Strong Songs

Kirk Hamilton

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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177 episodes
Updated July 17

Episodes177

Newest first

Sep 16, 2020 · 54 min
Good Synths, Bad Acoustics & Moana
Mailbag episode! Kirk tackles your questions on subjects ranging from a Warren Zevon piano part, to the unfortunate prevalence of bad acoustics at live shows, to why Moana is such a good movie.
Sep 2, 2020 · 58 min
"The Chain" and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac
Thunder only happens when it's raining, and Strong Songs only crams two songs into an episode when it's super warranted.
Aug 19, 2020 · 58 min
"Wedding Song" from Hadestown
Who's gonna lay the wedding table? Who's gonna make the wedding bed? And what about the rings? Funny you should ask.
Aug 5, 2020 · 59 min
Muppet Whistles, Throat Singing & Steely Dan
Mailbag! Episode!
Jul 22, 2020 · 55 min
"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age
It's time for a journey of the mind, as Kirk picks apart one of the best hard rock tunes of the early 2000s.
Jul 15, 2020 · 31 min
"4'33" by John Cage (Twenty Thousand Hertz)
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.
Jul 8, 2020 · 59 min
"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.
Jul 1, 2020 · 49 min
"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!
Jun 24, 2020 · 56 min
"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.
Jun 10, 2020 · 1 hr
Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes & 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 Does is Magic."
May 27, 2020 · 57 min
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens
D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again.
May 20, 2020 · 1 hr 10 min
The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor
Kirk is joined by Dallas Taylor, sound designer and host of the fabulous sound-focused podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz.
May 13, 2020 · 59 min
"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.
Apr 29, 2020 · 59 min
"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.
Apr 15, 2020 · 1 hr 4 min
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.
Apr 1, 2020 · 59 min
"So What" by Miles Davis
On this episode, Kirk dives in to one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time.
Apr 1, 2020 · 10 min
April Makes Fools of Us All
On this episode... a prank.
Mar 18, 2020 · 56 min
"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
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."
Mar 13, 2020 · 10 min
A Playlist For Trying Times
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.
Mar 4, 2020 · 55 min
"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone
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.

Strong Songs

Good Synths, Bad Acoustics & Moana

"The Chain" and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac

"Wedding Song" from Hadestown

Muppet Whistles, Throat Singing & Steely Dan

"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age

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

"World 1-1" from Super Mario Bros.

"Satisfied" from Hamilton (Updated!)

"Kiss" by Prince

Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes & Transposing Horns

"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens

The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor

"Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox

"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley

Devo, AC/DC, and a Mystery Solved

"So What" by Miles Davis

April Makes Fools of Us All

"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

A Playlist For Trying Times

"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone