Shows
Strong SongsRediscovering Stevie Wonder, with Wesley Morris and Josh GwynnKirk talks with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn about the endless world of Stevie Wonder. Morris and Gwynn are host and producer, respectively, of the brilliant new six-part podcast series The Wonder of Stevie.Check out Josh Gwynn's terrific pop culture podcast Back Issue, Wesley Morris's culture podcast Still Processing, and Morris' essential writing on Aretha Franklin, Jam & Lewis, Meshell Ndegeocello, and his mustache, as well as his 2019 essay about Black American Music.REFERENCED ON THIS EPISODE:"Wild Wild West" by Will Smith, Kool Moe Dee, Rub Fusari, and Stevie Wonder, 1999"Straight, No Chaser"...
2024-10-041h 19Strong SongsStrong Covers, Vol. 1It's time for Strong Songs to talk about some Strong Covers! On this episode, Kirk tackles four famous covers, comparing each with the original while trying to suss out what makes a great cover in the first place. COVERED (HEYO):"Respect" by Otis Redding, as covered by Aretha Franklin in 1967"Satisfaction" by Jagger/Richards, as covered by Devo on Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, 1978"Mad World" by Roland Orzabal/Tears for Fears, as covered by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for Donnie Darko, 2001"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, as covered by Jeff Buckley on...
2021-06-301h 00
Strong SongsTricky Counting, Straight Saxes & Transposing HornsOn this Strong Songs mailbag episode, Kirk answers your most pressing questions on subjects ranging from horn transposition, to why audiences have a hard time clapping on 2 and 4, to what the heck that sound is on the bridge to "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic."REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC from The Razors Edge, 1990“Roll” by Fatai from Undone - EP, 2015“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin from Count Three & Pray, 1986“We Will Rock You” by Queen from News Of The World, 1977‘Every Time We Say Goodbye” by Cole Porter, sung by Ella Fitzgerald“Horsepower” by Justice...
2020-06-101h 00Strong Songs"Think" by Aretha FranklinLet'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'v...
2019-09-1850 minStrong Songs"Thriller" by Michael JacksonDarkness falls across the land, and it's the right time for Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Kirk picks apart Rod Temperton's dance floor classic in all its groovy, corny, sound effect-y glory.Band/Artist: Michael JacksonAlbum:Thriller, 1982Composed by: Rod TempertonProduced by: Quincy JonesListen/Buy via Album.Link------A NOTE FROM KIRK:It’s been a couple months since I produced this episode, and just a few days since I watched the first part of “Leaving Neverland,” a devastating new HBO documenta...
2019-01-0929 min