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The Fidelity Test Within “Babooshka” by Kate Bush
When Kate Bush came up with the name for her famous single “Babooshka,” she had no idea it is the Polish and Russian word for grandmother or old woman—spelled “babushka,” and pronounced a little...
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The Misunderstood Kid Behind “Be Good Johnny” by Men at Work
When Men at Work released “Be Good Johnny,” the third single from their debut album Business As Usual, they had already become a hot item beyond their native Australia. Their stature was growing in...
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The Story Behind “Surfin’ Safari” by The Beach Boys and How Two Crucial...
After The Beach Boys tasted success with “Surfin'” on the Candix label, songwriter Brian Wilson’s father Murry set about getting the young group a proper record deal. He took a mortgage on his house...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On),” John...
John Lennon felt the urge to not just write a song, but also record it in a hurry when he churned out “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” in early 1970. It was a message of positivity and accountability...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “I’ve Got a Feeling,” the Beatles Song that...
The songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney evolved during The Beatles’ amazing run. By the end of the band’s time together, the pair were mostly a collaboration in name only. But on...
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The Meaning and Story Behind “Day After Day” by Badfinger and How They Got a...
Badfinger’s status as power pop icons was cemented by glorious singles such as “Day After Day.” The gorgeous, propulsive song was a Top-10 hit in 1971 on both sides of the Atlantic as the first single...
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The Spellbinding Duet by Jeff Buckley and Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser...
“Why do people have to hear everything?” said Elizabeth Fraser in a rare interview in 2009. Fraser was still disappointed that a song she recorded with Jeff Buckley, was leaked shortly after he died in...
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Behind the Meaning of Ronnie Milsap’s “Daydreams About Night Things,” Penned...
“Daydreams About Night Things” stands out in Ronnie Milsap‘s discography. Penned by John Schweers, it’s hard to deny the appeal of this mid-tempo hit. Uncover the meaning behind this song, in Schweers’...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Ooh La La,” Faces’ Last Big Hit Before Imploding
Faces combined serious virtuosity with a shambolic attitude and briefly became a sensation in the early ’70s. They were a bit too combustible to last, but with “Ooh La La,” they managed a sweet...
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The Story Behind “Fire Lake” by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band and How He...
Once he broke through to the big time, Bob Seger wasn’t about to lose his status and go back to obscurity. Songs like “Fire Lake,” from his smash 1980 album Against the Wind, proved he had the stuff to...
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The Meaning Behind “Lunch” by Billie Eilish and How She Finally Sounds Free
It’s been three years since Billie Eilish released an album. On May 17, she returned with Hit Me Hard and Soft and a new single, “Lunch,” which finds the singer ambitiously at ease. She sounds like her...
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The Story Behind “Me & Magdalena” by The Monkees and Why Ben Gibbard Called...
John Hughes and Mark Pinkus of Rhino Records wanted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Monkees with more than another repackaging of their greatest hits. The plan evolved into a full-blown album...
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Behind the Meaning of “If Not For You” by Bob Dylan
Sometimes it’s the simplest messages of love that are the most meaningful. Bob Dylan delivered one of the most sentimental love songs of all time with “If Not For You.” Many artists have covered this...
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The Story Behind “Invisible Touch” and How Sheila E. and Some “Lousy Noises”...
By the time Genesis released its 13th album, Invisible Touch, in 1986, the band was still riding off the success of their self-titled album, and Phil Collins had already hit an apex in his solo career...
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The Meaning and Story Behind “Message in a Bottle” by The Police, a Song...
The Police managed to hit the sweet spot between commercial success and critical love better than most bands of their era. “Message in a Bottle,” one of their earliest successes, still stands out as...
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The Story and Meaning Behind Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Lodi,” Their...
Creedence Clearwater Revival soared to more success than most bands could ever imagine. But like just about every band, they had to endure some leaner times. Some of the rougher shows they played...
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How the Incarceration of Her Father Inspired “Daddy’s Home” by St. Vincent
Some songs can hit really close to home. For St. Vincent, discussing her father’s incarceration was quite personal. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 2010 for charges related to a $43 million...
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Post-Millennial Classics: “All Your Favorite Bands,” Dawes’ Soaring Ballad...
How do you wish an old friend well? Do you simply do it the old-fashioned way with something as trite as “Thinking of you” or “Hope you’re OK?” Or do you dig deeper and say something that’s guaranteed...
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The Rough and Rowdy Times of Johnny Paycheck’s Real Life Were Mirrored on His...
By 1966, Johnny Paycheck already hit the top 10 on the Country chart with his single “The Lovin’ Machine,” followed by “Motel Time Again,” and “Jukebox Charlie.” In December of ’66, Tammy Wynette also...
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The Meaning Behind “A Letter to My Mama” by Vince Gill and How His Mom...
Most enduring country songs share real-life stories. It’s a genre that works best with experience and truth, even when the truth is uncomfortable. When Vince Gill released “A Letter to My Mama,” he was...
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