🎧Episode 127: Level 42 Groove, Norah Jones Cool & Sippy Cup Yacht Rock

🎧Episode 127: Level 42 Groove, Norah Jones Cool & Sippy Cup Yacht Rock

Episode 127 moves from tight British jazz-funk into smoky modern songwriting before taking a sharp turn into kid-sized smoothness and soundtrack-country glory. Curtis opens with a groove-heavy selection from Level 42, bringing slap-bass energy, sharp musicianship, and that unmistakable blend of funk, pop, and precision. Jonathan follows with a beautifully restrained track from Norah Jones, leaning into mood, melody, and the kind of understated cool that rewards close listening. In the category songs, Curtis introduces Sippy Cup Yacht Rock, featuring a smooth, soft-rock-adjacent selection from Stephen Spencer that proves even the smallest sailors deserve polished production. Jonathan closes with Soundtrack Singles, pulling a legendary Jerry Reed track from Smokey and the Bandit—pure southern charm, highway momentum, and cinematic personality. Jazz-funk flash, late-night subtlety, children’s yacht-rock absurdity, and one all-time soundtrack ride—Episode 127 has range. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is This So Hard For You. Type Why Is This So Hard For You in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find the podcast. --- The intro music is the first 30 seconds of the Ornette Coleman tune "Song X" fed into AI software that attempts to output the song to a solo piano transcription. The outro music is the first 30 seconds of Sonny Rollins' version of the tune "St. Thomas" fed into the same software.

🎧Episode 126: Prog-Pop Turns, Rickie Lee Jones Cool & The David Foster Factor

This episode moves from ’80s prog-pop precision into songwriter sophistication before landing in show-tune energy and one very David Foster-shaped category pick. Jonathan opens with a bright, punchy selection from Yes, leaning into the band’s more streamlined era where big musicianship meets accessible hooks. Curtis follows with a laid-back, character-rich track from Rickie Lee Jones, bringing that unmistakable blend of jazz, pop, storytelling, and offbeat cool. In the category songs, Jonathan brings Show Tunes into the mix with a theatrical selection from Brassroots District, giving the episode a little stage-ready flair. Curtis closes things out with Because David Foster, featuring Peter Allen and all the polished, dramatic, hyper-crafted energy that category name implies. Prog polish, songwriter charm, musical-theater detours, and peak Foster fingerprints—this one covers a lot of very specific ground. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is This So Hard For You. Type Why Is This So Hard For You in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find the podcast. --- The intro music is the first 30 seconds of the Ornette Coleman tune "Song X" fed into AI software that attempts to output the song to a solo piano transcription. The outro music is the first 30 seconds of Sonny Rollins' version of the tune "St. Thomas" fed into the same software.

🎧Episode 125: Van Halen Double Feature, Bad Earworms & A Future Star on the Launchpad

Episode 125 turns into a full Van Halen moment as both Jonathan and Curtis arrive with tracks from different corners of the band’s catalog. Jonathan kicks things off with a high-energy, late-era cut that brings big hooks, big guitars, and full arena confidence, while Curtis follows with an early classic that captures the attitude, swing, and personality that helped make the band impossible to ignore. In the category songs, Jonathan introduces Worms In My Ears—a home for songs that are undeniably catchy, but maybe in the most irritating way possible. His pick from ABC opens the floor for a discussion about the difference between a great hook and a hook that simply will not leave you alone. Curtis then brings On The Cusp of Fame, spotlighting an early Bryan Adams track from just before he fully broke through as one of the defining rock voices of the ’80s. A Van Halen two-pack, a dangerously persistent earworm, and a future superstar waiting at the edge of fame—Episode 125 brings plenty of hooks, riffs, and category chaos. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is This So Hard For You. Type Why Is This So Hard For You in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find the podcast. --- The intro music is the first 30 seconds of the Ornette Coleman tune "Song X" fed into AI software that attempts to output the song to a solo piano transcription. The outro music is the first 30 seconds of Sonny Rollins' version of the tune "St. Thomas" fed into the same software.

🎧Episode 124: Debut Album Fire, Vocal Group Drama & Soundtrack Country-Pop

Episode 124 keeps Curtis’ debut-album deep cut streak alive with a sharp, high-energy selection from Toto, packed with studio precision, rock muscle, and the kind of musicianship that made their first record so loaded. Jonathan follows with a polished track from Glad, bringing tight vocals, earnest songwriting, and a different kind of ’80s/’90s craft. In the category songs, Curtis brings another Original Version, this time from i-Ten, revisiting a song that later became far more famous in another form. Jonathan closes with Soundtrack Singles, pulling a smooth country-pop entry from Kenny Rogers tied to the film Six Pack. Debut album greatness, layered vocals, original-version discovery, and a soundtrack single that deserves another lap around the track—Episode 124 covers plenty of ground. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is This So Hard For You. Type Why Is This So Hard For You in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find the podcast. --- The intro music is the first 30 seconds of the Ornette Coleman tune "Song X" fed into AI software that attempts to output the song to a solo piano transcription. The outro music is the first 30 seconds of Sonny Rollins' version of the tune "St. Thomas" fed into the same software.

🎧Episode 123: Jazz-Funk Precision, Debut Album Magic & Cruisin’ After Dark

Episode 123 moves from smooth jazz-funk into classic songwriter territory before ending with two songs built for completely different kinds of emotional driving. Jonathan opens with a groove-heavy selection from George Benson, blending fluid guitar work, rhythmic sophistication, and the effortless cool that defined his crossover era. Curtis continues his ongoing exploration of standout debut albums with a warm, melodic deep cut from Stephen Bishop, highlighting the understated songwriting brilliance that made his early work so enduring. In the category songs, Jonathan brings a Cruisin’ Song from Whitesnake, delivering full nighttime-highway energy, dramatic vocals, and maximum late-’80s atmosphere. Curtis closes with a #1 In Our Hearts selection from Chaka Khan, showcasing powerhouse vocals and the kind of emotional intensity that still feels timeless. Jazz-funk groove, soft-rock craftsmanship, arena-rock cruising music, and one unforgettable vocal performance—Episode 123 covers the full emotional spectrum. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is This So Hard For You. Type Why Is This So Hard For You in your podcast provider, hit that subscription button, and leave us a five-star review. This will make it easier for other podcast listeners to find the podcast. --- The intro music is the first 30 seconds of the Ornette Coleman tune "Song X" fed into AI software that attempts to output the song to a solo piano transcription. The outro music is the first 30 seconds of Sonny Rollins' version of the tune "St. Thomas" fed into the same software.