The X song "The Hungry Wolf" drew inspiration from a painting called "The Lone Wolf" by the Polish artist Alfred Kowalski (1849-1915) that dates to about 1890. The print was very popular in America in the 1930s and 1940s - many of X's generation remember seeing it in their grandparents' houses.
"St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" was not written for the movie, but for Rick Hanson, a wheelchair athlete whose 1985 "Man In Motion" tour logged 24,856 miles on his wheelchair in 34 countries while raising $26 million for spinal cord research.
The melody to "Yesterday" came to Paul McCartney in a dream, but the lyrics he had to write consciously. His first attempt at the title was "Scrabble Eggs."
"Brad Paisley's "River Bank" was inspired by his childhood growing up 500 yards from the Ohio River.
"Kickstart My Heart" is about all the ways Motley Crue gets their blood flowing without drugs. It was inspired by their bass player Nikki Sixx, who claimed he had to be revived with a shot of adrenaline to the heart after an overdose.
"Anaconda" was originally recorded by Missy Elliott in 2012, but she decided to shelf the track so it went to Nicki Minaj, who released it two years later.
The bedrock of David Guetta's Nicki Minaj-featuring single "Hey Mama" is a sample of "Rosie," a 1940s prison recording from folk archivist Alan Lomax that songwriter Esther Dean first showed the French DJ on YouTube.
Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.
The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.
Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.
Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.
Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."
The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.