Steely Dan's engineer, Roger Nichols, built one of the first drum machines, which they used on "Hey Nineteen."
"Paper Planes" was inspired by M.I.A.'s hassles trying to get a visa to enter America.
"Sail" by Awolnation was the first hit to mention ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) in the chorus ("Blame it on my ADD"). Lead singer Aaron Bruno put that line in because his parents and teachers often told him he had that condition, which explained his poor grades.
Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler got the idea for "Money For Nothing" after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV.
"Take On Me" was just a minor hit in Norway until a new version was released with the iconic video, making it a global smash.
The Texas songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker wrote "Mr. Bojangles" after a weekend in jail where a fellow inmate told him his life story.
Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.
The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.
Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.
A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.
Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.
Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.