Sarah McLachlan wrote "Angel" about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.
Ozzy Osbourne's "Shot In The Dark" is titled after a Pink Panther movie.
Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."
Rod Stewart wrote "Maggie May" about the woman who deflowered him when he was 16.
Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is based on the song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie.
Feist's "1234" is "about lost love, and the hope to recapture what you once had," but it's best known for the Sesame Street version about counting to four.
Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.
Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.
Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.
Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."
Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?
On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.