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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

01:03:54

"Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/12/13

Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan.It was never a question whether Strong Songs would do a Steely Dan episode, it was more a question of which song to focus on. In the end, Kirk chose "Babylon Sisters," a culmination of the band's incredible 1970s run that exemplifies Fagen and Becker's brand of pristine, laser-focused groove. It's also arguably the definitive recording of Bernard Purdie's signature Purdie Shuffle.Written by: Walter

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01:00:48

"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/11/29

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

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00:51:03

"Barracuda" by Heart [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/11/15

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: HeartAlbum: Little Queen,

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00:58:02

"Space Oddity" and "Starman" by David Bowie [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/11/01

Let the children lose it, let the children use it, and let all the children join in for Strong Songs!Kirk tackles a pair of classics by the great David Bowie: 1969's melancholy "Space Oddity" and 1972's triumphant "Starman." What goes up, as they say, must come down.Written by: David BowieAlbums: David Bowie (1969), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)Listen/Buy Bowie: Apple Music | Amazon | SpotifyListen/Buy Ziggy: Apple Music | Amazon | SpotifyALSO FEATURED:Audio of

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00:59:33

"Think" by Aretha Franklin [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/10/18

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

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01:19:12

Rediscovering Stevie Wonder, with Wesley Morris and...

Strong Songs ·

2024/10/04

Kirk talks with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn about the endless world of Stevie Wonder. Morris and Gwynn are host and producer, respectively, of the brilliant new six-part podcast series The Wonder of Stevie.Check out Josh Gwynn's terrific pop culture podcast Back Issue, Wesley Morris's culture podcast Still Processing, and Morris' essential writing on Aretha Franklin, Jam & Lewis, Meshell Ndegeocello, and his mustache, as well as his 2019 essay about Black American Music.REFERENCED ON THIS

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01:02:02

Stevie Wonder: Music of My Mind [The Wonder of Stevie]

Strong Songs ·

2024/09/27

A cross-post of the first episode of "The Wonder of Stevie," a new six-part podcast series from Higher Ground and Pineapple Street Studios. It's a great show - find it on Apple, Amazon, Spotify... it's a podcast, you know the deal.Next week, we'll run a conversation between Kirk, host Wesley Morris, and producer Josh Gwynn all about what they learned making the show, and how they've come to think about Stevie and his music. In the meantime, check out some of Wesley Morris's writing on Aretha

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01:01:08

"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/09/20

Ba de ya! Say that you remember! Ba de ya! Dancing in September! Ba de yah! Musical analysiiiis!It's finally time for Strong Songs to take on one of the strongest bands of all, the great Earth, Wind & Fire. In honor of September 21, Kirk does a deep dive on EWF's timeless tribute to the end of summertime - those layered grooves, those funky bass parts, and those glossy, effortless vocals.Written by: Maurice White, Al McKay & Alee WillisProduced by: Maurice WhiteAlbum: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire

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01:08:33

Behind the Scenes of Strong Songs [Gig Gab]

Strong Songs ·

2024/09/13

Back in August, Kirk went on Dave Hamilton's music podcast "Gig Gab" to talk about music, Strong Songs, podcasting, and life. It was a fun conversation, and seemed worth republishing here.You can find the full show notes here, watch a video version here, and can check out Gig Gab at giggabpodcast.com or anywhere you get podcasts.

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01:00:18

"Cameo Lover" by Kimbra [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/09/06

Open up your heart! Open up your heart! Open up your heart, let Kimbra pull you out!On this episode, Kirk goes for a swim in the extra-buoyant waters of Kimbra's 2011 pop stomper "Cameo Lover." It's an intricate musical narrative told through shifting time-feels, retro drum beats, leaping vocals, and sneaky key changes, and it's just the song to raise our spirits after a long, dark winter.Written by: Kimbra JohnsonAlbum: Vows (2011)Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | SpotifyALSO

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00:59:57

"Love Will Never Do (Without You)" by Janet Jackson...

Strong Songs ·

2024/08/23

They said it couldn't last, so we had to prove them wrong... by making an episode of Strong Songs all about Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis.It's time to go back to the late 80s, when New Jack Swing was all the rage and a budding superstar named Janet sat down with a pair of Minneapolis producers named Jimmy and Terry to produce some of the most groundbreaking pop music of the decade. This episode takes a look at "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," one of the most complex of their

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00:59:54

"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel...

Strong Songs ·

2024/08/09

A bottle of red... a bottle of white... whatever kind of mood you're in, we're talking Billy Joel tonight!Pull up a table and join Kirk for a long look into one of Joel's most enduring songs, the seven-and-a-half minute, five course musical meal that is "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." The centerpiece on Joel's breakthrough 1977 album The Stranger, Italian Restaurant has got it all: schmaltzy sax, hard rock rhythms, love, heartbreak, and a pair of harmonized clarinets. Written by: Billy

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01:03:32

"You've Got a Friend" by Carole King [Recast]

Strong Songs ·

2024/07/26

Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.This episode takes a deep dive into Carole King's ever enduring, much-covered tribute to friendship, "You've Got a Friend." What starts in Laurel Canyon in the early 70s spread outward to the world, thanks to King's revolutionary 1971 album Tapestry. 50 years later, those songs are still with us, and "You've Got a

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00:30:48

Post-Season Update, Summer Plans, & Some Music Recs

Strong Songs ·

2024/07/12

An update on what's next now that Season Six is complete, along with some book and music recommendations!BOOK RECOMMENDATIONSThe History of Jazz by Ted Gioia, 3rd edition - 1997, revised 2021Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus, 2012MUSIC RECOMMENDATION LINKSSteve Pardo - DOS - (also in Video Game form on Steam)Completions - I Needed HelpRuth Moody - WandererThe Onesies - The Onesies Dig With the Wrong FootSheena Ringo - HiizurutokoroAdi Oasis - Lotus GlowSt

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01:00:17

"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen

Strong Songs ·

2024/06/28

In the season six finale, Kirk takes a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen's signature song, 1975's "Born to Run." It's all here: tremolo guitar riffs, glockenspiel arpeggios, endless sus chords, and a sax solo for the ages. Baby, we were born for it.Written by: Bruce SpringsteenProduced by: Springsteen, John Landau, and Mike AppelAlbum: Born to Run, 1975Listen/Buy via LynkifyALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" and "Thunder Road" from Born to Run, 1975Born to Run live at Madison Square

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01:04:55

Summer Synths, Fluteception, and "The Diablo Chord"

Strong Songs ·

2024/06/14

As Season Six draws to a close, Kirk opens up the Strong Songs mailbag to answer a bunch of listener questions on topics ranging from Diablo's use of lydian to what he means when he talks about "transcribing."REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Tristram" by Matt Uelman from Diablo, 1997"Blast Inc. (feat. Jorgen Munkeby)" by Haunted Shores from Viscera, 2015"One Down, One Up" by John Coltrane from New Thing at Newport, 1965"Heart of Glass" by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein as recorded by Miley Cyrus in 2020"Respect"

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00:57:00

"Easter Theatre" by XTC

Strong Songs ·

2024/05/31

Stage left! It's time for Strong Songs to talk about XTC. Stage right! Now the song is picked, analysis can begin. Stand up! If we listen close, we'll hear some lovely notes...On this episode, Kirk takes the stage alongside "Easter Theatre," the first single off of XTC's 1999 experimental symphono-pop album Apple Venus: Vol. 1. Bring on the bassoons and power up the mellotron; we've got some shapes to stack.Written by: Andy PartridgeProduced by: Haydn Bendall & Nick DaviesAlbum: Apple Venus Vol. 1,

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00:59:10

"Limb by Limb" by Phish

Strong Songs ·

2024/05/17

Phish may be known for their 30-minute live jams, but turns out you can distill their best qualities into a song one-tenth that length. To that end, Kirk picks apart and reassembles their 1998 studio recording of "Limb By Limb" in all its polyrhythmic, guitarpeggiated glory.Music by: Trey Anastasio, with Page McConnell, Mike Gordon & Jon FishmanLyrics by: Tom Marshall & Scott HermanAlbum: The Story of the Ghost (1998)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"You Enjoy Myself" by Trey

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00:56:03

"Heart of Glass" by Blondie

Strong Songs ·

2024/05/03

You came, you saw, you voted, and you picked Blondie as Strong Songs' first listener-selected artist! After weighing a number of possible songs to focus on, Kirk decided to go with the 1978 hit that took them from the punk clubs of New York to dance floors around the world.Wanna pick an artist for Season Seven? Go join the Patreon!Written by: Deborah Harry and Chris SteinProduced by: Mike ChapmanAlbum: Parallel Lines (1978)Listen/Buy via SongwhipSpecial Guests: Katelyn and Laurie Shook, a.k.a. Shook

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00:57:34

"The Way" by Meshell Ndegeocello

Strong Songs ·

2024/04/19

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 NdegeocelloAlbum: Peace Beyond Passion (1996)Special Guest: Sam HowardListen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED:"The

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