Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album.
Will.I.am, literally dreamt up "I Gotta Feelin'." Said the Black Eyed Pea: "Have you ever had a dream where there's a melody in your dream? I'll wake up out of my sleep and record that! 'I Gotta Feelin' was one of those songs."
The Hollies hit "The Air That I Breathe" was written in part as a reaction to the smog in Los Angeles.
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova starred in the movie Once, which featured their song "Falling Slowly." Bob Dylan liked the song and movie so much he gave them an opening slot on his tour.
One of the first hit songs used in a major marketing campaign was "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. Microsoft paid $3 million to use it in commercials for Windows '95.
Jack White titled "Seven Nation Army" after how he would mispronounce "Salvation Army" when he was little.
Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.
Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.
Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.
How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.
A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.
Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.