Music: it's good.

February 28, 2022 2:55 PM

Strong Songs is a podcast about music and what makes it good. Host Kirk Hamilton has an infectious enthusiasm and a knack for explaining what's going on in a song, from effects pedals to vocal layering to the thump, pop, and sizzle of percussion. ob1quizote introduced MetaFilter to Strong Songs with the episode on Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (Billy Joel), but the podcast has featured a ton of great songs, including September (Earth, Wind & Fire), You've Got a Friend (Carole King), and Satisfied (Hamilton, the Musical). Happy Doubles Jubilee!

Other highlights:

I Wish, Stevie Wonder
The Chain / Dreams, Fleetwood Mac
Wedding Song, Hadestown
Sinnerman, Nina Simone
I Will Always Love You, Dolly Parton
Kiss, Prince
Walking on Broken Glass, Annie Lennox
God Only Knows, The Beach Boys
Kiss from a Rose, Seal
Think, Aretha Franklin
Tightrope, Janelle Monáe
Moanin', Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

One of the things I like about Strong Songs is Hamilton naming the less-known individuals who contribute to great songs, whether it's Trevor Horn's production work on "Kiss From a Rose" or the individual members of Billy Joel's band.

But mostly I just love the way he nerds out about what's cool about some really great songs, with thought and joy and wonderfully informative scaffolding. I've been playing and writing music since I was a kid, so I know a bit about music, but I have learned so much from this podcast, and every time I listen, it makes me happy.

posted by kristi (8 comments total)

This is a great post - I discovered this podcast a few months ago but there’s so many great episodes to dig into. I particularly enjoyed the one about Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘No One Knows’.
posted by The River Ivel at 3:36 PM on February 28, 2022

Music: it's good.

Bold take on a controversial subject...
;)

This looks interesting, looking forward to explore it after work.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:48 PM on February 28, 2022

I discovered this podcast from the previous MeFi post, and it instantly gained a space in my queue along side Song Exploder and Switched on Pop (and of course the occasional Rick Beato or Adam Neely video, although those are less convenient to consume), but the last two episodes completely got me. I'm already a covers fan, but Strong Covers Volume 2 really helped me to appreciate some extremely different and spectacular takes on strong core material, and the interview with Andrew Synowiec was a really cool look into the life of a modern session musician, and there were a few career development things in that interview that... well... I would have done really well to hear repeated many times three or four decades ago.
posted by straw at 4:50 PM on February 28, 2022 [2 favorites]

I've been listening to Strong Songs for maybe a little over a year or so. I'm not musically inclined and I have no clue about most of the things that Kirk talks about, but I still really enjoy this podcast because of his enthusiasm and the obvious joy he finds in the music he's talking about.
posted by newpotato at 1:19 AM on March 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

Well, that was delightful! I listened to the September episode, as that song has a special place in my life... and even more so now! I have just enough memories of high school band to have a vague idea what he's talking about, but like newpotato I mostly enjoyed it for his enthusiasm and joy, and like kristi I love the way he identifies the amazing people who came together to make this song happen so that I could love it. Can't wait to dig into Sinnerman.

And no ads... I couldn't donate without a paypal account so I bought a sticker. :)
posted by evilmomlady at 6:10 AM on March 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

Music: 🎵🎵🎶🎵
Kirk: Baahhhahhahhaha!
posted by howfar at 7:28 AM on March 1, 2022

I also like how happy he sounds whenever he feels it appropriate to praise a piece of music for being "disgusting".
posted by howfar at 7:30 AM on March 1, 2022

In the "Kiss from a Rose" episode, he keeps saying the song is kind of "indulgent - which is GOOD. I think people like that."
posted by kristi at 8:01 AM on March 1, 2022 [1 favorite]