Props to Aretha Franklin: her song "Respect" introduced the term "propers" as a sign of proper respect.
Stevie Wonder was 12 years old when he released his first #1 hit, "Fingertips (Part 2)." He had to wait 22 years for his next one: "Part Time Lover."
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 Planes" was inspired by M.I.A.'s hassles trying to get a visa to enter America.
Meghan Trainor wrote "Lips Are Movin" in just eight minutes with her writing partner Kevin Kadish.
Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album.
How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.
"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.
The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.
The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.
Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?
With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
