Author Archives: Steve Smith

About Steve Smith

Emeritus Professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Millsaps College

Gershwin’s Greatest Hook

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Steve Smith

“What you got?” It’s a question that can look far into you. Can you face it? George Gershwin could. Given a commission and the looming deadline of a February 12, 1924 premiere, he reached into his trunk of song ideas … Continue reading →

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The Hooks Book

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Steve Smith

<It’s a Beautiful Day in Hooks Released March 30, 2023 Hooks as you’ve never seen them before! in a deepened and broadened argument extending to paintings and photographs, movies, and literature. (Actually, you may have seen some of the hook … Continue reading →

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Outro #7: Let There Be Joys

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Steve Smith

Joy, by definition, differs from pleasure in being illimitable and sufficient. To speak of an infinite or sufficient joy is redundant. But I have a question. How could this be? How could we greedy little human beings ever get our … Continue reading →

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Wandering: Liz Phair, “Support System” (1994)

Posted on August 14, 2021 by Steve Smith

Following the very nonstandard Exile in Guyville (1993), Liz Phair’s second album Whip-Smart (1994) is a fascinating project in that she is all in for pop hooks and pop hits – I cite “Supernova” and “Cinco de Mayo” – and … Continue reading →

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Riding Your Life: Rickie Lee Jones, “The Horses” (1989)

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Steve Smith

Do I want to ride a bicycle? Yes! Fun! Do I want to ride an elephant? Yes, if the elephant is OK with it. That would be awesome! When you ride, you get to move with more speed and power, … Continue reading →

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Power Notebook: The Honeydogs, “Sour Grapes” (2001)

Posted on June 1, 2021 by Steve Smith

You know the phenomenon of notebook dumping. A songwriter has obviously been jotting down lines in a notebook, ideas and phrases with random charms, and then one day decides on a chord progression and dumps a bunch of the lines … Continue reading →

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A Platonic Soul: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, “Our House” (1970) and “Chicago” (1971)

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Steve Smith

For his ideal society, Plato needs virtuous rulers, and these rulers must be educated so that they have stable souls. Their exposure to the arts, including music, must be carefully controlled. Most popular music is excluded. “The man who makes … Continue reading →

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The Greatest Rock Musical Number: Elvis Presley, “Jailhouse Rock” (1957)

Posted on April 17, 2021 by Steve Smith

I’m late to the party as usual, but can I nominate “Jailhouse Rock” for another distinction besides having the greatest first two seconds? What impresses me about the “Jailhouse Rock” number in the context of a movie musical, the performance … Continue reading →

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Take Me Over: Dixie Dregs, “Punk Sandwich” (1979)

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Steve Smith

In the constant musical back-and-forth of satisfying and defying the listener’s expectations, there are moments of relatively muscular takeover where the composer/player is saying, in effect, “I’ve been carrying you where you want to go, but now I’m going to … Continue reading →

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The Voice that Pops: On Stevie Wonder

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Steve Smith

When a voice comes out front clearly in a musical mix, it’s said to “pop.” In a pop mix you want lots of things to pop, especially lead parts. Of course, not everything can — there must be foreground-background relationships. … Continue reading →

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