The Hollies hit "The Air That I Breathe" was written in part as a reaction to the smog in Los Angeles.
Billy Joel is surprised that "Piano Man" is so successful. He called it "an old, long song about a guy at a depressing piano bar."
Duran Duran's "Wild Boys" is based on the book of the same name by William Burroughs.
Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" was co-written by Sarah Hudson, who was a member of the pop group Ultraviolet Sound. Though Sarah isn't related to Katy (whose real name is Katy Hudson), she is the first cousin of another famous person with the same name, the actress Kate Hudson.
"Veronica" was inspired by Elvis Costello's grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
The chant in the Bruno Mars/Rosé hit "APT" is "apateu," the Korean word for apartment. It's named after a Korean drinking game called "Apartment" that Rosé told Bruno about.
The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.
Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.
Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).
Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.
Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?
