Why Is This So Hard For You?

Episode 137 settles into prime late-’70s studio-player territory, with Curtis bringing Steely Dan and Jonathan following with the Doobie Brothers for a double shot of slick production, soft rock polish, and yacht rock-adjacent groove.Curtis opens with a Steely Dan cut built for radio mythology, full of jazz-pop sophistication, dry wit, and that unmistakable Becker/Fagen perfectionism. Jonathan keeps the smoothness going with the Doobie Brothers, bringing Michael McDonald-era soul, harmony, and AOR warmth into the mix.For the category songs, Curtis returns to Sonic Holocaust with Rodney Dangerfield, proving once again that novelty rap and celebrity comedy records can be a very dangerous combination. Jonathan then brings #1 In Our Hearts with Van Morrison, spotlighting a classic that somehow never reached the top spot but still feels permanently installed in the American songbook.Steely Dan cool, Doobie Brothers groove, Rodney Dangerfield chaos, and Van Morrison singalong royalty—Episode 137 is smooth, strange, and just a little damaged.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 135 gets strange in all the right ways, moving from literary singer-songwriter atmosphere to heavy, harmony-rich rock before crashing directly into one of the most baffling novelty records ever allowed near a microphone.Curtis opens with Rickie Lee Jones, bringing smoky art-pop storytelling, jazz-shaded songwriting, and the kind of album-cut depth that rewards a closer listen. Jonathan follows with King’s X, adding muscular riffs, big vocal textures, and a deep cut that shows why the band has always lived somewhere between hard rock, prog, soul, and “why weren’t they bigger?”For the category songs, Curtis takes Sonic Holocaust exactly where it belongs with Dog Police, a song that feels less like music criticism and more like filing a police report. Jonathan then introduces Dead Ringer with Bonnie Tyler, a category that works on two levels: the song’s unmistakable connection to Bon Jovi’s arena-rock DNA, and the sad new weight behind revisiting Tyler’s powerhouse voice.Rickie Lee Jones mystery, King’s X muscle, Dog Police chaos, and a Bonnie Tyler curveball with a bittersweet edge—Episode 135 is weird, heartfelt, and fully committed.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 133 slides into that sweet spot where modern yacht rock polish, jazz fusion chops, and forgotten pop history all somehow belong in the same conversation.Curtis opens with State Cows, bringing smooth AOR textures, West Coast studio-musician energy, and the kind of throwback songwriting that feels built for this music podcast. Jonathan follows with Jeff Lorber Fusion, adding electric keys, instrumental groove, and a little jazz-fusion wizardry to the episode’s deep cut mix.For the category songs, Curtis brings an Original Version with Racey, digging into the strange and fascinating world of songs that had a life before the version most people know. Jonathan then takes #1 In Our Hearts into classic country-pop territory with Dottie West, because not every great record needs a chart-topping trophy to deserve the spotlight.Yacht rock sheen, fusion sparkle, original-version detective work, and a country-pop heartbreaker—Episode 133 has plenty of musical side roads worth taking.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.