"Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us," the title song to the movie Breakin', was a hit and helped breakdancing go mainstream when it was released in 1984. The song has scratches and other hip-hop flourishes, but no rapping, which would have kept it off many playlists.
Mary J. Blige introduced three new words with her hit "Family Affair": hateration, holleration and dancerie.
The biggest hit of 2015 was "Uptown Funk," a collaboration between Bruno Mars and guitarist/producer Mark Ronson. Ronson says making it took "six or seven months of chasing Bruno around on tour."
"Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. isn't about religion, but unrequited love. The title is based on a Southern expression meaning "at my wit's end."
Janet Jackson wrote the lyric to "Nasty" in response to random guys calling her "baby."
Michael Stipe hadn't finished the lyrics when R.E.M. recorded "Radio Free Europe." He calls the vocal "complete babbling."
Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?
How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.
'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.
An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.
Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.
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.