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The Meaning Behind “One More Last Chance” by Vince Gill and How It Was...
When Vince Gill recorded “One More Last Chance,” he borrowed an old story from a legend. George Jones, the hard-living and definitive country singer, inspired his musical heir with a life that was a...
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The Meaning Behind “Stupid Love” by Lady Gaga and Why She Considers the Album...
Lady Gaga’s new concert film Gaga Chromatica Ball premieres on HBO and Max tonight (May 25). The special features her 2022 Dodger Stadium concert in support of her sixth album Chromatica. Following...
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Graham Nash Laments Witnessing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young ‘Grow’ and ‘Fall’...
Graham Nash wishes Crosby, Stills, Nash could have continued making more music after their eighth and final album Looking Forward in 1999. The band played together with Neil Young one last time at a...
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The Environmental Crisis that Inspired “Revelation (Mother Earth)” by Ozzy...
When Ozzy Osbourne sought solid footing following his ejection from Black Sabbath, he found a very strong musical tribe. Between classically inspired guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and...
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The Story Behind “All I Really Want to Do” by Bob Dylan and Why He No Longer...
In 2016, it was announced Bob Dylan would be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” During his acceptance speech, he...
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The Story Behind “How Do You Do It?” by Gerry and the Pacemakers and How They...
When manager Brian Epstein secured a record deal for The Beatles with E.M.I. Records, the group wasn’t even in England. They were performing in Hamburg, Germany. Epstein sent two telegrams: one to...
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The Meaning of “Love and Anger” by Kate Bush and Why It Was One of the Most...
She may have become a global household name in 2022, but enigmatic British singer/songwriter Kate Bush was initially a cult figure in America, starting with her 1978 debut The Kick Inside until her...
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The Beatles Song John Lennon Knew Would Be Banned Before They Released It
Whether it was an artist’s intuition or simply the predictions of a cynic, John Lennon knew that radio stations would ban one Beatles song, in particular, as soon as they got wind of the lyrical...
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How Joe Walsh Used “Rocky Mountain Way” To Get over a Former Band Breakup
Joe Walsh’s 1971 departure from James Gang and his subsequent move across the country from Cleveland, Ohio, to Boulder, Colorado, might’ve felt like his entire life was going topsy-turvy, but at least...
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How Steve Winwood’s “Back in the High Life Again” Almost Fell Through the...
Over the latter half of the 1980s, Steve Winwood was a near constant presence on the charts. “Back in the High Life Again” made one of the biggest splashes among that string of hits, but it almost...
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The Story Behind “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden and the Real-Life Battle that...
One of the most distinctive elements of Iron Maiden’s music is that mid-tempo to fast-paced gallop one hears in numerous songs throughout their 17-album catalog. That sound became reinforced in...
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The Anti-War Sentiments of Men at Work’s “It’s a Mistake”
Men at Work quickly became a global phenomenon in 1982 with their debut album Business as Usual, thanks to its combination of catchy tunes and whimsical music videos. Yet other songs showed a more...
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Why John Lennon Thought His Banned Song Was A Societal Problem, Not His Problem
When U.S. radio stations banned John Lennon’s track “Cold Turkey,” he was quick to point out that the decision reflected a problem with society, not a problem with his art. Lennon first presented the...
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Behind the Meaning of “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley secured many hits during his lifetime, but few are as timeless as “Suspicious Minds.” This sweeping anthem is built around an insatiably catchy beat and Presley’s powerful belt. Check out...
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The Spontaneous Creation of “The Perfect Drug” by Nine Inch Nails and Why...
It’s fascinating how artists and fans can have divergent views of the same song. It’s not uncommon for musicians to be weary of playing hits that fans love. There’s always that balance of giving the...
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The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” Was Once Banned From Radio for This...
While it’s hard to imagine radio stations banning a lighthearted Beatles track like “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” heartbreaking reasons compelled them to do so over three decades after the band first released...
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The Smoldering Intensity of “Eyes Without a Face” by Billy Idol and Why He...
From the get-go, Billy Idol was readily identifiable as a punk because of his image, menacing snarl, and fiery tracks like “Rebel Yell” and “Dancing with Myself.” But the truth is he was not always as...
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The Story Behind Smokey Robinson and The Miracles’“Shop Around” and Why It’s...
The Motown label dominated the music world throughout the 1960s as a steady stream of hits came forth from an outstanding variety of artists. But it’s fair to wonder what might have happened had not...
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The Story and Meaning Behind Bruce Springsteen’s “Murder Incorporated,” the...
There are some songs that, even beyond their quality, mean a little more to fans for what they represent in an artist’s career arc. “Murder Incorporated” seems to be one of those songs for fans of...
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Behind the Meaning of Taylor Swift’s Post-Mortem of a Relationship, “loml”
When we first got the tracklist for Taylor Swift‘s The Tortured Poets Department, “loml” was projected to be a love song. The acronym most commonly stands for “Love of My Life.” Given that, it was...
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