Strong Songs
Episodes
Explaining Musicals, with Lindsay Ellis
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If an emotion is too big for talking, you sing. If it's too big for singing, you dance. And if it's too big for dancing, well, you just gotta podcast!...
Sidechain Compression & Saxophone Traffic Cones
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag time! Kirk peruses the Strong Songs inbox to answer your questions about jazz drum solos, practicing with play-a-longs, Tame Impala tunes, sax...
"Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jazz is all about the contrast between the individual and the collective, and few recordings embody that as beautifully as "Stolen Moments," the openi...
"Cameo Lover" by Kimbra
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Open up your heart! Open up your heart! Open up your heart, let Kimbra pull you out!On this episode, Kirk goes for a swim in the extra-buoyant waters ...
The Mysteries of Music, with Carmen Staaf
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What's this? An off-week episode of Strong Songs??Indeed it is! For this episode of Strong Conversations (working title), Kirk hopped on a call with N...
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Heathcliff! It's us, it's Strong Songs, we've come home!The time has come for a deep dive into the music of the great Kate Bush, and what better song ...
Cross-Rhythms, Concept Albums & Dream Songs
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Time for the first Q&A episode of Strong Songs year three!On this episode, Kirk digs into the mailbag for your questions on Jack White's guitar tone, ...
"Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan.It was never a question whether Strong Songs would...
"Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Where are we? What the hell is going on? Oh right, we're here with our podcast device, listening to an episode of Strong Songs.On this episode, Kirk d...
"Space Oddity" and "Starman" by David Bowie
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let the children lose it, let the children use it, and let all the children join in for Strong Songs year three!Kirk kicks off the new year with a pai...
Year Two, In Review
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Year Two of Strong Songs draws to a close, it's time to take a look back.SCHEDULING NOTE: Strong Songs will be off for the month of December, and w...
"A Day in the Life" by The Beatles
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wake up, fall out of bed, and drag a comb across your head, cause Strong Songs is finally doing an episode about The Beatles.It's time for Kirk to tac...
Microtones, Minimalism & the Bebop Scale
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag episode! Kirk answers your burning musical questions about songs from Parks & Rec, Black Sails, Lovecraft Country, and What We Do in the Shado...
Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. ...
"Hyperballad" by Björk
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's early in the morning; no one is awake. From the top of the mountain, the soft light of dawn comes into view. You take a deep breath, and prepare ...
Good Synths, Bad Acoustics & Moana
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag episode! Kirk tackles your questions on subjects ranging from a Warren Zevon piano part, to the unfortunate prevalence of bad acoustics at liv...
"The Chain" and "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thunder only happens when it's raining, and Strong Songs only crams two songs into an episode when it's super warranted.This episode warrants just suc...
"Wedding Song" from Hadestown
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who's gonna lay the wedding table? Who's gonna make the wedding bed? And what about the rings? Funny you should ask.On this episode, Kirk takes a deep...
Muppet Whistles, Throat Singing & Steely Dan
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag! Episode!We've got questions about Tuvan throat singing (how does it work??), the Unsolved Mysteries theme (why is it so creepy??), the intro ...
"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for a journey of the mind, as Kirk picks apart one of the best hard rock tunes of the early 2000s.Queens of the Stone Age's "Songs for the D...
"4'33" by John Cage (Twenty Thousand Hertz)
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
"World 1-1" from Super Mario Bros.
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Classic video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System didn't just play games; they also played music. Their onboard synthesizers put stri...
"Satisfied" from Hamilton (Updated!)
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
"Kiss" by Prince
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Tricky Counting, Straight Saxes & Transposing Horns
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this Strong Songs mailbag episode, Kirk answers your most pressing questions on subjects ranging from horn transposition, to why audiences have a h...
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again.On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago," the ...
The Magic of Sound, with Dallas Taylor
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kirk is joined by Dallas Taylor, sound designer and host of the fabulous sound-focused podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz.The two of them talk about what m...
"Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
"Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 Buc...
Devo, AC/DC, and a Mystery Solved
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
"So What" by Miles Davis
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Kirk dives in to one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time.As the lead track on Miles Davis's landmark album Kind of Bl...
April Makes Fools of Us All
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode... a prank.April Fools’ Day has run its course, which means it’s time to update this episode description to accurately reflect wha...
"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
A Playlist For Trying Times
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
"Sinnerman" by Nina Simone
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 anal...
Muse, Mars, and a Mystery
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for the first Strong Songs listener Q&A of 2020, so let's get into it!Kirk answers listener questions on topics like Zeppelin and Cake count...
"Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" from The Witcher
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ob...
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A modern day warrior's mean, mean stride; today's Strong Song has mean, mean pride!Yes, it's time for Kirk to tackle a song by the legendary Canadian ...
Rhythm + Harmony = Music
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kirk breaks down the two most fundamental aspects of music: rhythm and harmony. There's the Y-axis, harmony, which tells us which frequencies we're he...
"Lovefool" by The Cardigans
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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.Yes, it's tim...
"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Year One, In Review
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
"Making Christmas" from The Nightmare Before Christmas
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
"Kiss From a Rose" by Seal
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Fiddle Battles and Bad Sax
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kirk opens the Strong Songs mailbag to tackle your questions about demonic fiddle playing, lousy sax solos, Led Zeppelin counting, fake-out intros, re...
Secrets of a Great Band Director, with Janis Stockhouse
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 ed...
"Think" by Aretha Franklin
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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.On this episode, Kirk dives into two di...
"Like a Prayer" by Madonna
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone... except for everyone listening to this episode, because we're traveling together through doubt and deli...
Pyramid Song, Nirvana & Marty McFly
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 gu...
Strong TV Songs: Animated Edition
07 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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.This s...
"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brace for a pressurized descent, as Kirk braves the undercurrents of Radiohead's alt-rock masterpiece "Paranoid Android." It's a structurally distinct...
"Barracuda" by Heart
10 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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." A deceptively...
"Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 Moná...
"Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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, w...
Hamilton, Hozier, Multiphonics & Modes
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mailbag May returns for round two, as Kirk continues catching up on listener questions.The Strong Songs mailbag continues to overflow. This week we've...
Tool, Game of Thrones & More Cowbell
15 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for Mailbag May, a long-running (aka brand new) Strong Songs tradition where Kirk spends the month of May catching up on listener questions....
Five Albums That Shaped Me
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Strong Songs now has a Patreon! Learn more about how you can support the show here: https://patreon.com/strongsongs.Kirk gets his Patreon pitch out of...
"Satisfied" from Hamilton
01 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A toast to the groom! To the bride! To knowing you'll always regret the sacrifice you made for your sister! Kirk takes an overdue dive into Lin-Manuel...
"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
17 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's forecast calls for blue skies, and today's Strong Songs calls for an in-depth analysis of Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky." It's time...
"Moanin'" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
03 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dust off your head charts and brush up your best licks, cause it's time to wade into the warm, welcoming waters of jazz. This episode's Strong Song is...
Syncopation, Subdivision & The Four Chords
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Strong Songs mailbag is overflowing, so it's time to dive in and answer some listener questions. Kirk digs into creative subdivision, syncopated m...
"Let It Go" from Frozen
06 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you put a straight-up power ballad in the middle of a Disney movie? "Let it Go" happens, that's what. On this episode, Kirk climbs t...
"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Well, either way, this is definitely an episode of Strong Songs about Queen's genre-blending rock saga "B...
"Dancing Queen" by ABBA
06 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to get lost in the bittersweet beats of ABBA's 1976 hit "Dancing Queen." On this longer-than-usual episode, Kirk tries to tease out some of ...
The Beatles, Brubeck, Bond and Beyond
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for an extra-long episode as Kirk answers your questions about Phil Collins drum solos, musical Wilhelm screams, odd time signatures, Beatle...
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Darkness falls across the land, and it's the right time for Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Kirk picks apart Rod Temperton's dance floor classic in all ...
"I Wish" by Stevie Wonder
26 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wish you could just be a kid again? Stevie does. Kirk breaks out the bass and digs into what makes Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" swing like it does, t...
"Single Ladies" by Beyoncé
12 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Kirk dives into one of the greatest pop songs of all time.Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" is arguably the defining song...
"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon
28 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Kirk breaks down one of his favorite songs from one of his favorite albums.Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" was a single from his incredib...
"Africa" by Toto
18 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On the first episode of Strong Songs, Kirk breaks down Toto's hit song "Africa," a single so good that it still lights up the Internet today.Band/Arti...
Trailer
14 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is the latest trailer for Strong Songs, recorded in September 2024. Hope you give the show a listen!----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS! Pat...