Freddie Mercury considered "We Are The Champions" his version of "My Way." "We have made it, and it certainly wasn't easy," he said.
Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin got the name "Levon" from Levon Helm, who was the drummer in The Band.
The lyrics for Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" were based on actual events relating to his daughter Judy's sweet 16 party. The teenager threw a tantrum and burst into tears when her mum and dad insisted that her grandparents had to be invited.
The hit duet "Somewhere Out There" was written for an animated film about a family of immigrant mice who lose one of their young.
The Hollies' 1967 hit "Carrie Anne" featured the first use of a steel drum in a commercial pop record.
Paul McCartney based the "Eleanor Rigby" story on old ladies he met at his housing estate. He saw how sometimes when they died, nobody really noticed.
Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.
In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.
Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.
Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.
The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.
The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.