Polish your reading glasses and pour a cup of tea - it's time for a Strong Songs mailbag!
On the last Q&A episode of year three, Kirk answers questions on Metroid meter, mystery Bond instruments, (more) Tuvan throat singing, how to count odd meters like The Terminator theme, actors who pretend to play instruments, and how to define a musical "work," even if the work in question is improvised.
REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
- “Wishing” by John Frusciante from The Will to Death, 2004
- “Super Metroid Theme” by Kenji Yamamoto from Super Metroid, 1994
- “Kwolok’s Malaise” by Gareth Coker from Ori and the Will of the Wisps, 2020
- Tuvan-style throat singing from Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island, 2021
- “Alash Khem (Alash River Song)” performed by Congar Ol’Ondar w/ Béla Fleck and the Flecktones on Live at the Quick, 2002
- Aboriginal Australian musician Lewis Burns performing traditional Digiridoo
- “Main Title from The Terminator” by Brad Fiedel, 1984
- "Blue Rondo a la Turk" by Dave Brubeck from Time Out, 1959
- “Spectre” by Radiohead, 2015
- “You Only Live Twice” by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, performed by Nancy Sinatra for You Only Live Twice, 1967
- “Sonata for Oboe and continuo in c minor, RV53” by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by In-Gun Hwang
- “Bassoon Concerto in F Major, Op. 75” by Carl Maria von Weber, performed by Michele Bowen
- An NPR interview with Wendell Pierce about his role as trombonist Antoine Batiste on Treme
- An excerpt from the climactic drum solo from Whiplash
- The jam session scene from episode one of Kids on the Slope
- The ridiculously well animated jazz band from Yakuza 0
- The final guitar showdown from Crossroads feat. Steve Vai
- The episode of 99% Invisible about The Real Book
- A collection of alphabetical tune excerpts from The Real Book, Vol. 1
- Audio from “Reset,” the third episode of James Acaster’s Netflix special Repertoire
- “Space Oddity” by David Bowie from David Bowie, 1969
- The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on The Philosophy of Music:
- Jimi Hendrix’s performance of Frances Scott Key’s “The Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, 1969
- The excellent book Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression by W.A. Mathieu
OUTRO SOLOIST: Jeff Bean
Jeff Bean is a poet and a professor of English and creative writing at Central Michigan University. He also went to Kirk's high school, where he discovered his love of jazz guitar. You can read his work at his website.
KIRK'S SUGGESTED LIST OF REAL BOOK TUNES TO LEARN*
A
A Child is Born
A Fine Romance
A Night in Tunisia
Afro Blue
Afternoon in Paris
Alice in Wonderland
All Blues
All of Me
All of You
All the Things You Are
Alone Together
Anthropology
April in Paris
Autumn in New York
Autumn Leaves
B
Beautiful Love
Bewitched
Black Orpheus
Blue Bossa
Blue In Green
Blue Monk
Blues for Alice
Blue Train
Body and Soul
C
Chega De Saudade
Chelsea Bridge
Confirmation
Corcovado
Cottontail
D
Darn that Dream
Days of Wine and Roses
Desafinado
Dolphin Dance
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
E
Easy to Love
F
Footprints
Four
Freddie Freeloader
G
Giant Steps
Girl from Ipanema
God Bless the Child
Goodbye Porkpie Hat
Groovin High
H
Have You Met Miss Jones
Here’s That Rainy Day
How High the Moon
How Insensitive
I
I Can’t Get Started
I could Write a Book
I Let a Song Go Out of my Heart
I Love You
I Mean You
Impressions
In a Mellow Tone
In a Sentimental Mood
In Your Own Sweet Way
Invitation
It Don’t Mean a Thing
J
Joy Spring (if you’re feeling adventurous)
Just Friends
K
There are no K songs in the Real Book! I take this personally!
L
Lady Bird
Like Someone in Love
Lullaby of Birdland
Lush Life (there will one day be an episode about this masterpiece)
M
Maiden Voyage
Misty
Mood Indigo
Mr. P.C.
My Favorite Things
My Foolish Heart
My Funny Valentine
My One and Only Love
N
Night and Day
Night has a Thousand Eyes
O
Oleo
Once I Loved
One Note Samba
Out of Nowhere
P
Pensatia (a difficult but beautiful tune)
Pent-Up House
Prelude to a Kiss
R
Recordame
‘Round Midnight
S
Satin Doll
Scrapple from the Apple
Seven Steps to Heaven
The Shadow of Your Smile
Sidewinder
Someday My Prince Will Come
Song For My Father
Sophisticated Lady
So What
Stella By Starlight
Stolen Moments
Stompin’ at the Savoy
Straight, No Chaser
Sugar
T
Take Five
Take the “A” Train
There Is no Greater Love
There Will Never Be Another You
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Triste
Turn Out The Stars
U
Up Jumped Spring
W
Waltz For Debby
Well You Needn’t
When I Fall In Love
Windows
Y
Yesterdays
You Don’t Know What Love Is
*There are many other great tunes in the Real Book, this is just a selection to start with if you're learning repertoire. Also, feel free to skip any of these, especially the more beboppy tunes, if they're too tricky. Or if you don't like them. Or for whatever other reason. Good luck! ~K
--------------------
OCTOBER 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS
Ashley Hoag – Mark and Michelle – Kelsair – Rob Bosworth – Kyle Cooke – Donald Mackie – Melissa Osborne – Christopher Miller – Tim Byrne – Jamie White – Christopher Kupski – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joshua Jarvis – Niko – Joe Laska – Laurie Acreman – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Jenness Gardner – Simon Cammell – Guinevere Boostrom – Narelle Horn – Nathaniel Bauernfeind – Bill Rosinger – Anne Britt – David Zahm – Erin – Aidan Coughlan – Jeanneret Manning Family Four – Doug Paton – Robert Paul – Viki Dun – Dave Sharpe – Christer Lindqvist – Sami Samhuri – AccessViolation – Ryan Torvik – Merlin Mann – Glenn – Jim Chokey – Andre Bremer – Mark Schechter – Dave Florey – Dan Apczynski
OCTOBER 2021 HALF-NOTE PATRONS
Paul Wayper – Miles Forman – Dennis M. Edwards – Jeffrey Ferris – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Kurt Wendelken – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Stefan Niebrügge – Jason Reitman – Karen Liu – Greg Burgess – Ailie Fraser – Simon Prieto – Breck Jones – Paul McGreal – Karen Arnold – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Phino DeLeon – Schloss Edward J., MD – Rhyanon Murray – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W – Kelli Brockington – Stephen Rawlings – Ben Machta – Victoria Yu – Kevin Rivers – Gray Dyer – Brad Clark – Christopher – Michael J. Cunningham – Kari Kirk – Mark Boggs – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Mary Schoenmaker – Sarah – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – Marc – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – Brian Meldrum – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Richard Cambier – Madeleine Mader – Fernando Rodriguez – Timothy Dougherty – Jason Pratt – Stewart Oak – Caroline Miller – Abbie Berg – Sam Norton – Nicole Schleicher – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Bridget Lyons – Olivia Bishop – John Gisselquist – Elaine Martin – Kouroth – Sharon Tree – Belinda McGrath-Steer – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Pete Simm – Susan Plein – Dallas Hockley – Jana J – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Will Dwyer – Alethea Lee – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Spencer Shirley – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Jeffy Thanadros – David Friedman – Phillip Dalton – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Kenneth Tiong – Jo Sutherland – Michael Casner – Michael York – Barb Courtney – Derek Bender – Jen Small – Lowell Meyer – Etele Illes – Stephen Tsoneff – Lorenz Schwarz – Becca Sample – Wen – Jack Sjogren – Benedict Pennington – Geoff Golden – Robyn Fraser – Alexander Geddes – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – JC – Brendan Jubb – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jake Roberts – Briony Leo – Bill Fuller – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Zoe Little – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Duncan – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Jeremy Dawson – Chris K – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua – Matt Gaskell – Jules Bailey – Eero Wahlstedt – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Mueller – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Jon O’Keefe – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Andrew Lee – Kevin Morrell – Kevin Pennyfeather – Nicholas Schechter – Emily Williams
--------------------
💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺
July 11, 2026 | Portland, OR
Buy Tickets Here
----LINKS-----
💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | One-Time Donation
🏠 HOMEPAGE
👚 MERCH
💬 DISCORD SERVER
📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS
🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC
📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky
🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
🎨 SHOW ART:
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics
More description
Polish your reading glasses and pour a cup of tea - it's time for a Strong Songs mailbag!
On the last Q&A episode of year three, Kirk answers questions on Metroid meter, mystery Bond instruments, (more) Tuvan throat singing, how to count odd meters like The Terminator theme, actors who pretend to play instruments, and how to define a musical "work," even if the work in question is improvised.
REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:
- “Wishing” by John Frusciante from The Will to Death, 2004
- “Super Metroid Theme” by Kenji Yamamoto from Super Metroid, 1994
- “Kwolok’s Malaise” by Gareth Coker from Ori and the Will of the Wisps, 2020
- Tuvan-style throat singing from Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island, 2021
- “Alash Khem (Alash River Song)” performed by Congar Ol’Ondar w/ Béla Fleck and the Flecktones on Live at the Quick, 2002
- Aboriginal Australian musician Lewis Burns performing traditional Digiridoo
- “Main Title from The Terminator” by Brad Fiedel, 1984
- "Blue Rondo a la Turk" by Dave Brubeck from Time Out, 1959
- “Spectre” by Radiohead, 2015
- “You Only Live Twice” by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, performed by Nancy Sinatra for You Only Live Twice, 1967
- “Sonata for Oboe and continuo in c minor, RV53” by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by In-Gun Hwang
- “Bassoon Concerto in F Major, Op. 75” by Carl Maria von Weber, performed by Michele Bowen
- An NPR interview with Wendell Pierce about his role as trombonist Antoine Batiste on Treme
- An excerpt from the climactic drum solo from Whiplash
- The jam session scene from episode one of Kids on the Slope
- The ridiculously well animated jazz band from Yakuza 0
- The final guitar showdown from Crossroads feat. Steve Vai
- The episode of 99% Invisible about The Real Book
- A collection of alphabetical tune excerpts from The Real Book, Vol. 1
- Audio from “Reset,” the third episode of James Acaster’s Netflix special Repertoire
- “Space Oddity” by David Bowie from David Bowie, 1969
- The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on The Philosophy of Music:
- Jimi Hendrix’s performance of Frances Scott Key’s “The Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, 1969
- The excellent book Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from Its Natural Origins to Its Modern Expression by W.A. Mathieu
OUTRO SOLOIST: Jeff Bean
Jeff Bean is a poet and a professor of English and creative writing at Central Michigan University. He also went to Kirk's high school, where he discovered his love of jazz guitar. You can read his work at his website.
KIRK'S SUGGESTED LIST OF REAL BOOK TUNES TO LEARN*
A
A Child is Born
A Fine Romance
A Night in Tunisia
Afro Blue
Afternoon in Paris
Alice in Wonderland
All Blues
All of Me
All of You
All the Things You Are
Alone Together
Anthropology
April in Paris
Autumn in New York
Autumn Leaves
B
Beautiful Love
Bewitched
Black Orpheus
Blue Bossa
Blue In Green
Blue Monk
Blues for Alice
Blue Train
Body and Soul
C
Chega De Saudade
Chelsea Bridge
Confirmation
Corcovado
Cottontail
D
Darn that Dream
Days of Wine and Roses
Desafinado
Dolphin Dance
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
E
Easy to Love
F
Footprints
Four
Freddie Freeloader
G
Giant Steps
Girl from Ipanema
God Bless the Child
Goodbye Porkpie Hat
Groovin High
H
Have You Met Miss Jones
Here’s That Rainy Day
How High the Moon
How Insensitive
I
I Can’t Get Started
I could Write a Book
I Let a Song Go Out of my Heart
I Love You
I Mean You
Impressions
In a Mellow Tone
In a Sentimental Mood
In Your Own Sweet Way
Invitation
It Don’t Mean a Thing
J
Joy Spring (if you’re feeling adventurous)
Just Friends
K
There are no K songs in the Real Book! I take this personally!
L
Lady Bird
Like Someone in Love
Lullaby of Birdland
Lush Life (there will one day be an episode about this masterpiece)
M
Maiden Voyage
Misty
Mood Indigo
Mr. P.C.
My Favorite Things
My Foolish Heart
My Funny Valentine
My One and Only Love
N
Night and Day
Night has a Thousand Eyes
O
Oleo
Once I Loved
One Note Samba
Out of Nowhere
P
Pensatia (a difficult but beautiful tune)
Pent-Up House
Prelude to a Kiss
R
Recordame
‘Round Midnight
S
Satin Doll
Scrapple from the Apple
Seven Steps to Heaven
The Shadow of Your Smile
Sidewinder
Someday My Prince Will Come
Song For My Father
Sophisticated Lady
So What
Stella By Starlight
Stolen Moments
Stompin’ at the Savoy
Straight, No Chaser
Sugar
T
Take Five
Take the “A” Train
There Is no Greater Love
There Will Never Be Another You
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Triste
Turn Out The Stars
U
Up Jumped Spring
W
Waltz For Debby
Well You Needn’t
When I Fall In Love
Windows
Y
Yesterdays
You Don’t Know What Love Is
*There are many other great tunes in the Real Book, this is just a selection to start with if you're learning repertoire. Also, feel free to skip any of these, especially the more beboppy tunes, if they're too tricky. Or if you don't like them. Or for whatever other reason. Good luck! ~K
--------------------
OCTOBER 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS
Ashley Hoag – Mark and Michelle – Kelsair – Rob Bosworth – Kyle Cooke – Donald Mackie – Melissa Osborne – Christopher Miller – Tim Byrne – Jamie White – Christopher Kupski – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joshua Jarvis – Niko – Joe Laska – Laurie Acreman – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Jenness Gardner – Simon Cammell – Guinevere Boostrom – Narelle Horn – Nathaniel Bauernfeind – Bill Rosinger – Anne Britt – David Zahm – Erin – Aidan Coughlan – Jeanneret Manning Family Four – Doug Paton – Robert Paul – Viki Dun – Dave Sharpe – Christer Lindqvist – Sami Samhuri – AccessViolation – Ryan Torvik – Merlin Mann – Glenn – Jim Chokey – Andre Bremer – Mark Schechter – Dave Florey – Dan Apczynski
OCTOBER 2021 HALF-NOTE PATRONS
Paul Wayper – Miles Forman – Dennis M. Edwards – Jeffrey Ferris – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Kurt Wendelken – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Stefan Niebrügge – Jason Reitman – Karen Liu – Greg Burgess – Ailie Fraser – Simon Prieto – Breck Jones – Paul McGreal – Karen Arnold – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Phino DeLeon – Schloss Edward J., MD – Rhyanon Murray – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W – Kelli Brockington – Stephen Rawlings – Ben Machta – Victoria Yu – Kevin Rivers – Gray Dyer – Brad Clark – Christopher – Michael J. Cunningham – Kari Kirk – Mark Boggs – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Mary Schoenmaker – Sarah – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – Marc – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – Brian Meldrum – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Richard Cambier – Madeleine Mader – Fernando Rodriguez – Timothy Dougherty – Jason Pratt – Stewart Oak – Caroline Miller – Abbie Berg – Sam Norton – Nicole Schleicher – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Bridget Lyons – Olivia Bishop – John Gisselquist – Elaine Martin – Kouroth – Sharon Tree – Belinda McGrath-Steer – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Pete Simm – Susan Plein – Dallas Hockley – Jana J – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Will Dwyer – Alethea Lee – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Spencer Shirley – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Jeffy Thanadros – David Friedman – Phillip Dalton – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Kenneth Tiong – Jo Sutherland – Michael Casner – Michael York – Barb Courtney – Derek Bender – Jen Small – Lowell Meyer – Etele Illes – Stephen Tsoneff – Lorenz Schwarz – Becca Sample – Wen – Jack Sjogren – Benedict Pennington – Geoff Golden – Robyn Fraser – Alexander Geddes – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – JC – Brendan Jubb – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jake Roberts – Briony Leo – Bill Fuller – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Zoe Little – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Duncan – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Jeremy Dawson – Chris K – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua – Matt Gaskell – Jules Bailey – Eero Wahlstedt – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Mueller – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Jon O’Keefe – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Andrew Lee – Kevin Morrell – Kevin Pennyfeather – Nicholas Schechter – Emily Williams
--------------------
💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺
July 11, 2026 | Portland, OR
Buy Tickets Here
----LINKS-----
💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | One-Time Donation
🏠 HOMEPAGE
👚 MERCH
💬 DISCORD SERVER
📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS
🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC
📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky
🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
🎨 SHOW ART:
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics
