Every film star mentioned in Madonna's "Vogue" has since died. The last was Lauren Bacall, who passed away in 2014.
Rod Stewart wrote "Maggie May" about the woman who deflowered him when he was 16.
On Metallica's "The Unforgiven," James Hetfield modeled his vocals on Chris Isaak.
"We Belong Together" finds Mariah Carey listening to the radio and hearing songs that remind her of heartbreak. Two real songs get specific mentions: "If You Think You're Lonely Now" by Bobby Womack and "Two Occasions" by The Deele (Babyface's group).
In the UK, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" returns to the chart every Halloween, a tradition started in 2007.
Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is based on the song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie.
Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.
The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.
When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.
Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.
For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.
