Janis Stockhouse, a celebrated former band director at Bloomington High School North, transformed a fledgling music program into an award-winning powerhouse. In this engaging discussion, she shares insights on building student confidence, the importance of healthy competition, and choosing the right composers for budding musicians. Janis also dives into her passion for jazz education and the challenges of funding in public school bands, emphasizing how music can inspire lifelong love and connection at any age.

Explore the whimsical world of They Might Be Giants' micro-songs, where genres blur and musical fragments create delightful surprises. Discover the playful complexity of tracks like 'Come On and Wreck My Car' and 'Please Pass the Milk,' each showcasing vibrant vocal contrasts and intriguing chord progressions. Dive into the deeper themes of loneliness and humor embedded in this eclectic collection. With engaging analyses and personal interpretations, this journey highlights the joy found in brief musical moments crafted by a unique duo.

Dive into the enchanting world of Steely Dan as they explore 'Babylon Sisters,' a masterclass in pristine groove. Discover the vital role of studio musicians and experience the intricate recording process behind the track. The discussion highlights Steely Dan's musical evolution in the 70s, their unique sound, and the jazz influences that define them. Featuring deep musical analysis, explore the captivating chord progressions and signature Purdy Shuffle, while personal stories and rich harmonies bring this classic to life.

It takes an extremely strong song to top the charts three separate times in three separate decades, but "I Will Always Love You" is just such a song.Written and recorded (twice) by Dolly Parton and then re-recorded in show-stopping fashion by Whitney Houston, the ballad has morphed from a fond farewell to a former mentor, to a theatrical goodbye to a lover, to a soaring ode to the very notions of love and loss. We follow that journey from the beginning, with all the vocal tricks, dramatic line-readings, and epic key changes that were added along the way.Band/Artist: Dolly Parton & Whitney HoustonAlbums: Jolene (1974), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992)Composed by: Dolly PartonListen/Buy (Jolene): Apple Music | Amazon | SpotifyListen/Buy (TBLWIT): Apple Music | Amazon | SpotifyListen/Buy (The Bodyguard): Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify------ALSO DISCUSSED/FEATURED:The sensational new WNYC podcast Dolly Parton's America"The Last Thing On My Mind" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner"Applejack" by Dolly Parton from New Harvest...First Gathering, 1977"Let It Go" from Frozen performed by Idina Menzel------OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan NervoMr. Dan Nervo has the tiller for this episode's outro solo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/----LINKS-----RECAST RECOMMENDATION: "Stranded" by Sierra Hull from Weighted Mind, 2016SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Paypal | Patreon.com/StrongsongsMERCH STOREstore.strongsongspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIAIG: @Kirk_Hamilton | Threads: @Kirk_HamiltonNEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.comJOIN THE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/GCvKqAM8SmSTRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube MusicSHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------NOVEMBER 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSElizabeth CulverMeryl AllisonRobyn MetcalfeBrian TempletCesarBob TuckerCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteKaya WoodallJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyDave SharpeSami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyNOVEMBER 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONSKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattle Trans And Nonbinary Choral EnsembleKevin MarceloSamantha CoatesJamesMark NadasdiJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzSuzanneRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesThomasAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Chris KotarbaCallum WebbLynda MacNeilDick MorganBen SteinSusan GreenGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterRobert Granatdave malloyTim RosenwongAlan MaassNick GallowayHeather Jjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayCarolinaGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatJordan BlockAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonDavid McDarbyWendy GilchristElliot RosenLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJason ReitmanAilie FraserRob TsukNATALIE MISTILISJosh SingerAmy Lynn ThornsenAdam WKelli BrockingtonVictoria Yumino caposselaSteve PaquinDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerMadeleine MaderJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyBonnie PrinsenLiz SegerEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemonCookies250Angela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillGeoff GoldenPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldNaomi WatsonDavid CushmanAlexanderChris KGavin DoigSam FennTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairL.B. MorseBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelNate from KalamazooMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo

It's time for the hardest rocking song ever written about sea life, as Kirk takes a deep dive into Heart's 1977 body-shaker "Barracuda."A deceptively complex song written around a deceptively straightforward riff, "Barracuda" opens the door for a discussion of the particulars of guitar tone, stompbox effects, the long history of the "galloping groove," why Ann Wilson's vocals rock as hard as they do, and a brief tribute to her sister Nancy's killer guitar chops.Band/Artist: HeartAlbum: Little Queen, 1977Composed by: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Roger Fisher, Michael DeRosierListen/Buy:Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify------ALSO FEATURED:"Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan"Make a Mistake with Me" by Brad Paisley"November Rain" by Guns 'n Roses feat. Slash"This Flight Tonight" as performed by Nazareth"Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin"William Tell Overture" by Gioachino Rossini"Crazy on You" by Heart"Black Dog" by Led ZeppelinA cool interview with Roger Fisher about creating his Barracuda guitar tone, as well as that "Alien Attack" sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcQik5m0t9QA Wall Street Journal interview with the Wilsons about the process of writing the song: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-rage-behind-hearts-barracuda-11557331740OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan NervoThis episode's outro soloist is the fantastic Dan Nervo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/----LINKS-----RECAST RECOMMENDATION: "The Night Owl" by Anat Cohen's Quartetinho from Bloom, 2024SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Paypal | Patreon.com/StrongsongsMERCH STOREstore.strongsongspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIAIG: @Kirk_Hamilton | Threads: @Kirk_HamiltonNEWSLETTERnewsletter.kirkhamilton.comJOIN THE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/GCvKqAM8SmSTRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube MusicSHOW ARTTom Deja, Bossman Graphics--------------------NOVEMBER 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSElizabeth CulverMeryl AllisonRobyn MetcalfeBrian TempletCesarBob TuckerCorpus FriskyBen BarronCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteKaya WoodallJay SwartzRushDaniel Hannon-BarryChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerNathaniel BauernfeindPaul DelaneyDave SharpeSami SamhuriJeremy DawsonAccessViolationDave FloreyNOVEMBER 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONSKevin StaffordLawrenceSy JacobsirritableIan PiddAndrew HoferJordan GatenbyMelissa KuhnsAshleySeattleTransAndNonbinary ChoralEnsembleKevin MarceloSamantha CoatesJamesMark NadasdiJeffDan CutterJoseph RomeroOl ParkerJohn BerryDanielle KrizClint McElroyMordok’s Vape PenInmar GivoniMichael SingerMerv AdrianJoe GalloLauren KnottsDave KolasHenry MindlinMonica St. AngeloStephen WolkwitzSuzanneRand LeShayMaxeric spMatthew JonesThomasAnthony MentzJames McMurryEthan LaserBrian John PeterAaron WilsonDent EarlCarlos LernerMisty HaisfieldAbraham BenrubiLee R.Chris KotarbaCallum WebbLynda MacNeilDick MorganBen SteinSusan GreenGrettir AsmundarsonSean MurphyRandal VegterRobert Granatdave malloyTim RosenwongAlan MaassNick GallowayHeather Jjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidJohn BaumanMartín SalíasStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayCarolinaGary PierceMatt BaxterLuigi BocciaE Margaret WartonCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanKenIsWearingAHatJordan BlockAaron WadeJeff UlmDavid FutterJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareRichard SneddonJanice BerryDoreen CarlsonDavid McDarbyWendy GilchristElliot RosenLisa TurnerPaul WayperMiles FormanBruno GaetaKenneth JungZak RemerRishi SahayJeffrey BeanJason ReitmanAilie FraserRob TsukNATALIE MISTILISJosh SingerAmy Lynn ThornsenAdam WKelli BrockingtonVictoria Yumino caposselaSteve PaquinDavid JoskeBernard KhooRobert HeuerDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerMadeleine MaderJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanLinda DuffyBonnie PrinsenLiz SegerEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNell MorseNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemonCookies250Angela LivingstoneDiane HughesMichael CasnerLowell MeyerStephen TsoneffJoshua HillGeoff GoldenPascal RuegerRandy SouzaClare HolbertonDiane TurnerTom ColemanDhu WikMelmaniacEric HelmJonathan DanielsCaro FieldNaomi WatsonDavid CushmanAlexanderChris KGavin DoigSam FennTanner MortonAJ SchusterJennifer BushDavid StroudBrad CallahanAmanda FurlottiAndrew BakerAndrew FairL.B. MorseBill ThorntonBrian AmoebasBrett DouvilleJeffrey OlsonMatt BetzelNate from KalamazooMelanie StiversRichard TollerAlexander PolsonJustin McElroyArjun SharmaJames JohnsonKevin MorrellColin Hodo

Dive into the cosmic worlds of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' and 'Starman.' Discover how these 'sister songs' reflect themes of exploration and human emotion. The analysis reveals the rich orchestration and emotional depth that shaped the sound of the late 60s and early 70s. Chord progressions and unique instrumental dynamics create an otherworldly vibe, while the contrasting journeys of Major Tom and the Starman highlight themes of isolation versus community. Plus, enjoy a sneak peek at musical influences and the magic of 70s sounds!

Explore the evolution of Aretha Franklin's classic 'Think' through its original 1968 version and the lively 1980 rendition with the Blues Brothers. Discover how different tempos and arrangements drastically change the song's feel. The discussion dives into the cultural context and emotional depth of the track, revealing the magic behind its production. With insights into jazz influences and the interplay of comedy in the Blues Brothers film, this exploration celebrates Aretha's artistry and her impact on music.

Wesley Morris, a celebrated culture critic, and Josh Gwynn, a dynamic producer and podcaster, dive deep into the legacy of Stevie Wonder. They discuss the emotional connections tied to Wonder's timeless hits like 'I Wish' and 'Sir Duke,' reflecting on their cultural significance across generations. The conversation highlights the transformative power of music in shaping identities and nostalgia, as well as the innovative techniques that define Wonder's artistry. They also explore the importance of experiencing music in its original form, celebrating the joy it brings.

Discover Stevie Wonder's incredible transformation from child prodigy to groundbreaking artist in his album 'Music of My Mind.' Delve into the challenges faced by Black artists during the Motown era and how Wonder broke barriers with hits like 'Uptight.' Uncover the soulful roots of Motown, blending sacred and secular sounds, and explore Stevie's quest for artistic independence and innovation. His use of synthesizers marks a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing his unique approach to music and creativity.

Celebrate the nostalgia of Earth, Wind & Fire's timeless track 'September' as the podcast explores its historical significance and emotional impact. Dive into the intricate arrangement, highlighting funky bass lines and glossy vocals that create a joyous atmosphere. Discover community engagement through a new voting process for future artist selections, and reflect on the deeper connection between joy and music. This deep analysis invites listeners to appreciate the enduring magic of a classic anthem while fostering a vibrant dialogue around music.