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

Feb 19, 2020 · 57 min
Muse, Mars, and a Mystery
It's time for the first Strong Songs listener Q&A of 2020, so let's get into it!
Feb 10, 2020 · 16 min
"Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" from The Witcher
What's that you say? You'd like a bonus mini-episode all about the cheeseball fantasy earworm "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher"? Well, Kirk is happy to oblige.
Feb 5, 2020 · 1 hr
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush
A modern day warrior's mean, mean stride; today's Strong Song has mean, mean pride!
Jan 29, 2020 · 54 min
Rhythm + Harmony = Music
Kirk breaks down the two most fundamental aspects of music: rhythm and harmony.
Jan 22, 2020 · 49 min
"Lovefool" by The Cardigans
You don't have to cry, pray, or beg - Kirk is happy to break down one of the 90s' most iconic pop hits without any further encouragement.
Jan 8, 2020 · 57 min
"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
Do you hear a faint.... bustling? It's coming from your hedgerow. It's not just a spring clean for the May queen... it's a new episode of Strong Songs, straight from the Internet to your eardrums!
Nov 27, 2019 · 50 min
Year One, In Review
Strong Songs is one year old! In honor of that anniversary, Kirk takes a look back on the year that was, sharing musical highlights from each of the show's 20 single-song episodes.
Nov 13, 2019 · 58 min
"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton
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.
Oct 30, 2019 · 50 min
"Making Christmas" from The Nightmare Before Christmas
When the full moon starts to climb, we'll all sing out... it's time to talk about the best stop-motion animated Halloween/Christmas movie musical ever made! Hee hee hee hee heeee!
Oct 16, 2019 · 52 min
"Kiss From a Rose" by Seal
There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say... especially if that man is named Kirk, and the thing he's telling you about is Seal's "Kiss From a Rose."
Oct 2, 2019 · 55 min
Fiddle Battles and Bad Sax
Kirk opens the Strong Songs mailbag to tackle your questions about demonic fiddle playing, lousy sax solos, Led Zeppelin counting, fake-out intros, reverb, children's music, and more.
Sep 25, 2019 · 55 min
Secrets of a Great Band Director, with Janis Stockhouse
In this Patreon-funded special episode, Kirk sits down with his former high school band director Janis Stockhouse to talk about her life as a music educator.
Sep 18, 2019 · 50 min
"Think" by Aretha Franklin
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.
Sep 4, 2019 · 44 min
"Like a Prayer" by Madonna
Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone... except for everyone listening to this episode, because we're traveling together through doubt and deliverance with Madonna's "Like a Prayer."
Aug 21, 2019 · 49 min
Pyramid Song, Nirvana & Marty McFly
Kirk opens up the Strong Songs mailbag to answer your questions about Marty McFly's musical instructions, Ian Anderson's flute style, Kurt Cobain's guitar tone, how to count songs by P!nk and Radiohead, and what to do if you play an "unsexy" instrument.
Aug 7, 2019 · 1 hr 10 min
Strong TV Songs: Animated Edition
It's time for something a little different, as Kirk takes a look at the theme songs from some of the most beloved animated TV shows of all time.
Jul 24, 2019 · 55 min
"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead
Brace for a pressurized descent, as Kirk braves the undercurrents of Radiohead's alt-rock masterpiece "Paranoid Android."
Jul 10, 2019 · 47 min
"Barracuda" by Heart
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."
Jun 26, 2019 · 54 min
"Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe
Whether you're high or low, you got to tip on the tightrope... and Kirk's got to tip right into a Strong Songs analysis of "Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe.
Jun 12, 2019 · 46 min
"Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John
Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote so many great songs over the years that it was impossible to pick a single one for Strong Songs. So, why not do two?

Strong Songs

Muse, Mars, and a Mystery

"Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" from The Witcher

"Tom Sawyer" by Rush

Rhythm + Harmony = Music

"Lovefool" by The Cardigans

"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin

Year One, In Review

"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton

"Making Christmas" from The Nightmare Before Christmas

"Kiss From a Rose" by Seal

Fiddle Battles and Bad Sax

Secrets of a Great Band Director, with Janis Stockhouse

"Think" by Aretha Franklin

"Like a Prayer" by Madonna

Pyramid Song, Nirvana & Marty McFly

Strong TV Songs: Animated Edition

"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead

"Barracuda" by Heart

"Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe

"Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John