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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

00:57:18

Strong Covers, Vol. 3

Strong Songs ·

2024/04/05

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 PartonAlbums: Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding, 1967 — Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland, 1968Dolly Parton: Jolene, 1973 — White Stripes: Live Under Blackpool Lights, 2004Listen/Buy: Watchtower Original | Cover — Jolene Original | CoverALSO

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00:56:22

"Águas de Março (The Waters of March)" by Antônio...

Strong Songs ·

2024/03/22

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 JobimPerformed by: Jobim and Elis ReginaAlbum: Elis & Tom (1974)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED:"The Girl From Ipamena" and "Desefinado" by Tom Jobim from Getz/Gilberto,

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00:56:37

"Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden

Strong Songs ·

2024/03/08

Turns out some songs stand on their own, however memorable-slash-horrifying their music video might have been.Written by: Chris CornellProduced by: Michael BeinhornAlbum: Superunknown (1994)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED:"Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live" by Chris Cornell and Soundgarden from Superunknown, 1994Kim Thayil interview at SongfactsNorah Jones' cover of "Black Hole Sun," Live in 2021"In My Life" by Lennon/McCartney from Rubber Soul, 1965The 2021 Strong Songs interview with

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00:53:54

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel

Strong Songs ·

2024/02/23

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 GabrielProduced by: Daniel LanoisAlbum: So (1986)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED:Rick Beato's Interview with So producer Daniel Lanois"DIY" by Peter Gabriel from Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch, 1978"Sledgehammer," "Don't Give Up," and "Big Time" by Gabriel from So, 1986Kwame Ansah-Brew

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00:27:49

Some Bonus Beatles Covers

Strong Songs ·

2024/02/09

On this bonus episode from May 2022, Kirk goes through a handful of other covers of the three Beatles songs he recently discussed on the show."Gotta Get You Into My Life" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1966) and Blood, Sweat & Tears (1975)"Eleanor Rigby" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Aretha Franklin (1968), Cody Fry (2021), Joshua Bell and Frankie Moreno (2009) and Zoot (1970)"Blackbird" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as

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00:05:03

Season Six Announcement!

Strong Songs ·

2024/02/02

Kirk shares some details about the upcoming season of Strong Songs, which kicks off on February 9 in early access, and on February 23 in the main feed.SUPPORT STRONG SONGS:Beome a patron: Patreon.com/StrongsongsMake a one-time donation: Paypal

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00:22:53

The Genius of Sonny Rollins (and Max Roach)

Strong Songs ·

2024/01/26

(Originally recorded in May 2022) There's always more to say about Sonny Rollins, so Kirk shares a few of his other favorite Sonny moments, along with some additional love for Max Roach's drumming on Saxophone Colossus.REFERENCED:"St. Thomas" and "Blue 7" by Sonny Rollins from Saxophone Colossus, 1956"St. Thomas" as performed by Joshua Redman on Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1992"Four" by Miles Davis performed by Sonny Rollins on A Night at the Village Vanguard, 1957"Without a

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00:19:34

Weird Al For Nothin' And Your Jokes For Free

Strong Songs ·

2024/01/12

Weird Al has been writing songs and recording parodies for four decades, and his musical footprint is unfathomably wide. In this minisode, originally released in October 2022, Kirk gets into a few things he didn't have room for in the main feed episode about "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota."FEATURED/DISCUSSED:"Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies" by Yankovic, a parody of "Money for Nothing" by Mark Knopfler & Definitely Sting from Brothers in Arms, 1985A really interesting Sound on Sound

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00:22:09

How Clyde Stubblefield Evolved Funk Drumming

Strong Songs ·

2023/12/29

Recorded in August 2022 as an addendum to the main feed episode "Strong Grooves, Volume 1," special guest Russ Kleiner takes Kirk through the evolution of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield's playing from 1967 to 1970.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:"Cold Sweat" (1967), "I Got The Feelin'" (1968), "Mother Popcorn" (1969), "Funky Drummer" (1970), all feat. Clyde Stubblefield on drums.SPECIAL GUEST: Russ KleinerRuss is one of Kirk's oldest friends, a drummer and percussionist who currently lives, teaches, and

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01:05:39

The Band: The Last Waltz

Strong Songs ·

2023/12/15

For the Season Five finale, Kirk takes a look at The Band and Martin Scorsese's beloved 1978 concert film The Last Waltz - "The beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning."Featuring music by The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth HudsonDirected by: Martin ScorseseAlbum: The Last Waltz (1978)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:"The Weight" by Robbie Robertson as covered by The Staple Singers and Aretha FranklinStudio versions of several

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00:59:03

Phish, Evanescence, and a Taylor Swift Dispute

Strong Songs ·

2023/12/01

It's time for another mailbag episode, as Kirk takes on questions about Evanescence piano, Kelis bells, and counting in songs by Phish, Vessels, Ten Years After, and Kishi Bashi. All that, and a friendly dispute about a Taylor Swift song."Milkshake" by Neptunes/Kelis from Tasty, 2003"Going Under" by Evanescence from Fallen, 2003Joe Lovono plays the AulochromePat Metheney plays the Pikasso 42-string GuitarMatt Glassmeyer and Jano Rix demonstrate the ShuitarFuture Man plays Synth Axe Drumitar live

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01:04:03

Strong Solos, Vol. 2: Electric Guitar-aloo

Strong Songs ·

2023/11/17

The electric guitar is a beautiful, maddening instrument, and man does it sound good in the right hands. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into solos by guitar legends Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, and Larry Carlton.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:"Seven Come Eleven" by Charlie Christian and Benny Goodman, recorded by the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1939"Fried Pies" by Wes Montgomery from Boss Guitar, 1963"Hey Joe" by Billy Roberts recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on Are You

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01:03:16

The Music of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Strong Songs ·

2023/11/03

Kirk wasn't expecting to make a full-length episode about the music of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but then he played the game. And here we are.Picking up on 2022's deep-dive in the music of the Zelda series, this episode takes a deep dive into the score of the new game, covering the many ways it builds on the past and charts a new musical future.SPOILERS: The first 40 minutes of the episode feature some discussion of the events of Tears of the Kingdom, but no major story spoilers. At

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00:24:44

A Little Extra Zelda

Strong Songs ·

2023/10/27

On this bonus episode, originally recorded as a Patreon bonus in 2022, Kirk goes through a few great Legend of Zelda pieces that he didn't manage to get into on last year's Zelda-focused Strong Songs episode. If you want to hear next week's new episode on Tears of the Kingdom early, go become a patron now!FEATURED:"Tears of the Kingdom Theme" from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, comp. Manaka Kataoka, Maasa Miyoshi, Masato Ohashi, Tsukasa Usui"Song of Storms," "Dark World/Lorule Theme,"

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00:21:45

Belle & Sebastian's Very Good Chord Progression

Strong Songs ·

2023/10/20

Kirk takes a tour through the cycling, modulating chord sequence in Belle & Sebastian's buoyant 2017 song "The Girl Doesn't Get It."Variation 1: | C | Dm7 | Bb | Gm FVariation 2: | C | D | Bm | Esus EVariation 3: | A | Bm | A/C# | Esus EFEATURED/DISCUSSED:"The Girl Doesn't Get It" by Belle & Sebastian from How To Solve Our Human Problems, Vol. 1, 2017"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton performed by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard soundtrack, 1992----LINKS-----SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Paypal |

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00:34:45

The Four Electric Guitars

Strong Songs ·

2023/10/06

There are so many electric guitars. Truly, there is a guitar for every mood, every season, and every feeling. But there are four types of electric guitar that are a bit more widely used than other ones. On this formely-bonus-now-main-feed episode, Kirk discusses those four guitars—the Fender Stratocaster, the Telecaster, the Gibson Les Paul, and the 335—and goes through some of the Strong Songs that have featured them.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:“Spanish Castle Magic" and "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix from

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02:26:27

John Williams' Star Wars Legacy, with Dan Golding

Strong Songs ·

2023/09/22

Composer John Williams is the defining sound of Hollywood and, arguably, the most widely listened to composer in the world. Kirk decided he needed some help tackling Williams' towering musical legacy, so he enlisted Australian author and musician Dan Golding as his tour guide through Williams' musical world, with a special focus on his groundbreaking score for 1980's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.REFERENCED ON THIS EPISODE:Dan's book Star Wars After Lucas, his ABC radio show Screen Sounds and

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00:54:42

Counterpoint, Chaka Kahn, & Peter Gabriel

Strong Songs ·

2023/09/08

Kirk answers your questions on 60s pop counterpoint, Chaka Kahn syncopation, Taylor Swift's re-recording project, good practice habits, Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," and more.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:"You've Got Your Troubles" by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cool, recorded by The FortunesContrapunctus 1 by J.S. Bach recorded by the Emerson String Quartet on Bach: The Art of Fugue, 2003T.I.B.W.F. by The Budos Band, from The Budos Band, 2005"Dying to Get To Europe" by Ketil Bjornstad from Seafarer's Song,

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00:49:44

"Soul Vaccination" by Tower of Power

Strong Songs ·

2023/08/25

Kirk climbs inside the machine-gun rhythms and unstoppable grooves of the legendary Oakland funk outfit Tower of Power.Written by: Doc Kupka and Emilio CastilloAlbum: Tower of Power (1973)Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO DISCUSSED:"What is Hip?" "Squib Cakes" "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)," "So Very Hard to Go," "Credit," all by Tower of Power"Saturday Night Live" theme by Howard Shore, feat. Lenny Pickett"Cold Sweat," "I Got the Feelin'," "Mother

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00:59:57

"Killing Me Softly With His Song," as sung by Lauryn...

Strong Songs ·

2023/08/11

It's not uncommon for a song to be written for one artist, only to become widely known after being recorded by another. It's less common for a song to have yet another rebirth decades later. That's just what happened with "Killing Me Softly with His Song." Originally inspired by Lori Lieberman's profound experience at a 1971 Don McLean concert, Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox's song underwent two dramatic reinventions, first by soul titan Roberta Flack in 1973, and then by Lauryn Hill and her band

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