Bob Seger got inspired to write "Night Moves" after watching the movie American Graffiti, which showed young people growing up in his "neck of the woods."
Rod Stewart wrote "Maggie May" about the woman who deflowered him when he was 16.
"Panama" by Van Halen is not about the country or the canal, but about a stripper David Lee Roth met in Arizona.
The thunderclap sound heard in the Bee Gees song "Tragedy" was made by Barry Gibb with his mouth.
Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" was the best-selling song of the 2000s in the US.
Zac Hanson was just 11 years and 7 months old when "MMMbop" topped the Hot 100, making him the youngest group member to co-write and perform a US #1 single.
For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.
Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?
A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.
Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.
Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.
Iron Maiden, Adele, Toto, Eminem and Earth, Wind & Fire are just some of the artists with songs directly inspired by movies - and not always good ones.