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The “Miserable” Meaning Behind Eric Carmen’s 1975 Ballad “All By Myself”
After his band the Raspberries disbanded in 1974, co-founding singer and songwriter Eric Carmen‘s eponymous solo debut in 1975 delivered his first hit “All By Myself.” The melancholy ballad reached No....
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The Meaning Behind “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger and the Classic Movie...
Power ballads, in one form or another, have been a part of rock and roll almost since the genre began. But there’s no doubting the format hit a new high in the ’80s. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a...
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The Meaning Behind “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” by Elton John and How...
Those who know the Elton John/Bernie Taupin songwriting partnership know that it happens via a certain process. Taupin writes the lyrics, to which John composes the lyrics. But there have been...
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The Meaning Behind Talk Talk’s “Such a Shame” and Why Mark Hollis Said No Dice
Particularly across their first three albums, Talk Talk didn’t leave much mystery as to the meaning of their lyrics. The title and words of “Life’s What You Make It” are self-explanatory. “It’s My...
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The Desperate Story Behind “The Seeker” by The Who
What is it all about? What is the purpose of our existence? Why are we here? People have pondered these questions throughout history. Songwriters have wrestled with this concept for ages as well. Pete...
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Don’t Trust Anyone Over 30: The Story Behind “When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)”...
When we’re younger, we all want to grow up as fast as possible. The unknown future can make a person anxious as they traverse the terrain of their teenage years. Inevitably, the years pass as we still...
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The Story Behind the Late Eric Carmen’s Risqué Hit with The Raspberries, “Go...
Former Raspberries frontman and solo star Eric Carmen’s death was announced on March 11 by his wife. According to Amy Carmen, the singer/songwriter died in his sleep. He was 74. While Carmen enjoyed...
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The Haunting Meaning Behind “Lovely” by Billie Eilish (with Khalid)
When Billie Eilish and Khalid released their haunting song “Lovely” in 2018, both artists were riding an early wave to stardom. Eilish eschewed the usual teen pop formula. Instead, she wore baggy...
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Beatlemania Comes to America: The Story Behind “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by...
Beatlemania was not the first time scenes of adulation and hysteria occurred. In the 1840s, Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt elicited a similar reaction to the Fab Four, leading to poet...
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The Story Behind “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles, Which Topped the Charts...
The Beatles’ classic pop hit “Eight Days a Week” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 13, 1965. The song was the Fab Four’s seventh single to top the Hot 100 in just over a year, the first...
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The Waterboys’ Mike Scott Explains the Meaning Behind Their Late ’80s Hit...
Going against the grain of the slick, glossy productions found on most popular rock albums in the 1980s, The Waterboys had their greatest commercial success in the U.S. with the folky Fisherman’s...
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On the Blue Album’s 30th Anniversary, the Meaning Behind “Say It Ain’t So” by...
Weezer’s masterpiece self-titled debut (Blue Album) is 30 years old. The band’s debut took on mythical status in rock history (similar to The Beatles’ White Album), and for good reason—it’s damn...
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Drinking with Harry Nilsson, an Outlaw Dream, Reincarnation, and the Song...
When Jimmy Webb wrote “The Highwayman,” the story came after a night of drinking with Harry Nilsson. In the dream, Webb, the singer and songwriter behind Glen Campbell‘s “Wichita Lineman” “Galveston,”...
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The Story Behind “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande and the Misspelled Meaning of...
Ariana Grande’s hit song “7 Rings” borrows from the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music. But it’s not the only song the pop star referenced, and what ensued...
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The Story Behind “As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones and the Birth of a...
The Rolling Stones were looking for material. Beatles manager Brian Epstein took John Lennon and Paul McCartney down to a club in Richmond to see the band perform. The pair of Liverpool songwriters...
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The Story Behind “Choices” by George Jones and Why the Country Legend Didn’t...
Songwriter Billy Yates developed a friendship with George Jones after the country music legend recorded the song “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” in 1992. The song was co-written by Yates, Frank...
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The Meaning Behind “Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer and How a College...
Underneath the layers of humor and sarcasm in Weezer’s self-titled debut (best known as the Blue Album) are sad songs about alienation and self-doubt. “Undone – The Sweater Song” is an anthem that made...
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The Meaning Behind “Holocene” by Bon Iver and Why It’s a Song About Redemption
Bon Iver sounds like one man, alone in the woods, learning about himself and the natural world by making music. If Henry David Thoreau had made an album, it would probably sound like Bon Iver. Though...
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Behind the Meaning of “Giver / Taker” by Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves shared her latest album, Deeper Well, on March 15. The record sees Musgraves forge a new path forward in life and love. Among the standouts on the record is “Giver / Taker.” Check out...
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The Story of Dogged Determination Behind Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat”
Decades after its 1976 release, “Year of the Cat” is Al Stewart’s most recognizable hit. Yet there was nothing inevitable about the song’s completion, much less its enduring popularity. Even when...
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