What happens when your podcast’s theme song—cobbled together from GarageBand loops—gets called “game show music” and likened to a cereal commercial? You rewrite it. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of Switched on Pop’s sonic makeover, from scathing critiques by music industry heavyweights to the creation of a lush, layered soundscape inspired b ... Show More
Mar 10
Harry Styles loses himself to dance
The dance floor is where Harry Styles does his therapy, and this album is the session notes. Four years after Harry's House, Styles returns with Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally, a record built from minimal ingredients: live drums, Moog bass, nylon guitar, and synth sequence ... Show More
43m 38s
Mar 3
Can Bruno Mars counterprogram his way to another hit album?
Bruno Mars is back with a new album called The Romantic, his first solo release since 2016’s 24k Magic. At first listen, the lead single, “I Just Might,” sounds like an outtake from 2021’s collaborative album with Anderson Paak, the Philly soul-inspired An Evening with Silk Sonic ... Show More
44m 52s
Feb 24
Charli XCX’s "Wuthering Heights" fever dream
Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Emily Brontë's 1847 gothic romance "Wuthering Heights" is the most talked-about film of the year. But for pop lovers, the soundtrack is the real event: Charli xcx, asked to write one song, ended up recording an entire album for the movie while ... Show More
48m 13s
Jan 2025
A Theme About Themes - TV, Movie, and Cartoon Theme Songs Karaoke Style
It's Episode 69 of the Friday Night Karaoke Podcast, and the theme was TV, Movie, and Cartoon themes! Get ready for the ultimate nostalgia trip! This week on the Friday Night Karaoke Podcast, Mike and Joe are diving into the world of Movie, TV, and Cartoon Themes, featuring incre ... Show More
58m 42s
Jul 2024
Star Trek the Original Series - the Music (Part IV)
Our final look at the music of Star Trek puts us in the position of the show's music editors and composers. With so many classic episodes to get through, how did they stretch their music budget to cover an entire season? The music of Sol Kaplan, Joseph Mullendore, Gerald Fried an ... Show More
59m 9s
Jun 2019
"Tiny Dancer" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John
<p>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, why not do two? Kirk dives into a pair of classics by the storied songwriting duo, talking about Elton's chameleon-like voice, h ... Show More
46m 42s
May 2025
Episode 430: 429 - Dj Sammy - AfroHouse Expedition XII - 24 May 2025 (Alex bday)
<p>In my latest episode of "Rhythmic Journeys," titled "Afrohouse Expedition," Episode 429 will embark you on a captivating musical adventure through the vibrant and infectious rhythms of Afrohouse. This mix is designed to take you on a rhythmic journey, immersing them in the ene ... Show More
1h 11m
Dec 2018
"Single Ladies" by Beyoncé
<p>On this episode, Kirk dives into one of the greatest pop songs of all time.</p><p>Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" is arguably the defining song of the last decade, but it's far from your average pop tune. With its unusual tensions and unstoppable groove, it defies ... Show More
26m 22s
<p>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 be fun to run an episode of the fabulous podcast <i>Twenty Thousand Hertz</i> on the subject instead.</p><p>(Also, Kirk and <i>2 ... Show More
