The Cure's "Lullaby" is based on a recurring nightmare frontman Robert Smith had as a child where he was eaten by a giant spider.
Katy Perry's song "E.T." came from a beat originally intended for the rap group Three Six Mafia. When her producer accidentally pulled up the beat, Perry asked to use it.
Radiohead's "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" is about the last surviving World War I veteran to fight in the trenches.
The "Electric Avenue" in the Eddy Grant song is a real street. It got its name because it was the first street in London with electric lights.
In the UK, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" returns to the chart every Halloween, a tradition started in 2007.
Mariah Carey's song "The Roof" is about her first kiss with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.
Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.
With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.
After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.
The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.
