Neil Young later apologized for "Southern Man," calling it "accusatory and condescending" in its portrayal of the American South.
When The Kinks released "Lola," most people didn't realize Lola was a man. "I was dancing with this beautiful blonde, then we went out into the daylight and I saw her stubble," Ray Davies said of the inspiration.
"If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow is about the sour grapes some of her collaborators from her first album expressed to the media when they felt slighted.
"Tenderness" by General Public was partly inspired by the outbreak of AIDS, which at the time was thought to be contagious.
Prince kept doves at his Paisley Park mansion. And yes, sometimes they did cry.
Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote the original lyrics for Starship's "We Built This City." It was the first Hot 100 Top 10 hit Taupin wrote without John.
An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.
A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.
Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.
With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."
Have you got the smarts to know which of these graduation song stories are real?
How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.