Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" is about prostitutes, but it was still used in the movie Rugrats In Paris.
"99 Luftballons" by Nena is about a Cold War scare when balloons showed up on radar and were mistaken as a nuclear threat.
"Truckin'" was written as the Grateful Dead were starting their long, strange trip, settling into a life of constant touring. They rode busses and holed up in modest hotels to stay grounded.
Neil Young later apologized for "Southern Man," calling it "accusatory and condescending" in its portrayal of the American South.
Kid Rock performed his song "Amen" at Barack Obama's inaugural, but claims he didn't vote for him.
The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.
Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.
Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.
A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.
If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.
Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.
U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.