"Ho Hey" by The Lumineers spent 62 weeks on the Hot 100, tying with Lifehouse's 2005 single "You And Me" for the longest stay on the chart for a song by a rock band.
Mariah Carey's "My All" is about her affair with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
"Womanizer" was Britney Spears' comeback song, going to #1 about 10 months after she was institutionalized to get treatment for addictions and mental health issues.
Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" is about Christie Brinkley, who he married, but it started as a song about Elle McPherson, who he also went out with.
"Sunday Girl" was written by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein to cheer up Debbie Harry after her cat had run away whilst they were away on tour. The gray cat was called Sunday Man.
"Closing Time" by Semisonic was written by the lead singer when his wife was pregnant. Some of the lyrics are about being born.
The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.
The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.
Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.
Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."
Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.
Iron Maiden, Adele, Toto, Eminem and Earth, Wind & Fire are just some of the artists with songs directly inspired by movies - and not always good ones.