Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric.
It was never a big hit, but the uplifting "Mr. Blue Sky" has endured as Electric Light Orchestra's most popular song. Group leader Jeff Lynne wrote it when after two weeks of gloomy weather, the clouds parted to reveal a beautiful day.
Don Johnson, who starred as Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice, was also a singer. He had a #5 hit in 1986 with "Heartbeat."
"Whip It" by Devo is about the rah-rah affirmations delivered by politicians and motivational speakers who often have ulterior motives.
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds was the only US #1 single by a female act between July 1956 and February 1958.
The hit duet "Somewhere Out There" was written for an animated film about a family of immigrant mice who lose one of their young.
Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.
Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.
He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.
Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.
The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.
