The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was a huge hit from the movie Dirty Dancing. It was used in the climactic dance scene at the end, which was actually the first scene shot for the movie.
The idea for "The Man Comes Around" came to Johnny Cash from a dream he had where he was in Buckingham Palace and the Queen said to him, "Johnny Cash, you're just like a thorn tree in a whirlwind."
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" is about a guy Jim Croce met in the National Guard, which Jim joined to keep him out of Vietnam. Leroy went AWOL, but got caught when he tried to pick up his paycheck.
When singing "Cradle Of Love," Billy Idol typically changes a line to, "This song is so cheesy."
The TV show Cheers was nearly canceled after its first season, but the theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was very popular. To satisfy viewer demand, the theme was made into a full song and released as a single.
For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.
How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.
Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.
When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.
Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.
Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.