Bono came up with the idea of focusing on a soldier's last thoughts as he dies from his wounds in the U2 song "White As Snow" after reading William Golding's 1956 novel Pincher Martin.
The kid in Madonna's "Open Your Heart" video became a successful songwriter. His songs include Amy Winehouse's "You Sent Me Flying" and James Blunt's "1973."
Bob Marley's backup singers, The I Threes, claim they are the "Three Little Birds" in his famous song.
Don't play "I Will Always Love You" at your wedding - Dolly Parton wrote it about leaving someone behind to strike out on her own.
"November Rain" by Guns N' Roses has a literary influence: The lyric is based on a story called Without You by Del James.
Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?
It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.
Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.
In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."
These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.
Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.
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