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Strong Songs

Strong Songs

By: Kirk Hamilton
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 Music: 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. Music
Episodes
  • The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin

    The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin
    Nov 28 2025
    Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program Open Studio, as well as You'll Hear It, the music podcast he co-hosts with Adam Maness. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:“Variations Sur ‘Le Carnaval de Venise” feat. Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble from Carnival, 1987“Path Adjacent” Peter Martin w/ Gregory Hutchinson, Sarah Hanahan & Reuben Rogers from Generation S, 2023“Bag’s Groove” by Milt Jackson from Miles Davis, Bag’s Groove, 1967“Tea For Two” by Youmans/Ceasar, played by Art Tatum from Piano Starts Here, 1968“Broad Way Blues” by Ornette Coleman from New York Is Now, 1968“Swingin’ at the Haven” by Branford Marsalis from Royal Garden Blues, 1986“Now’s The Time/Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker from Jamey Aebersold Vol. 6: All Bird“Naima’s Love Song” by Betty Carter from I_t’s Not About The Melody_, 1992“Mental Phrasing” by Roy Hargrove live w/ Joshua Redman, Ron Blake, Peter Martin, Rodney Whitaker, Greg Hutchinson“Turnaround” by Joshua Redman w/ Pat Metheny from Wish, 1993“Jig-A-Jug” by Joshua Redman and “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins” from Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard, 1995“Cat Battles” and “One Shining Soul” by Joshua Redman from Freedom in the Groove, 1996“The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner” intro and “Mind and Body” from Solo, Live in New York, 2015“Why Approach Chords Matter” - Adam Maness for Open Studio on YouTube, 2025“2 Down & 2 Across,” “Sing a Song of Song,” “Before It’s Time to Say Goodbye” by Kenny Garrett feat. Kenny Kirkland from Songbook, 1997“Phyrzzinian Man” by Wynton Marsalis from Black Codes from the Underground, 1985“Necessary Evil” by Elvin Jones and “Whatever Possessed Me” by Chet Baker feat. Pat LaBarbera (Tenor) and Kenny Kirkland from Brother John, 1982“Stella by Starlight” by Hoagy Carmichael, performed by the Miles Davis Quintet on My Funny Valentine: In Concert, 1965----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | Paypal🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVERstrongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTSkirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSICkirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------NOVEMBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverGregJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaJulie RoweKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRich FishRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranNOVEMBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan KressAlan MaassAlexAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAndrew KnutsonAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayDubmarineE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spEric StoneErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHeather JHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddInmar GivoniirritableJamesJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJim SellersJoe GalloJohn BerryJohn Dominajohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKarma JayKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMaddie SMargaret ...
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad

    The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad
    Nov 14 2025
    Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti.DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:“Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990“Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004Excerpt from Port(al), music by Paola Prestini and Jad Abumrad, performed by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus“It’s Highlife Time” and “Amaechi’s Blues” by Fela Kuti and his Koola Lobitos, ca. 1963-69“Jeun Ko Ku,” “Eko Ile,” and “Je’nwi Temi” by Fela Kuti from Afrodesiac, 1973“Zombie” by Fela Kuti from Zombie, 1976“The Great Curve” by Talking Heads from Remain in Light, 1980“Life During Wartime” and “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads from Stop Making Sense, 1984“The Prince We Never Knew“ - Sasha Weiss’ essential New York Times feature on Ezra Edelman’s unreleased Prince documentary“RITUAL” by Jon Hopkins from Ritual, 2024“Open Eye Signal” by Jon Hopkins from Immunity, 2013“A Quiet Glow” by Siavash Amini from Songs for Sad Poets, 2022“In The Dust of This Planet” - 2014 Radiolab Episode featuring the poetry of Eugene Thacker“The Right Man (Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi Cosmic Remix)” from The Units - Connections, 2011“quiero sentirme bien” by Kali Uchis from Sin Miedo, 2020“Looking for Love” by The Tallest Man On Earth from Henry St., 2023“Sweet Surrender” by Sarah McLachlan from Mirrorball, 1999----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | Paypal🏠 HOMEPAGEstrongsongspodcast.com👚 MERCHstrongsongspodcast.com/store📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.com📷 SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: @Kirk_HamiltonBluesky: @kirkhamilton.com💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVERstrongsongspodcast.com/discord🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTSkirkhamilton.com/gear🎶 KIRK'S MUSICkirkhamilton.com/music🎨 SHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------OCTOBER 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSAccessViolationAndyBen BarronCatherine WarnerCesarChristopher McConnellChristopher MillerCorpus FriskyDamon WhiteDaniel Hannon-BarryDave FloreyDavid MascettiElizabeth CulverGregJamie WhiteJay SwartzJenness GardnerJeremy DawsonJoe LaskaKen HirshLisa CrottyMelanie AndrichMelissa LucasNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyRick KeelerRobyn MetcalfeRushSami SamhuriThomas McIlheranOCTOBER 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSAaron CainAaron WadeAaron WilsonAbbie BergAbraham BenrubiAchint SrivastavaAdam ClarkAdam StofskyAdam WAilie FraserAJ SchusterAlan KressAlan MaassAlexAlex MillerAlexanderAlexander PolsonAlison DuganAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairAndrew HoferAngela LivingstoneAnthony MentzArjun SharmaAruni JayatillekeAshleyBeaBen SteinBernard KhooBetsy BarreBill ThorntonBonnie PrinsenBrad CallahanBrendan McLeodBrett DouvilleBrian AmoebasBrian RinckenbergerBrian John PeterBruno GaetaCarlos LernerCaro FieldCatherine ClausecbalmainCharles McGeeCheryl WilkeChris KChris RemoChristian HessmannChristopher Selby SpinkClare HolbertonClaudia CartyClint McElroyColin HodoDallas HockleyDan CutterDaniDaniel KaberonDaniel MarkoffDaniel NervoDave DouglassDave Kolasdave malloyDave SharpeDavidDavidDavid FutterDavid JoskeDavid NoahDavid StroudDeebsDent EarlDermot CrowleyDhu WikDiane HughesDiane TurnerDick MorganDonald MackieDoreen CarlsonDoug BelewDouglas H FrazerDr Arthur A GrayE Margaret WartonEdward SteenEoin de BurcaEric HelmEric Prestemoneric spEric StoneErikEthan BaumanEthan LaserFreddy FreemanGary PierceGavin DoigGeraldine ButlerGlenn JacksonGrettir AsmundarsonHenry MindlinHiddenJesterIan KarmelIan PiddInmar GivoniirritableJamesJames JohnsonJames McMurryJamieJanice BerryJason PrattJeffJeff UlmJeffrey BeanJeffrey OlsonJennifer BushJezJim SellersJoe GalloJohn Berryjohn halpinJonathan DanielsJordan GatenbyJoseph RomeroJosh SingerJoshua HillJRRJJulie KellmanJustin McElroyKarma JayKaya WoodallKayla RussellKellen SteffenKelli BrockingtonKenIsWearingAHatKenneth JungKevin MarceloKevin PotterKevin StaffordKym GriffithLauren KnottsLauren ReayLawrenceLee R.LGLinda DuffyLisa TurnerLottie AronLuigi BocciaM Shane BordersMargaret McReynoldsMartín SalíasMathias SchmidtMatt BetzelMatthew JonesMaxmax barnesMelanie StiversMelissa KuhnsMelmaniacMerv AdrianMeryl AllisonMichaelMichael BermanMichael CasnerMichael SingerMichael WisnoskyMichelle Laughranmino caposselaMisty HaisfieldmjsMonica St. AngeloMordok’s Vape PenNaomi WatsonNathan GouwensNell MorseOl ParkerPascal RuegerPaul BigelmanPaul WayperPeter HardingPhantomMarePhilip KellyPortland Eye CarePrincess of WhalesR J HelowRachelRand LeShayRandal VegterRandy SouzaRichard SneddonRichard TollerRishi SahayRob TsukRobert GranatRobert HeuerRsPRyan RairighSarah VettersSean MurphySeattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral EnsembleSimon HellmanSTEPHENStephen TsoneffStephen WolkwitzSteve BSteve MartinoSteve PaquinStu BakerSuzanne CrawfordSy JacobsTanner MortonTBThomasTim ...
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz]

    Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz]
    Oct 31 2025

    This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025.

    Kirk's 2020 episode of Strong Songs about the music of Super Mario

    TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES:

    This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling.

    From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With just five lo-fi audio channels and 40 kilobytes of space, composer Koji Kondo created a soundscape full of unforgettable melodies. In this episode, we explore how Kondo’s playful instincts, rhythmic trickery, and love of jazz fusion defined the sound of Mario. Featuring Kirk Hamilton of Strong Songs and Thomas of Thomas Game Docs.

    MUSIC FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

    Rocker Jr. - Shake [B]IT
    DJARTMUSIC - 8 Bit Console from My Childhood
    moodmode - Game 8-Bit On
    XtremeFreddy - Bit Beats 1
    moodmode - Level VII
    Wesley Slover - Analog Jam 1103
    Space_Cat - Light It Up
    moodmode - Level VI
    William Benckert - Dance of the Pixel Birds

    Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our new video series.

    If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠.

    Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Follow Kirk Hamilton’s podcasts ⁠Strong Songs⁠ and ⁠Triple Click⁠.

    Subscribe to Thomas’ Youtube channel, ⁠Thomas Game Docs⁠.
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    33 mins
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Really enjoyed this analysis and holistic approach you have looking at the performance, thank you

Great breakdown and analysis. thank you

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I love that someone so caring and insightful can take this subject matter and dive into it so deeply and with so much attention to detail! Even to the point of analysing the outboard fx used and to go ahead and learn the guitar parts. SO WELL DONE. Love this series, very muchly.

A fine analysis and exploration of a true classic

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