Songs ·

2020/07/22

It's time for a journey of the mind, as Kirk picks apart one of the best hard rock tunes of the early 2000s. Queens of the Stone Age's "Songs for the Deaf" includes enough bangers that it was tough to pick a single song to focus on, but in the end, "No One Knows" won the day with its combination of grit, groove, and focus. On this episode, Kirk dives deep into the tune's tightly wound, surprisingly swinging arrangement, with special focus on Dave Grohl's meticulous drumming. Artist: Queens of the

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00:31:55

"4'33" by John Cage (Twenty Thousand Hertz)

Strong Songs ·

2020/07/15

It seemed pretty unlikely that Strong Songs would ever cover John Cage's infamous "silent" composition "4'33", so we figured, on this off-week, it'd be fun to run an episode of the fabulous podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz on the subject instead. (Also, Kirk and 20KHz host Dallas Taylor like one another's shows and decided to do a little cross promotion.) This episode originally ran on January 22, 2020, and the full show notes and credits are below. You can find out more about Twenty Thousand Hertz at

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00:59:16

"World 1-1" from Super Mario Bros.

Strong Songs ·

2020/07/08

Classic video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System didn't just play games; they also played music. Their onboard synthesizers put strict limits on what kinds of music game composers could write, but from those limits came a cornucopia of musical themes that remain iconic even today. On this episode, Kirk peels back the layers of Koji Kondo's "World 1-1" music from the first Super Mario Bros., revealing a perfectly polished musical gem. Level: World 1-1 Game: Super Mario Bros. (1985)

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00:49:36

"Satisfied" from Hamilton (Updated!)

Strong Songs ·

2020/07/01

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

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00:56:47

"Kiss" by Prince

Strong Songs ·

2020/06/24

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

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01:00:47

Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes & Transposing Horns

Strong Songs ·

2020/06/10

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." DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC from The Razors Edge, 1990 “Roll” by Fatai from Undone - EP, 2015 “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin from Count Three & Pray, 1986 “We Will Rock You” by Queen from News Of The World,

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00:57:10

"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens

Strong Songs ·

2020/05/27

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: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ------

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01:10:02

The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor

Strong Songs ·

2020/05/20

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:Episodes of

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00:59:07

"Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox

Strong Songs ·

2020/05/13

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: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ------ ALSO FEATURED: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by

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00:59:02

"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley

Strong Songs ·

2020/04/29

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: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ------ ALSO

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01:04:43

Devo, AC/DC, and a Mystery Solved

Strong Songs ·

2020/04/15

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

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00:59:38

"So What" by Miles Davis

Strong Songs ·

2020/04/01

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 DavisAlbum: Kind of Blue (1959)Written by: Miles DavisListen/Buy: Apple Music |

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00:10:30

April Makes Fools of Us All

Strong Songs ·

2020/04/01

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

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00:56:12

"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

Strong Songs ·

2020/03/18

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

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00:10:56

A Playlist For Trying Times

Strong Songs ·

2020/03/13

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:

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00:55:15

"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone

Strong Songs ·

2020/03/04

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

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00:57:24

Muse, Mars, and a Mystery

Strong Songs ·

2020/02/19

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

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00:16:29

"Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" from The Witcher

Strong Songs ·

2020/02/10

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,

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01:00:12

"Tom Sawyer" by Rush

Strong Songs ·

2020/02/05

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

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194 results

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