The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.
Cheap Trick hated the ballad "The Flame" but recorded it because they needed a hit, and the song delivered, going to #1.
David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is about more than just dancing. It's about dishonesty, particularly when we mask our true feelings.
"Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson was written by Shuggie Otis, whose girlfriend would send him letters written on strawberry-scented paper.
The bedrock of David Guetta's Nicki Minaj-featuring single "Hey Mama" is a sample of "Rosie," a 1940s prison recording from folk archivist Alan Lomax that songwriter Esther Dean first showed the French DJ on YouTube.
Paper Mate paid for Autograph's "Turn Up The Radio" video in exchange for prominent placement of their erasable pen.
The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.
Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.
With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.
Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.
A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.
Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.