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.
Clave, Chorus & "Careless Whisper"
Well, look at that - it's a mailbag episode! Kirk answers your questions on Bo Diddley, Minecraft, The Supremes, chorus guitar, XTC, Parquet Courts, and the mystery of the "Careless Whisper" sax solo.
"Fingertips" by They Might Be Giants
Kirk picks apart not one, not two, but twenty one micro-songs by the great They Might Be Giants.
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel
A bottle of red... a bottle of white... whatever kind of mood you're in, we're talking Billy Joel tonight!
The Producer's Philosophy, with Brian Bender
Kirk sits down with producer, composer, and master mixer Brian Bender to talk about the state of the recording art.
The Music All Around Us, with Imogen Heap
Kirk sits down for a conversation with singer, composer, and music technologist Imogen Heap.
Strong Covers, Vol. 1
It's time for Strong Songs to talk about some Strong Covers! On this episode, Kirk tackles four famous covers, comparing each with the original while trying to suss out what makes a great cover in the first place.
Ska Horns & Madonna Melodies
Mailbag time! We've got listener questions about Madonna earworms, National piano parts, Breath of the Wild music, online vocal teachers, the French horn, The Lemon Twigs, and much more.
"You've Got a Friend" by Carole King
Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.
"New Born" and "Micro Cuts" by Muse
Link it to the world, link it to yourself, link it to your podcast app, because it's time to talk about Muse! Kirk takes a deep dive into not one but two songs off of Muse's seminal 2001 album Origin of Symmetry: "New Born," which kicks the album off with a strong pop-rock approach, and "Micro Cuts,...