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.
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Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 2 days 10 hours 28 minutes
"World 1-1" from Super Mario Bros.
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...
"Satisfied" from Hamilton (Updated!)
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...
"Kiss" by Prince
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...
Q&A: Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes and Transposing Horns
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...
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens
D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again. D, A, C, G. All that you need to make a great song. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago," the centerpiece of his brilliant 2005 album...
The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor
On this Patreon-funded bonus episode, Kirk is joined by Dallas Taylor, sound designer and host of the fabulous sound-focused podcast . The two of them talk about what makes a great recording, the ineffable energy of live music, the history of the...
"Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox
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...
"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley
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...
Q&A: Devo, AC/DC, and a Mystery Solved
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...
"So What" by Miles Davis
On this episode, Kirk dives in to one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time. (For real this 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...