Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult wrote "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" after he was diagnosed with a heart condition and started thinking about his own mortality.
Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.
Robin Thicke had a #1 hit with "Blurred Lines" in 2013, but he wasn't the first in his family with a hit song. His mom, Gloria Loring, was a singer who had a hit in 1986 with "Friends And Lovers," a duet with Carl Anderson.
"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."
The movie The Breakfast Club opens with a passage from David Bowie's "Changes" ("And these children that you spit on...")
"All Star" was written as a confidence builder for fans who were bullied for liking Smash Mouth.
Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.
As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.
How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.
Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.
An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.
Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.