"No Scrubs" introduced the term "scrub" to the popular lexicon, and defined it in the opening lines ("a scrub is a guy that think he's fine...").
The R.E.M. song "Don't Go Back To Rockville" is about Mike Mills' girlfriend at the University of Georgia, who had to go back to Rockville, Maryland, for the summer.
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds says their 2012 hit "Radioactive" is "a song about having an awakening; kind of waking up one day and deciding to do something new, and see life in a fresh way."
The Dixie Chicks got their name from the Little Feat song "Dixie Chicken." In 2020 they became "The Chicks" because Dixie refers to the American South in times of slavery.
"Spoonman" by Soundgarden is about a real street performer in Seattle: Artis the Spoonman.
The Hollies' 1967 hit "Carrie Anne" featured the first use of a steel drum in a commercial pop record.
The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.
Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.
Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.
What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.
"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.
Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.