Strong Songs
Kirk HamiltonMusic: it's good. On each episode of Strong Songs, host Kirk Hamilton takes listeners inside a piece of music, breaking it down and figuring out what makes it work.
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 180 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Music CommentaryMusic | |||
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Latest Episodes
Strong Songs has covered Steely Dan songs from 1976’s The Royal Scam, 1980’s Gaucho, and even 2000’s Two Against Nature, but somehow 1977’s Aja has remained unaddressed… until now. On this episode, Kirk takes a look under the hood of “Peg,” one of th... more
It's time to return to Talking Heads, and their inimitable 1980 song "Once In A Lifetime." The subject of this episode was selected by the annual Strong Songs Patreon bracket vote. Thanks to everyone who voted!
Written by: Talking Heads and Brian En... more
Kirk returns to the Mojave, and to QOTSA's groundbreaking 2002 album Songs For The Deaf.
Written by: Josh Homme and Mark Lanegan
Produced by: Josh Homme and Eric Valentine
Album: Songs For The Deaf, 2002
Listen/Buy via Album.Link
Episode photo b... more
Strong Songs returns to the mighty Annie Lennox, for a closer look at her initially patient, eventually soaring 1992 single "Little Bird." This song allllmost beat out "Walking On Broken Glass" to get an episode last time around, and it's easy to see... more
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Reviews
- Feel Good
This is just a solid, hardworking, friendly, interesting podcast from a guy who must be the same. There will be some song choices outside your oeuvre that will make you wonder, but stuck with them. It’s always worth it. Nothing but praise for Kirk!
Apple Podcasts5PopeJ99
Canada15 days ago - What a remarkable find!
I found this podcast through TikTok comments on a post asking why a part of Dancing Queen is so satisfying to the ear. And I’m so glad I actually checked out the recommendation. I’ve listened to so many episodes already (some twice!) and happily joined the Patreon. Thank you Kirk for all your work and taking the time to educate me and others. I’m learning so much - mainly how hard putting together a really strong song is!
Apple Podcasts5MaryBethHand
United States25 days ago - Favorite class!
Love this show. It’s a music class that studies the music of our time (broadly speaking.) I always hear and think about elements I haven’t noticed before and come to a greater appreciation of the work that went into making it. If you love listening closely to music it’s for you. Start with a song you know and then discover new ones!
Apple Podcasts5Bruce StringbeanUnited Statesa month ago Ive been listening to this podcasts for several weeks now and really enjoy the in depth analysis of all the components that make a song great. Kirk has an excellent handle on music theory and his recreation of songs is impressive. I found this podcast initially by his analysis of a favorite song, but have been downloading and listening to all of this podcasts. Its excellent
Podcast Addict52 months agoHughesatron- Taking music appreciation to new levels
Kirk is the ultimate chill professor as he walks you through all the elements of a song, pointing out so many cool details and highlighting the way separate parts work together to help you understand what makes a great song great. As someone who listens to a very narrow subset of music, despite a wide range of musical interests, I’ve enjoyed dissecting songs that I know are well known in the world but I’ve never really paid attention to myself.
Apple Podcasts5fotobymattUnited States2 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #14 | United States/Music/Music Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #53 | United States/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #10 |  United Kingdom/Music/Music Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #22 | Canada/Music/Music Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #54 | United Kingdom/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #111 | Canada/Music |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Strong Songs
What is Strong Songs about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Strong Songs analyzes popular and classic tracks with a focus on musical structure, arrangement, and production. Episodes explore how chords, melodies, instrumentation, and studio decisions shape a song's emotional arc, often tying analysis to historical context and the artist's broader body of work. The host's deep musical knowledge and hands-on demonstrations (playing instruments, isolating sections) make technical concepts accessible and engaging. The show regularly features guest musicians and educators, and it often emphasizes practical listening strategies, making it useful for both music enthusiasts and industry professionals seeking thoughtful, detail-oriented music analysis. A standout aspect is the blend of rigorous analysis with ... more
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What are the audience demographics for Strong Songs?
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How many subscribers and views does Strong Songs have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Strong Songs?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Strong Songs:
1. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
2. You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians
3. Chat 10 Looks 3
4. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
5. Twenty Thousand Hertz
How many episodes of Strong Songs are there?
Strong Songs launched 8 years ago and published 180 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Strong Songs?
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What guests have appeared on Strong Songs?
Recent guests on Strong Songs include:
1. Adam Maness
2. Peter Martin
3. Dan Nervo
4. Joni Mitchell
5. Jad Abumrad
6. Leigh Sales
7. Matt Sitman
8. Sam Adler-Bell
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.