Strong Songs

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.

FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE:

• "Me, Myself, I" by Joan Armatrading from Joan Armatrading, 1980
• “Blockhead” by Devo from Dusty Now for the Future, 1979
• “Funky Sea, Funky Dew” by Michael and Randy Brecker from Heavy Metal Be-Bop, 1978
• “We Built This City” by Starship from Knee Deep in the Hoopla, 1985
• “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, 1978
• “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC from The Razors Edge, 1990
• “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2 from The Joshua Tree, 1987
• “Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe from Dirty Computer, 2018
• “Wheel In The Sky” by Journey from Infinity, 1978
• “Last Train Home” by Pat Metheney from Still Life (Talking), 1987
• “Graceland” by Paul Simon from Graceland, 1086
• “Cissy Strut” by The Meters from The Meters, 1960
• “In Case You Don’t Live Forever” by Ben Platt from Sing To Me Instead, 2019
• “Joy Spring” by Clifford Brown from Clifford Brown & Max Roach, 1954
• “Ghost Catching” and “Professor Elvin Gadd” by Chad York and Darren Radtke from Luigi’s Mansion 3, 2019
• Reference to Ezra Klein's recent podcast episode about "Social Solidarity"
• Reference to the incredible Reply/All episode "The Case of the Missing Hit"

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.

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

'GRAM BY 'GRAM

If you're interested in occasional music and Portland-related photos and videos, as well as listening recommendations and teases for upcoming Strong Songs episodes, follow Kirk on Instagram @kirk_hamilton. https://www.instagram.com/kirk_hamilton/

NEWSLETTER/MAILING LIST

Sign up for Kirk's mailing list to start getting monthly-ish newsletters with music recommendations, links, news, and extra thoughts on new Strong Songs episodes: https://tinyletter.com/KirkHamilton

STRONG PLAYLISTS

You can find playlists containing every Strong Song as well as all of Kirk's weekly music picks from his other podcast, Kotaku Splitscreen, on both Spotify and Apple Music.

You can also find a new playlist Kirk specifically designed for listening while staying home and not spreading viruses on Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play (thanks Thomas for making that last one)

SUPPORT STRONG SONGS ON PATREON!

Thank you to all of Strong Songs's Patreon patrons; you rule. If you want to support Kirk making this show, do so here: https://Patreon.com/StrongSongs

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
FlSHBONES
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