Carly Simon wrote "Anticipation" while waiting for her first date with Cat Stevens.
Public Enemy didn't appreciate the Bobby McFerrin hit 'Don't Worry, Be Happy." in "Fight The Power," Chuck D raps, "damn if I say it you can slap me right here."
Kelly Clarkson says someone would have to be dying in front of her before she ever sings "A Moment Like This" again.
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was a huge hit from the movie Dirty Dancing. It was used in the climactic dance scene at the end, which was actually the first scene shot for the movie.
"Burning Down The House" by Talking Heads was inspired by chant band members heard at a P-Funk show where the crowd yelled, "burn down the house... burn down the house."
Two tears roll down Sinead O'Connor's face. toward the end of the video for "Nothing Compares 2 U." They were shed because she associated the song's lyrics of love and loss with her mother, who was killed in a car accident in 1985.
The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."
Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.
The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.
"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.
Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?
Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.