
Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is based on the song "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie.

Sarah McLachlan wrote "Angel" about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.

Katherine Heigl played Josh Kelley's love interest in the video for his 2005 song "Only You." They met on the shoot, became a real-life couple, and got married two years later. That's good casting!

"Paper Planes" was inspired by M.I.A.'s hassles trying to get a visa to enter America.

The 311 song "Amber" is likely about Nicole Scherzinger, who was dating the band's lead singer Nick Hexum.
When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.
Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?
The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.
Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.
Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.