Michael Jackson's 1995 song "You Are Not Alone" was the first single in US history to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #1
In 2010, the biggest-selling song in the UK was "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem.
Ed Sheeran's "Bloodstream" was written after an experience taking MDMA during a wedding celebration in Ibiza, and it's basically about all the feelings that he got from that time.
The sample in Beck's song "Where It's At" that says "What about those who swing both ways: AC-DC" came from a 1969 sex-ed album for middle schoolers.
In 1939, a polka craze swept America thanks to "Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel)."
The Spacehog song "In The Meantime" samples an obscure recording of telephone noise, which is used at the beginning of the song.
These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.
"Mony Mony." "Crimson and Clover." "Draggin' The Line." The hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.
Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.
The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.
A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.
The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.
