45 min listen
"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
FromStrong Songs
ratings:
Length:
35 minutes
Released:
Apr 17, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Today's forecast calls for blue skies, and today's Strong Songs calls for an in-depth analysis of Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky." NOW ON PATREON Strong Songs now has a Patreon! If you liked this episode (or, you know, any of them), we hope you'll consider supporting the show. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/strongsongs BLUE SKIES It's time to welcome all our pretty faces to the human race, thanks to ELO's most enduring concert-rock classic. Kirk goes for a sunny stroll on a beautiful musical day full of layered vocals, fire extinguisher drumming, time-tested chords, Les Paul solos, vocoders, and... unexpected saxophone interludes? Band/Artist: Electric Light Orchestra Album: Out Of The Blue, 1977 Composed by: Jeff Lynne Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ------ ALSO FEATURED: "Yesterday" by Paul McCartney from Help!, 1965 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify -- "Confirmation" by Charlie Parker, 1946, included on In Person Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ———————————— NEWSLETTER/MAILING LIST Sign up for Kirk's mailing list to start getting monthly-ish newsletters with music recommendations, links, news, and extra thoughts on new Strong Songs episodes: https://kirkhamilton.substack.com/subscribe STRONG MERCH! Visit the Strong Songs merch store for some very cool t-shirts, mugs, totes, and more: store.strongsongspodcast.com
Released:
Apr 17, 2019
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Syncopation, Subdivision & The Four Chords: The Strong Songs mailbag is overflowing, so it's time to dive in and answer some listener questions. NOW ON PATREON Strong Songs now has a Patreon! If you liked this episode (or, you know, any of them), we hope you'll consider supporting the show. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/strongsongs LISTENER Q&A Kirk digs into creative subdivision, syncopated melodies, major 9th chords, famous drum fills, chiptunes, "bad" singing that's actually good, jazz chords, Indian drum languages, and how to be a better music listener. Update 12/23/2020: Kirk has traveled back in time to correct this episode's erroneous diagnosis of a strange sound on Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You." SHOW NOTES/LINKS ———————————— "The Four Chords" as performed by The Axis of Awesome on YouTube ———————————— A cool breakdown of the "Amen Break" drum fill ———————————— "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Irving Berlin, performed by Ella Fitzgerald Listen/Buy: Apple Music | A by Strong Songs