What is an interesting song fact you've learned recently?

Question

I have a cousin who only listens to christian music. Her favorite is a band called Third Day. I'm not really into christian music (aside from some old Elvis gospels songs and such), but I have to say the lead singer of this band has a pretty good voice. Anyway, I was in the car with her today when a song called "Blackbird" came on. It sounded familiar and after listening to the lyrics a bit, I realized it's about the Black Crowes! "You say you need a remedy (a Crowes song) for the thorn in your pride (another Crowes song)...you say you talk to angels (and yet another Crowes song) but I say it's such a lie..." http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Blackbird-lyrics-Third-Day/DC229E5F5EC96E2548256D6E002B56D1 There are the lyrics, if you want to see them.

I found that highly amusing for some reason....and pretty interesting. But, I'm hoping some of you have something more interesting...I'm in the mood to learn!

sarah c: You were right...Radar is better than Stop (though it's still great). At first I didn't like "Remember" and "Riverside", but after listening to it a few times I'm starting to like them better...it's the guitar that throws me off. Everything else, though, is wonderful. I love the feel "You" has to it and I love the way he sings "Molasses". I listened to it today as I cleaned at work. I still haven't gotten the chance to sit down and really take it all in, but I'd give it 5 stars.

Answer 1

I can't think of any I found out recently, but :~

Stevie Nicks' 'Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You' was actually written for Joe Walsh, after she found out about the death of his daughter.
And she wrote 'Leather and Lace' for Waylon Jennings & Jessi Coulter to sing as a duet, but when they split up Stevie recorded it herself with Don Henley.

Led Zeppelin's 'What Is And What Should Never Be' was about Robert Plant falling in love with his wife's younger sister.

Mike Oldfield's song 'Innocent' was inspired by Greta, his daughter with singer Anita Hegerland. He had previously written the 1980 song 'Molly' for one of his daughters.
He wrote 'Moonlight Shadow' about the death of John Lennon, and 'To France' is about Mary, Queen of Scots.

Jethro Tull's 'Cheap Day Return' is about a time Ian Anderson had to visit his sick father.
The album 'War Child' was recorded as a soundtrack to a film that never got made, and it's a reworking of their earlier album 'A Passion Play'.

Rod Stewart was the uncredited vocalist on Python Lee Jackson's 'In A Broken Dream'.

Fleetwood Mac's infamous song 'The Chain' almost never happened. It started out as a song of Christine McVie's called 'Butter Cookie', but, with the exception of the bass and drum part at the end, the band didn't like it.
So, they measured out how much tape they had at the start, used a kick-drum as a metronome, and Lindsey set to work writing a new song. He and Christine came up with the actual tune and the choruses, Stevie gave them the lyrics from a song she had been working on, and then Lindsey added his guitar solo over the end.
This is why it's the only song all 5 of them are credited with!

This isn't a 'fact', just an interesting 'coincidence', but has anyone else noticed that the cover of the Scissor Sisters 2004 album http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Scissoralbum.jpg
appears to be a combination of Elton John's 1973 album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Elton_John_-_Goodbye_Yellow_Brick_Road.jpg
and Stevie Nicks' 2001 album 'Trouble in Shangri-La
http://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Shangri-Stevie-Nicks/dp/B00005AXEL/ref=sr_1_11/105-1396363-9638020?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194353986&sr=1-11
or is it just me?!

Answer 2

Apparently Kansas was a Christian band? After they broke up, the lead singer became a full time Christian singer but I guess if you really pay attention to the lyrics to Carry On My Wayward Son, it makes sense. You might have known it, but I found it interesting.
Also, last week I figured out that the song All My Love by Led Zeppelin was written for Robert Plant's son that died of a stomach infection. The song just takes on a whole new meaning to me. Crazy stuff.

Answer 3

When Fergie first wrote "Big Girls Don't Cry," she didn't like it and wasn't gonna put the song on her album, so she gave the rights or whatever to her record label. The record label found this 16/17 year old nobody who could really sing, and she recorded it, and it sounded just like Fergie's version. Fergie heard it, and liked it, so she decided to take back the rights and wouldn't let the girl release her version of the song! Then after Fergie released it, it became a no.1 hit!
Isn't that horrible?
And now no one will ever know of that nobody because of Fergie.

Answer 4

Wow..you know i think alot about this random stuff..I hear music all the time and think "I bet thats where he/they got the idea for this song..Some examples Vanilla ice "Ice Ice Baby" vs Queen/Bowie "Under Pressure"...The beginning of the song..But Im babbling..Ok you said something new I have learned..

Heres some facts i have learned throught the years:

Bohemian Rhapsody was actually 3 seperate songs made into this awesome one..

Mama Cass for the "Mamas and the Papas" died choking from a ham sandwich

Answer 5

I've heard this Steven Wilson song "the Unquiet Grave" for a while now, but I never knew till recently that the song is an old English folk song.

If you want to take a listen:
http://www.myspace.com/therealstevenwilson
Vapour Trail Lullaby is also amazing

btw, how was Radar?

Answer 6

Golden Years was originally written by David Bowie and meant for Elvis to record, unfortunately the King died before he could do so. David Bowie recorded it instead.

Harry Belafonte's album Calypso, was the first album to sell one million copies

In April of 1964, The Beatles held the top 5 positions on the Billboard Charts. #1 - Can't Buy Me Love, #2 - Twist and Shout, #3 - She Loves You, #4 - I Want to Hold Your Hand, #5 - Please Please Me.

Boston's original name was Revere Beach.

The Mama Cass thing is an urban legend......she died of a heart attack.

Answer 7

Father of Mine by Everclear. I was listening to it recently and I realized it would make a great sequel or continuation of Harry Chapin's Cats in the Cradle.

Answer 8

I've actually known it for quite some time.
Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green in 1968) wrote "Black Magic Woman" not Carlos Santana

Answer 9

Yesterday I learned that Deep Purple were the first ever rock band to play together with a symphonic orchestra.

Answer 10

When the Jackson 5 recorded I'll Be There, Michael said "Just look over your SHOULDERS honey...instead of shoulder. Barry Gordy thought it sounded great and they never changed it.