The phrase "Mamma Mia" was big in 1976. It was the name of a popular Abba song, and also showed up in the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey was the first ringtone certified Gold.
"Radioactive" set an industry record for the slowest climb to the top five in the Hot 100 chart's history when it jumped from #6 to #4 in its 42nd week.
Don't play "I Will Always Love You" at your wedding - Dolly Parton wrote it about leaving someone behind to strike out on her own.
Mariah Carey's song "The Roof" is about her first kiss with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
Elton John's "Rocket Man" is based on a Ray Bradbury story called The Rocket Man published in 1951.
You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.
Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.
Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."
Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."
Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.
The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.