Strong Songs

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!Yes, Strong Songs is back from the holidays and ready for a lush new year of thumps, pops, sizzles, and higgada-buggadas. On the first episode of 2020, Kirk goes deep into Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," a song that develops with unusual subtlety, from those quiet opening guitar arpeggios to that howling, rocking culmination.Band/Artist: Led ZeppelinAlbum: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)Composed by: Jimmy Page and Robert PlantListen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Black Dog" also from Led Zeppelin IVClips from Wayne's World, 1992, and a Billboard magazine retrospective with director Penelope Spheeris"Taurus" by Spirit from Spirit, 1968"The Mandalorian" by Ludwig Göransson from The Mandalorian soundtrack, 2019"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen from A Night at the Opera, 1975"Grace" by Jeff Buckley from Grace, 1994A clip from Jeff Buckley Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition), 1993, which is a really incredible live compilation and you should listen to itOUTRO SOLOIST: Kirk HamiltonKirk is, well, the host of Strong Songs. He realized he'd never actually done an outro solo, so he figured he'd kick off year two by recording one. He's playing tenor sax, and there's actually a video of him recording the solo here: https://twitter.com/kirkhamilton/status/1214319584959877123--------------------January 2020 Whole-Note PatronsAccessViolation - Andrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan TorvikJanuary 2020 Half-Note PatronsAdam Georgandis - Alex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Jacob Dye - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Mark Steen - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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.SCHEDULING NOTE: Strong Songs will be off in December, and will return for Year Two on January 8, 2020. If you're a patron over on Patreon, that means you won't be charged for the month of December.That also makes December a great month catch up on episodes you may have missed, share the show with your friends, listen to Year One playlists, and enjoy a hopefully very musical holiday season.REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Africa" by Toto from Toto IV, 1982"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon from Graceland, 1986"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" by Beyoncé from I Am... Sasha Fierce, 2008"I Wish" by Stevie Wonder from Songs in the Key Of Life, 1976"Thriller" by Michael Jackson from Thriller, 1982"Dancing Queen" by ABBA from Arrival, 1976"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen from A Night At The Opera, 1975"Let It Go" from Frozen, 2013"Moanin'" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers from Moanin', 1959"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra from Out Of The Blue, 1977"Satisfied" by Lin-Manuel Miranda from Hamilton, 2015"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973"Tightrope" by Janelle Monáe from The Archandroid, 2010"Barracuda" by Heart from Little Queen, 1977"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead from OK Computer, 1997"Like a Prayer" by Madonna from Like a Prayer, 1989"Think" by Aretha Franklin from the Blues Brothers soundtrack, 1980"Kiss From a Rose" by Seal from Seal II, 1994"Making Christmas" by Danny Elfman from The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993"I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton from Jolene, 1974, and as performed by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard soundtrack, 1992YEAR ONE PLAYLISTS:You can find new playlists with these 20 songs on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/strong-songs-year-1/pl.u-V9D7gaGiJ7o0aand Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5d9ym1sUymGoySMXOw3zbZ?si=knUCLdHHTQ2lTIQq-uXYmQOUTRO SOLOIST: All Of Them!Thanks to all of the outro soloists we've featured over the past few months: BJ Cord, Galen Clark, Rob Reich, Dan Nervo, Sam Howard, and Steve Pardo. We'll feature plenty more great soloists in Year Two.--------------------November 2019 Whole-Note PatronsAndrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan TorvikNovember 2019 Half-Note PatronsAlex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kingy - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Molly Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom LauerThanks everyone for listening - see you in 2020! --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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. Written and recorded (twice) by Dolly Parton and then re-recorded in show-stopping fashion by Whitney Houston, the ballad has morphed from a fond farewell to a former mentor, to a theatrical goodbye to a lover, to a soaring ode to the very notions of love and loss. We follow that journey from the beginning, with all the vocal tricks, dramatic line-readings, and epic key changes that were added along the way.Band/Artist: Dolly Parton & Whitney HoustonAlbums: Jolene (1974), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992)Composed by: Dolly PartonListen/Buy (Jolene) via Album.LinkListen/Buy (TBLWIT) via Album.LinkListen/Buy (The Bodyguard) via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:The sensational new WNYC podcast Dolly Parton's America"The Last Thing On My Mind" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner"Applejack" by Dolly Parton from New Harvest...First Gathering, 1977"Let It Go" from Frozen performed by Idina MenzelOUTRO SOLOIST: Dan NervoMr. Dan Nervo has the tiller for this episode's outro solo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/--------------------November 2019 Whole-Note PatronsAndrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin Mann - Ryan TorvikNovember 2019 Half-Note PatronsAlex Singer - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - David Stroud - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - Jennifer Bush - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kingy - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Molly Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tanner Morton - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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!Tim Burton and Danny Elfman's maniacal miniature-musical The Nightmare Before Christmas was unusual when it came out in 1993 and, despite the fact that it went on to became a beloved Disney classic, is still unusual today. The centerpiece ensemble song "Making Christmas," during which the well-meaning but hopeless denizens of Halloween Town attempt to craft their own kind of creepy Christmas, is a crucial turning point for the film, both narratively and musically.In this episode, Kirk takes a closer look at what makes "Making Christmas" tick, from its densely interwoven character motifs to its ever-shifting orchestration to its earth-shaking contrabass woodwinds.Band/Artist: Danny Elfman and the Halloween Town CastAlbum: The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, 1993Composed by: Danny ElfmanListen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:Various other songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, 1993"The Simpsons Theme" by Danny Elfman, 1989"Dead Man's Party" and "Weird Science" by Danny Elfman/Oingo Boingo from Dead Man's Party, 1985"Dies Irae" performed by the monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame"Theme from The Shining" by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, 1980"The Carol of the Bells" by Mykola Leontovych, 1914, with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky, as conducted by John Williams on the soundtrack from Home AloneUpdate 10/31: After I published this episode on the 30th, several listeners wrote in to tell me about the Dies Irae, a 13th century Gregorian death chant that also shares the first four notes of the "Making Christmas" motif and has turned up in a TON of movies besides. I wasn't familiar with the Dies Irae (I know!), so I've updated the episode to include a mention of it. You'll have to redownload the episode if you want to hear that version. You can also watch a great Vox explainer video about the Dies Irae here: https://www.vox.com/videos/2019/9/16/20868789/creepy-melody-movies-catholic-chant-lion-king-shining - KirkOUTRO SOLOIST: Steve PardoThis episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve and Kirk met when they were both jazz saxophone students at the University of Miami; Steve currently lives and performs around the Nashville, TN area. He's a producer, composer, and does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped make music games like Rock Band and Dance Central. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/--------------------October 2019 Whole-Note PatronsAndrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin MannOctober 2019 Half-Note PatronsAlex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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." Kirk goes back to the 90s for a close look at Seal's Grammy-winning, Batman-adjacent power ballad and finds a song that's much more interesting than he even remembered. It's an indulgent world of thick counterpoint, long phrases, harp flourishes, and oboe solos, with some of the richest vocal arranging this side of a chamber choir.Band/Artist: SealAlbum: Seal II, 1994 and the Batman Forever soundtrack, 1995Composed by: SealProduced by: Trevor HornListen/Buy via Album.LinkOUTRO SOLOIST: Sam HowardThis episode's outro soloist is bassist Sam Howard. Sam lives in Nashville, TN, where he performs and tours with all kinds of artists, most recently hitting the road with the wonderful singer/guitar-shredder Molly Tuttle. Sam played all the way through the Strong Songs outro, so keep an ear out for his playing mixed under the horns on the way out. You can find out what Sam's up to at his website, https://samhowardmusic.com.--------------------October 2019 Whole-Note PatronsAndrew Walters - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin MannOctober 2019 Half-Note PatronsAlex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Fishbones - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - Samuel Gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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.REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band from Million Mile Reflections, 1979"The Eternal Triangle" by Sonny Stitt from Sonny Side Up, 1959"The Jones Girl" by the Five Satins, 1956"Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, 1977"Hot For The Mountain" and "Never Too Late" by Natalie Prass from The Future and the Past, 2018"Destination" by Nickel Creek from A Dotted Line, 2014"My Doorbell" by the White Stripes from Get Behind Me Satan, 2005"It's All Over Now" by the Rolling Stones, 1964"For The Love of Money" by the O'Jays, 1974"Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971"Gumboots" by Paul Simon from Graceland, 1986"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks, 1964"Baby Beluga" by Raffi from Baby Beluga, 1980"Bananaphone" by Raffi from Bananaphone, 1994"Here Comes the Sun" by George Harrison from Abbey Road, 1969"Freddie Freeloader" by Miles Davis from Kind of Blue, 1959"Searching" by Hanne Hukkelberg from Little Things, 2005OTHER LINKS:Gal Gracen's original Tweet about the Jones Girl sax solo: https://twitter.com/galgracen/status/1176740969988800513A few studies about the effects of music on people in restaurantsOUTRO SOLOIST: Rob ReichThis episode's outro soloist is the wonderful bay area pianist/accordionist Rob Reich. Rob performs all over the place with a bunch of different groups, and is a total pleasure to see play. He's got a bunch of albums you can check out and contributes to an array of interesting projects (Live silent-film scores! Circus music!) and experiments. Find more at his website, http://www.robreich.com/.--------------------OCTOBER 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSandrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Merlin MannOCTOBER 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAlex Singer - Alexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Brooke Wilford - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - SP - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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.Janis started teaching at North high school in Bloomington, Indiana, in the early 1980s. It was a time when "jazz education" as a concept was still a relatively new thing. She retired 38 years later, having grown the North band program into a well-known Midwest institution, winning countless awards at festivals around the world and regularly turning out graduates who would go on to become professional musicians, as well as many others who would simply have a lifelong love of music.On this episode she tells the story of starting out at North and developing the program, along with her thoughts on how to get students to practice, which composers she prefers for student groups, women in jazz, funding for the arts, and some good old-fashioned album recommendations.REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:Janis's 2004 book Jazzwomen: Conversations With Twenty-One Musicians, which she co-wrote with Wayne Enstice - there are used copies on Amazon, and you should really track down a copy and read itThe late great jazz legend David Baker, whose NYT obituary captured at least some of his legacy: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/arts/music/david-baker-who-helped-bring-jazz-studies-into-the-academy-dies-at-84.htmlMUSIC ON THIS EPISODE:"IU Swing Machine" by David Baker as played by the 2016 IU Celebration Big Band"Don't Get Sassy" by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis big band"Hang Gliding" by Maria Schneider from Alegresse"Bright Eyes" as played by the Bill Holman big band"Take the 'A' Train" by Billy Strayhorn as performed by the Duke Ellington orchestra"Vol. 6: All 'Bird' - Now's The Time" Play-A-Long by Jamey Aebersold (featuring Kenny Barron and Ron Carter(!!))"Laugh, Clown, Laugh" by Abbey Lincoln from Abbey Is Blue, 1959"Song Patrol" by Jane Ira Bloom from Early Americans, 2016"Lingala" by the SF Jazz Collective from their 2005 self-titled album"So What" and "Flamenco Sketches" by Miles Davis from Kind of Blue, 1959"My Favorite Things" as performed by John Coltrane on My Favorite Things, 1966"Mercy Mercy Mercy" by Josef Zawinul as performed by the Cannonball Adderley quintet on Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, 1966OUTRO SOLOIST: BJ CORDThis episode's outro soloist is BJ Cord, a fellow Bloomington North graduate and fantastic trumpet player based in Portland. BJ works at Monette trumpets making some of the most beautiful horns in the world, and is a regular presence on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monettetrumpets--------------------SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONSandrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara WalshSEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONSAlexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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 different versions of Franklin's classic tune "Think." First it's the laid back groove and roomy mix of the 1968 original, then it's time to fast-forward 12 years for the juiced-up arrangement she recorded with the Blues Brothers band in 1980.It's a story of how different production techniques, arrangements, and tempos can lead to two very different—but equally excellent—versions of the same song. We've done Dancing Queen, we've covered the band Queen, so it feels like it's past time for the Queen of Soul. NOTE: This episode is best enjoyed along with four fried chickens and a Coke.Band/Artist: Aretha FranklinAlbums: Aretha Now, 1968 and The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack, 1980Composed by: Aretha Franklin and Teddy WhiteListen/Buy (Original) via Album.LinkListen/Buy (Blues Brothers) via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Respect" by Otis Redding, performed by Aretha Franklin on I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, 1967"She Didn't Cut Me Loose" by Curtis Selgado from Soul Shot, 2012Wesley Morris's excellent 2018 NYT obituary: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/arts/music/respect-aretha-franklin-death.htmlFranklin's scene from The Blues Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLbPv6yIvBU (you should really just watch the whole movie)OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen ClarkThis episode's outro soloist is the one and only Galen Clark. Galen plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic; you can find playing regularly around Portland, Oregon and occasionally on tour. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net.--------------------SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONSandrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara WalshSEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONSAlexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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." Kirk takes a look at the high-contrast drama of the megastar's 1989 megahit, with its cathedral-like verses, bus-driving guitar rhythms, bouncy basslines, and perfectly placed Latin percussion flourishes. The music video got a lot of attention back in the day, but there's plenty in the song itself to celebrate, from Prince's mystery guitar to Madonna's vulnerable vocals to the joyful power of the Andraé Crouch Choir.Band/Artist: MadonnaAlbum: Like a Prayer, 1989Composed by: Madonna and Patrick LeonardListen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"Open Your Heart To Me" by Madonna from True Blue, 1986"Like a Prayer" as covered by the cast of GleeThe music video for "Like a Prayer": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA983t3RdzsThree excellent music documentaries: "Muscle Shoals," "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," and "20 Feet From Stardom." (Seriously, watch all three!)OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve PardoThis episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve and Kirk met when they were both jazz saxophone students at the University of Miami; Steve currently lives and performs around the Nashville, TN area. He's a producer, composer, and does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped make music games like Rock Band and Dance Central. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/--------------------SEPTEMBER 2019 WHOLE NOTE PATRONSandrew walters - CALEB ROTACH - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Jared Norris - Mark Schechter - Sara WalshSEPTEMBER 2019 HALF NOTE PATRONSAlexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Cyrus N. White - Dominik Schmitt - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot - Jay O'Neill - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O'Keefe - joujou - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Matt Gaskell - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Richard Toller - samuel gardner - Shane DeLeon - Shaun Wiese - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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.REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:Back to the Future, a 1985 movie that you've probably seen"Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, 1958"Walk Me Home" by P!nk"Where the Boys Are" performed by Connie Francis, 1960"Come as You Are" by Nirvana from Nevermind, 1991"Cross-Eyed Mary" by Jethro Tull from Aqualung, 1971"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits from Brothers in Arms, 1985"Pyramid Song" by Radiohead from Amnesiac, 2001PYRAMID SONG COUNTING BREAKDOWN:Keyboard (eighth notes): [(3 3 4 3 3) + (3 3 4 3 3)] x 2 = 64 eighth notes, aka 32 beatsDrums (quarter notes): [(3 2 3) + (3 2 3)] x 2 = 32 quarter notes, aka 32 beatsKirk also made this ludicrous infographic: https://twitter.com/kirkhamilton/status/1164239460604641280ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:The Wikipedia entry for the Mere-Exposure Effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effectOUTRO SOLOIST: Dan NervoNo new outro soloist this episode - we're re-sharing a guitar solo by the fantastic Dan Nervo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/--------------------AUGUST 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSCaleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - Glenn - Sara WalshAUGUST 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAlexander Polson - Andre Bremer - Andrew Lee - Arjun Sharma - Bill Thornton - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Chas Lednicky - Earl Lozada - Emily Williams - FlSHBONES - Forrest Chang - Jaehoon Jeong - James Johnson - Jasmine Fellows - Jeff Dixon - Jeffrey Olson - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - joujou - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Kyle Simons - Max Schechter - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Nick Clements - Ravy Vajravelu - Richard Toller - Shane DeLeon - Tim - Tom Clewer - Tom Lauer --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics