Strong Songs
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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.
Strong Songs
6d ago
Kirk digs into the work of master composer Antônio Carlos Jobim via his timeless 1974 duet with Elis Regina on his song "Águas de Marçco," known Stateside as "The Waters of March." He's joined by special guest Frederico Barros, Professor of Musicology at Federal University of Rio De Janeiro.
Written by: Antônio Carlos Jobim
Performed by: Jobim and Elis Regina
Album: Elis & Tom (1974)
Listen/Buy via Songwhip
ALSO DISCUSSED:
"The Girl From Ipamena" and "Desefinado" by Tom Jobim from Getz/Gilberto, 1964
"Corcovado (Quiet Night of Quiet Stars)," "Triste," and "Bigras Nunca Mais" by Jobim from ..read more
Strong Songs
2w ago
Turns out some songs stand on their own, however memorable-slash-horrifying their music video might have been.
Written by: Chris Cornell
Produced by: Michael Beinhorn
Album: Superunknown (1994)
Listen/Buy via Songwhip
ALSO DISCUSSED:
"Spoonman" and "The Day I Tried to Live" by Chris Cornell and Soundgarden from Superunknown, 1994
Kim Thayil interview at Songfacts
Norah Jones' cover of "Black Hole Sun," Live in 2021
"In My Life" by Lennon/McCartney from Rubber Soul, 1965
The 2021 Strong Songs interview with session guitarist Andrew Synowiec
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush from Moving Pictures, 1981 ..read more
Strong Songs
1M ago
Strong Songs Season Six kicks off with a widely requested classic: Peter Gabriel's 1986 yearner "In Your Eyes." Because why hire one rhythm section when you can hire two for twice the price?
Written by: Peter Gabriel
Produced by: Daniel Lanois
Album: So (1986)
Listen/Buy via Songwhip
ALSO DISCUSSED:
Rick Beato's Interview with So producer Daniel Lanois
"DIY" by Peter Gabriel from Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch, 1978
"Sledgehammer," "Don't Give Up," and "Big Time" by Gabriel from So, 1986
Kwame Ansah-Brew demonstrates the Talking Drum
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SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Paypal | Patreon.com/Strong ..read more
Strong Songs
1M ago
On this bonus episode from May 2022, Kirk goes through a handful of other covers of the three Beatles songs he recently discussed on the show.
"Gotta Get You Into My Life" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1966) and Blood, Sweat & Tears (1975)
"Eleanor Rigby" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Aretha Franklin (1968), Cody Fry (2021), Joshua Bell and Frankie Moreno (2009) and Zoot (1970)
"Blackbird" by Paul McCartney/Lennon-McCartney as covered by Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982) and the Brad Mehldau Trio (1996)
Also Featur ..read more
Strong Songs
1M ago
Kirk shares some details about the upcoming season of Strong Songs, which kicks off on February 9 in early access, and on February 23 in the main feed.
SUPPORT STRONG SONGS:
Beome a patron: Patreon.com/Strongsongs
Make a one-time donation: Paypal
  ..read more
Strong Songs
2M ago
(Originally recorded in May 2022) There's always more to say about Sonny Rollins, so Kirk shares a few of his other favorite Sonny moments, along with some additional love for Max Roach's drumming on Saxophone Colossus.
REFERENCED:
"St. Thomas" and "Blue 7" by Sonny Rollins from Saxophone Colossus, 1956
"St. Thomas" as performed by Joshua Redman on Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1992
"Four" by Miles Davis performed by Sonny Rollins on A Night at the Village Vanguard, 1957
"Without a Song" by Vincent Youmans recorded by Sonny Rollins on The Bridge, 1962
"I Know That You Kn ..read more
Strong Songs
2M ago
Weird Al has been writing songs and recording parodies for four decades, and his musical footprint is unfathomably wide. In this minisode, originally released in October 2022, Kirk gets into a few things he didn't have room for in the main feed episode about "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota."
FEATURED/DISCUSSED:
"Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies" by Yankovic, a parody of "Money for Nothing" by Mark Knopfler & Definitely Sting from Brothers in Arms, 1985
A really interesting Sound on Sound article about the production of Brothers in Arms
"Spam," by Yankovic, a parody of "Stand ..read more
Strong Songs
3M ago
Recorded in August 2022 as an addendum to the main feed episode "Strong Grooves, Volume 1," special guest Russ Kleiner takes Kirk through the evolution of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield's playing from 1967 to 1970.
FEATURED/DISCUSSED:
"Cold Sweat" (1967), "I Got The Feelin'" (1968), "Mother Popcorn" (1969), "Funky Drummer" (1970), all feat. Clyde Stubblefield on drums.
SPECIAL GUEST: Russ Kleiner
Russ is one of Kirk's oldest friends, a drummer and percussionist who currently lives, teaches, and performs in Connecticut. He has frequently offered drum insights to Kirk for various episode ..read more
Strong Songs
3M ago
For the Season Five finale, Kirk takes a look at The Band and Martin Scorsese's beloved 1978 concert film The Last Waltz - "The beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning."
Featuring music by The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Album: The Last Waltz (1978)
Listen/Buy via Songwhip
ALSO DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:
"The Weight" by Robbie Robertson as covered by The Staple Singers and Aretha Franklin
Studio versions of several songs from the show, featured on The Band (1969) and Northern Lights - Southern Cross, 1 ..read more
Strong Songs
4M ago
It's time for another mailbag episode, as Kirk takes on questions about Evanescence piano, Kelis bells, and counting in songs by Phish, Vessels, Ten Years After, and Kishi Bashi. All that, and a friendly dispute about a Taylor Swift song.
"Milkshake" by Neptunes/Kelis from Tasty, 2003
"Going Under" by Evanescence from Fallen, 2003
Joe Lovono plays the Aulochrome
Pat Metheney plays the Pikasso 42-string Guitar
Matt Glassmeyer and Jano Rix demonstrate the Shuitar
Future Man plays Synth Axe Drumitar live with the Flecktones
"What About Me?" by Snarky Puppy from We Like It Here, 2014
"Shimmer Int ..read more