Shaggy wrote his swaggering hit "Boombastic" after learning what "shag" means in the UK.
"If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow is about the sour grapes some of her collaborators from her first album expressed to the media when they felt slighted.
The only cover of "American Pie" to chart is by Madonna, whose 2000 version was a minor hit in America but went to #1 in the UK.
Carly Simon wrote "Anticipation" when Cat Stevens was late for their first date. She was "anticipating" his arrival and set down with her guitar to calm her nerves.
Jay-Z did the rap on Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love" at the last minute. They had just started dating; she asked him to feature on the track the night before she had to turn in her album.
There aren't many songs with a scientist as the main character, but Coldplay's "The Scientist" is one of their biggest hits. The guy in the song is brilliant, but despondent because he's lost his girl after neglecting her for his work.
Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."
Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.
Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.
The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.
Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.
The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."