Bruce Springsteen's "Because The Night" is the biggest hit for both Patti Smith and 10,000 Maniacs. For Smith, it was an anomaly, as her songs were aimed at a narrow audience. In the case of 10,000 Maniacs, it marked the emergence of Natalie Merchant as a hitmaker; the song was her last single with the group, and her subsequent solo album Tigerlily got her on the charts with "Carnival" and "Wonder."
The Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son" is about how the Vietnam war was being fought by soldiers without the privilege or connections to get out of it. "It's the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them," John Fogerty said.
"Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae."
"Yellow" by Coldplay is a deep, meaningful song, but the title has a rather prosaic origin: it came from the phone directory, known as "the yellow pages."
The Phoenix song "1901" is about Paris. Their lead singer Thomas Mars said: "Paris in 1901 was better than it is now. So the song is a fantasy about Paris."
Phil Collins' "Take Me Home" is about a patient in a mental institution and was inspired by the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
According to Jason Bonham, who has filled in for his father on Led Zeppelin reunions, "Rock And Roll" is the hardest Led Zep song to play on drums.
Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.
Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.
On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."
Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.
The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.
