Eminem spoofed pharmaceutical ads in promoting his album Revival, setting up a website where Revival is a treatment for Atrox Rithimus (not a real condition). A video on the site is a pitch-perfect spoof of the many TV commercials for ailments you never knew existed ("Revival can help get, and keep that s--t under control").
"Achy Breaky Heart" was originally recorded in 1991 by The Marcy Brothers as "Don't Tell My Heart." That original version had the lyrics: "Don't tell my heart, my achy, breakin' heart..."
Jerry Cantrell used a talkbox to create the warbling vocal effect on the Alice in Chains song "Man In The Box."
Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo wrote "Beverly Hills" after seeing a photo of the group Wilson Phillips and imagining what it would be like to marry someone famous.
"Dirty Water" became a Boston sports anthem in the '00s, but it was written by a guy from California after almost getting mugged on a visit to the city.
"Toxic" was the most-searched song on Google in 2004 and helped Spears become the most-searched artist that year, a title she held from 1999-2001.
"I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock Of Seagulls ends with an alien abduction.
Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.
These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.
Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.
When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.
It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.
Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.