The TV show Cheers was nearly canceled after its first season, but the theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was very popular. To satisfy viewer demand, the theme was made into a full song and released as a single.
"Heart of Glass" was Blondie's first foray into disco, which turned off some fans. Debbie Harry said they did it because they "wanted to be uncool."
"Stay" by Lisa Loeb was the first #1 hit by an unsigned artist. It got a boost from Ethan Hawke, who got it into a movie he starred in called Reality Bites.
The Blues Traveler song "Hook" is a Peter Pan reference, but also about the catchy hook of the song, which is what "brings you back."
Robert Plant's "Heaven Knows" is a satirical look at the '80s, when style seemed to trump substance.
"Heaven" by The Psychedelic Furs sounds upbeat, but is about an impending nuclear bombardment.
The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.
Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.
A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.
Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.
Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.
Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.