William Cody (1846-1917), the legendary Buffalo Bill, and subject of songs by both Irving Berlin and Eminem.
Feist's "1234" is "about lost love, and the hope to recapture what you once had," but it's best known for the Sesame Street version about counting to four.
The first hit song that was used in a commercial before it was released as a single was "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing," which was written for a Coke ad.
The Austin Powers theme is "Soul Bossa Nova," written by Quincy Jones in 1962 - the same year the first James Bond movie was released.
Neil Young wrote the CSN&Y song "Ohio" about the Kent State Shootings, when the National Guard opened fire on students at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four.
The guys who wrote "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" had never been to a baseball game but knew it was a good song topic.
In 1979, Madonna was a dancer on Patrick Hernandez' tour, where she boogied to his hit "Born To Be Alive."
The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.
Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?
Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.
Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.
How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.
The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.