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The Story and Meaning Behind “Mistress and Maid” by Paul McCartney and How It...
Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello’s dozen songwriting collaborations were sprinkled throughout several of the men’s albums over half a decade or so. The last of those songs appeared on McCartney’s 1993...
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Yacht Rock Essentials: “Him” by Rupert Holmes, a Savvy Follow-Up to a Monster...
Following up a massive No. 1 hit is never an easy task. But Rupert Holmes knew he had it covered, because he thought the follow-up was the surer shot in the first place. While “Him” didn’t scale quite...
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Reimagining a John Denver Classic: The Story Behind MGK and Jelly Roll’s...
It’s been 53 years since the late great John Denver released his infamous track ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads.” In half a century, the song has been covered countless times and remained in popularity....
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The Story Behind Lady Gaga’s Stunning Version of “La Vie en Rose”
Lady Gaga is rumored to be performing a duet of “La Vie en Rose” alongside Celine Dion at the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris. While Gaga might seem like an odd choice for those unfamiliar with the...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Someday,” One of Steve Earle’s First Classic...
Steve Earle is a legend among singer/songwriters, a guy who has been able to dip his foot in genres like rock, country, and Americana while making it all sound easy. It all to start somewhere....
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The Story Behind Whitney Houston’s Momentous 1988 Summer Olympics Anthem “One...
When Albert Hammond and John Bettis were tasked with writing a song for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, they wrote one that ended up its theme song. “I got a phone call from NBC: ‘Can you...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Mary, Mary,” a Classic by The Monkees that...
It wasn’t one of The Monkees‘ big hits, mainly because it wasn’t released as a single. But “Mary, Mary” still gets plenty of spins in oldies radio formats and playlists. Plus, the song enjoyed exposure...
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How John Prine’s “Sam Stone” Heavily Influenced Roger Waters’ Last Pink Floyd...
Inspiration can—and often does—come from the unlikeliest of places, as proven by John Prine’s “Sam Stone” and its heavy influence on Roger Waters’ last Pink Floyd album, ‘The Final Cut.’ While the two...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “What Is Life,” the Classic that George Harrison...
George Harrison had already written a surplus of songs to get him started on his first solo album following the breakup of The Beatles. As the enduring classic rock chestnut “What Is Life” proved, not...
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The Unusual Way MTV Made Tracey Ullman’s “They Don’t Know” a Hit in the U.S.
In the U.S., many know Tracey Ullman from her work as a comedian and actor and as the woman who played a key role in launching The Simpsons’ decades-long run on network television. However, she was...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “The Heat Is On,” a 1980s Movie Soundtrack...
With Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F currently streaming for millions, audiences have the chance to check back in on Eddie Murphy’s iconic 1980s character. Fans of the original might be thinking about the...
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The Insane (But Also Kind of Fascinating) Meaning Behind “Forty Six & 2” by Tool
Alternative metal outfit Tool has always explored fascinating themes in their music. One example is “Forty Six & 2” from Tool’s 1996 album Ænima. This track was released as one of a few singles...
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The Story Behind “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles and How a Conversation...
Alistair Taylor was there when it happened. He accompanied Brian Epstein to the Cavern Club on November 9, 1961, to see four young boys dressed in black leather as they performed for the lunchtime...
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The Two-Sided Story Behind “Act Naturally” by Buck Owens and His Buckaroos, a...
With its year-round pleasant climate, the little municipality of Hollywood, California, became the center of the motion picture universe. From Mary Pickford and Lionel Barrymore to Charlie Chaplin and...
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Post-Millennial Classic: “Province,” the TV on the Radio Gem that Featured a...
TV on the Radio rose from a loose collective of like-minded musicians to a world-beating band in the span of just a few years in the mid-aughts. On “Province,” a gorgeous, slow-building track on their...
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The Story Behind “Good Hearted Woman” by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson...
Waylon Jennings started out in the honky-tonks of Texas and Arizona. Buddy Holly helped to set up his first recording sessions and Jennings played bass on the ill-fated Winter Dance Party Tour....
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The Story Behind “Little Talks,” an Improbable Hit from Of Monsters and Men
The odds for an Icelandic band to turn one of their songs into an international hit are long. For a band from an island of roughly 400,000 people to create one of the biggest hits of the early...
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The Story Behind Katy Perry Finding Her ”Soulmate” in Her Daughter Daisy, and...
Having released six studio albums throughout her time in the spotlight, Katy Perry decided to step away from the studio as she appeared on numerous seasons of American Idol. While loving her time with...
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The Story Behind “I’m Afraid of Americans,” David Bowie’s Slump-Breaking 1997...
David Bowie’s transition from rock icon to pop star was one of the more surprising musical developments of the 1980s. In the aftermath of releasing Never Let Me Down in 1987, Bowie was ready to jump...
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The Country Legend Who (Supposedly) Helped Inspire One of Elvis’ Greatest Hits
The bigger the song, the cloudier the lore that surrounds it, and such was the case for the story about the country legend who helped inspire one of Elvis’ greatest hits. We might typically associate...
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