On a recent podcast interview, Kentucky rapper Jack Harlow said that, to craft his new album Monica, he “got blacker.” The problem is… Jack Harlow is white. The statement, while extremely tone-deaf, speaks to his intentions with this musical pivot: musically, Monica turns to the historically Black genres of R&B and neo-soul to craft a new image designed to s ... Show More
Mar 17
Jacob Collier can make anyone sing
Jacob Collier is a rare musician: an expert in so many musical languages (western harmony, negative harmony, microtonalism) and a phenomenal communicator about music. He's something like an Ambassador for Music, traveling the world and getting thousands of people, musicians and n ... Show More
55m 2s
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
Jun 2021
"You've Got a Friend" by Carole King
<p>Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.</p><p>This episode takes a deep dive into Carole King's ever enduring, much-covered tribute t ... Show More
59m 42s
Jan 2022
Funky Drummers, Cheap Guitars & Sting
<p>What do George Michael, Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, and the Powerpuff Girls have in common?</p><p>The answer, as you'll learn on this episode, is a funk drumming legend named Clyde Stubblefield. We'll also talk about flipped drum beats, Sting's taste for syncopation, the differen ... Show More
50m 48s
Aug 2022
Lofi Beats & The Circle of Fifths
<p>Kirk answers a crop of new listener questions on topics ranging from Steve Perry's vocal technique, Art Garfunkel's guitarmonies, the Carolina Crown's viral brass section warmup, Ram Jam's chaotic riffs, and how to explain complex music theory concepts to non-musicians.</p><p ... Show More
55m 23s
Jul 2021
The Music All Around Us, with Imogen Heap
<p>On this episode, Kirk sits down for a conversation with composer, singer, and music technologist Imogen Heap.</p><p>The two talk about the creative process, live performance in the pandemic age, the shifting relationship between artist and audience, the process of developing n ... Show More
1h 18m
Jun 2021
Ska Horns & Madonna Melodies
<p>Mailbag time! We've got listener questions about Madonna earworms, National piano parts, Breath of the Wild music, online vocal teachers, the French horn, The Lemon Twigs, and much more. </p><p><strong>REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:</strong></p><ul><li>“Mira, Royal Detective Theme” by ... Show More
55m 44s
May 2020
"Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens
<p>D, A, C, G. Four chords, placed end to end, repeated over and over again.</p><p>On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago," the centerpiece of his brilliant 2005 album <i>Illinois</i>. It's a towering construction supported by four chords, with bui ... Show More
57m 10s
Mar 2021
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush
<p>Heathcliff! It's us, it's Strong Songs, we've come home!</p><p>The time has come for a deep dive into the music of the great Kate Bush, and what better song to analyze than her breakthrough 1978 hit, "Wuthering Heights." This song has it all - odd phrasing, shifting key center ... Show More
57m 14s
Jun 2025
How the 'Hit Girls' Shaped Our Current Pop Landscape. Plus, Where's Our Song of the Summer?
Nora discusses her new book, 'Hit Girls,' about how stars like Britney Spears and Beyoncé shaped our current pop landscape (1:00). Then she and Nathan talk about Sabrina Carpenter's new single "Manchild" and her forthcoming album 'Man's Best Friend' (22:49), before previewing the ... Show More
57m 37s