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The Elton John Song Unintentionally Named After Levon Helm That Had Nothing...
When Elton John began working on his 1971 album, Madman Across the Water with Bernie Taupin they named the lead single after the Band‘s drummer Levon Helm. Though the song was believed to be about...
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David Bowie Wrote These Songs To Make “Top 10 Rubbish,” but His Plan Backfired
Some musicians grow disheartened or quit altogether when they fail to achieve commercial success, but when a late 1960s David Bowie found himself in a similar situation, he decided to do the opposite...
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Behind Liam Payne’s Ingenious Idea for “Better Than Words”
There have been an uncountable amount of great love songs released over the decades. All of them have something unique to say about matters of the heart. Liam Payne was more than aware of this when he...
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Behind Paul Simon’s Tribute to John Lennon and Its Alleged Curse
Paul Simon is among many artists who have paid musical tribute to the late John Lennon. But whether it was fate, coincidence, or a sly prank from beyond the grave, strange events followed Simon...
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Lisa Recycles ’90s Hit “Kiss Me” on New Single “Moonlit Floor”
Following her collaboration with Rosalía on “New Woman,” Blackpink’s Lisa returns with “Moonlit Floor.” The title of Lisa’s dreamy new single is taken from Sixpence None the Richer’s massive ’90s hit...
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The Story Behind David Crosby’s Salute to Music, Co-Written With Neil Young...
After the release of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s chart-topping Déjà Vu in 1970, each member released prominent solo albums. Stephen Stills followed it up with his self-titled debut that year,...
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Behind the Meaning of “Boys ‘Round Here” by Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton has no shortage of songs that speak to country living. One track that many fans from down south have taken ownership of is “Boys ‘Round Here.” Uncover the meaning behind this Shelton hit,...
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The Song Syd Barrett Barely Finished Writing in 1967, Later Released by Pink...
By the time Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd in April of 1968, he had songs he had partially finished, including “I Never Lied to You,” “I Get Stoned,” and more, including one he originally recorded a rough...
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The Conflicting Stories Behind “People Are Strange” by The Doors
The myth of Jim Morrison has always been surrounded by mystery and intrigue. Yes, he was a real person, but the image he left behind has always been full of conflicting reports. Just as The Doors mixed...
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“This Time,” Waylon Jennings’ First No. 1 as an Outlaw Turns 50
Even after Waylon Jennings gained creative freedom from RCA in 1972, pinpointing the start of the outlaw movement, he was still using the label studios but was growing weary of some of the label “eyes”...
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Behind the Meaning of “Not Ready to Make Nice” by The Chicks
Few artists have addressed their controversy as head on as The Chicks have. The country trio had their career completely shaken by a comment made during a show in the U.K. “We don’t want this war, this...
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Patsy Cline Was “Crazy” for Initially Not Wanting to Record Her Most Iconic Hit
It’s almost impossible to imagine Patsy Cline’s career without her iconic hit “Crazy,” but if the country singer had gotten her way in the summer of 1961, we would have had to do just that. Cline might...
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Neil Young Says He Plays This Beloved Song for Fans “More Than I Do It for...
Neil Young has plenty of iconic hits that are fun to play and make audiences happy, but his decision to include one particular song in his live performances has more to do with his fans than his own...
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The Story Behind “Song for Emma,” the Ballad Joe Walsh Wrote to Help Mourn...
On April 1, 1974, Joe Walsh‘s wife Stefany Rhodes was driving their daughter Emma Kristen to nursery school for a play date when another driver took a stop sign and veered head-on, colliding with their...
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Behind the Meaning of Cher’s Halloween Classic “Dark Lady”
Cher has several songs that could befit Halloween, but there is one in particular that sends a chill down the listener’s spine: “Dark Lady.” This mid-tempo track is shrouded in mystery. This tale of...
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Steve Miller Thought His Career Was Over When He Released This Iconic Hit
Even if you don’t consider yourself a Steve Miller Band fan, you can probably at least hum along to his hit single from 1973, “The Joker.” I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a midnight toker has become one...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Closer to the Heart,” A Song That Proved Rush...
They had already proven that they could deliver a concept album with the type of daring instrumental virtuosity that few bands of their era could quite match. With “Closer to the Heart,” a single off...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Who Can It Be Now?,” Men at Work’s No. 1 Smash...
Men at Work had a knack for couching some dark themes inside songs that sounded like good-time hits. They did just that with “Who Can It Be Now?,” their debut U.S. single which made it all the way to...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “At Seventeen,” Janis Ian’s Honest and Moving...
I learned the truth at seventeen. That unforgettable opening line sets the tone for “At Seventeen,” a song where Janis Ian took the truth about her experiences at a younger age and brought that home...
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Yacht Rock Essentials: “Just the Two of Us,” the Winning Collaboration...
When you talk about the genre known as yacht rock, the word “smooth” usually pops up pretty quickly in conversation as a way of describing the music. That word applies to “Just the Two of Us,” the...
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