“Barking at the Moon” by Jenny Lewis is technically a song from Disney’s Bolt, which means it would be very easy to dismiss it as a kids movie song and move on like a normal person.

I did not do that.

In this episode of Maxwell’s Kitchen, I break down why “Barking at the Moon” works so well: the simple three-chord structure, Jenny Lewis’ voice, the harmonies, the bassline, the mandolin-style part, the xylophone, and the emotional lift that makes the whole thing feel bigger than it probably needed to be.

I first heard this song while watching Bolt with my kids. Years later, I heard it again and started wondering why it still worked. That is usually a sign that there is more going on than the song gets credit for.

This is part of my series “Why Is This Song So Good?” where I take a song I love and try to figure out what makes it stick.

In this episode:
• Jenny Lewis and “Barking at the Moon”
• Disney’s Bolt soundtrack
• Why kids movie songs can still be great
• Simple three-chord songwriting
• A, E, and D as the foundation
• Jenny Lewis’ voice and harmonies
• The bassline that pushes the song forward
• Mandolin-style lead parts
• The xylophone and childlike arrangement choices
• Why the chorus works
• Why simple songs can still hit hard

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Artwork by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by sonorafilms.

sharkfyn.com

maxwellskitchenpodcast.com