Elton John had a huge hit duetting with Kiki Dee on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," but he's also performed it with RuPaul and Miss Piggy.
George Michael was 17 and on a bus to his job at the cinema when he came up with the idea for "Careless Whisper" and the lyrics, "Something in your eyes calls to mind a silver screen."
Brian Wilson played Barenaked Ladies "Brian Wilson" at some of his concerts. He was "honored" by the song.
"Here Comes Your Man" is the closest the Pixies came to a hit in America. It was rumored to be about a drug dealer, but Black Francis says it's just a story about some hobos who travel by train and die in an earthquake.
On Metallica's "The Unforgiven," James Hetfield modeled his vocals on Chris Isaak
The disco song "Good Tmes" by Chic was a huge influence on early rap, providing the bassline for "Rapper's Delight."
Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."
Do you remember the first time you heard "email" in a song? How about "hater" or "Facebook"? Here are the songs where they first showed up.
Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.
Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?
Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.
For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.
