Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" is about prostitutes, but it was still used in the movie Rugrats In Paris.
Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote the original lyrics for Starship's "We Built This City." It was the first Hot 100 Top 10 hit Taupin wrote without John.
"Killing An Arab" by The Cure was inspired by Albert Camus' book The Stranger.
Sting wrote "Fields of Gold" after buying a house near a barley field and enjoying the majestic sunsets.
Elton John's "Rocket Man" is based on a Ray Bradbury story called The Rocket Man published in 1951.
Barry Sonnenfeld, who would later direct the movies Get Shorty and Men in Black, was the director of photography on the "Rock the Casbah" video for The Clash.
When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.
The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.
The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.
U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.
The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.
Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.