Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams wrote the Destiny's Child song "Girl" for Kelly Rowland as an encouragement for her to end her relationship with a verbally and physically abusive boyfriend.
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is based on billboards John Lennon and Yoko Ono posted two years earlier declaring "War Is Over! If You Want It."
The "pompatus of love" from the Steve Miller song "The Joker" comes from a line in a '50s doo-wop song Miller misheard: "puppetutes of love."
"I Just Called To Say I Love You" is Stevie Wonder's best-selling single worldwide. It topped the Hot 100, AC, R&B and UK charts all in the same week.
The Hollies hit "The Air That I Breathe" was written in part as a reaction to the smog in Los Angeles.
Moby says that "We Are All Made Of Stars" is scientifically accurate, since all matter originates from stardust.
The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.
Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.
The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."
From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.
Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."
