Topic

Music

A collection of 54 issues

From a Brutal Attack to a Joyful Anthem: The True Story of 'Dancing in the Moonlight'

The feel-good classic 'Dancing in the Moonlight' has a shockingly dark origin. Songwriter Sherman Kelly wrote it after a brutal gang attack, envisioning a peaceful alternate reality where everyone was celebrating together. The song was his way of healing from extreme trauma.

The Ultimatum That Saved the Super Bowl: How Eminem Got 50 Cent on Stage

50 Cent's iconic upside-down performance at the 2022 Super Bowl almost didn't happen. Organizers were hesitant to include him until headliner Eminem issued a simple ultimatum: he wouldn't perform unless his longtime friend and collaborator was there too.

The Sunrise That Lied: The Real Story Behind Grieg's 'Morning Mood'

Grieg's 'Morning Mood,' widely seen as the soundtrack to a Norwegian sunrise, was actually composed for Henrik Ibsen's play *Peer Gynt*. The iconic music accompanies a scene where the protagonist wakes up alone in the Moroccan desert, not a serene Scandinavian fjord.

The Time Las Vegas Sang 'O Canada' to the Tune of 'O Christmas Tree'

In 1994, the CFL's Las Vegas Posse held their first home game. Tasked with singing the Canadian national anthem, a performer who didn't know the melody improvised by singing the words to 'O Canada' to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree,' creating a legendary sports blunder.

Before the Hit: The Story of How a-ha's 'Take on Me' Failed Twice

The iconic 1985 hit 'Take on Me' by a-ha wasn't an overnight success. It was a complete re-recording of a 1984 single that flopped. This is the story of a song that needed three attempts and a revolutionary music video to become a global anthem.

The Surprising Journey of 'Red, Red Wine': From a Neil Diamond Ballad to a UB40 Anthem

Most people know UB40's reggae classic 'Red, Red Wine,' but few realize it's a cover. The song was originally a somber ballad written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1967 before being transformed into the global anthem we know and love today.

Beyond the Makeup: The Unspeakable Tragedies in Vinnie Vincent's Life

Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent is known for his shredding solos, but his personal life is marked by immense tragedy. His two ex-wives both died young under horrific circumstances—one was murdered in an unsolved case, and the other succumbed to alcoholism after a tumultuous relationship.

Art vs. The FBI: The Story of Frank Iero's Song That Triggered a Federal Investigation

In 2009, My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero’s side project, Leathermouth, released a song with a provocative title that landed him on an FBI watchlist. This is the story of artistic expression colliding with national security, resulting in a home search, a ban, and punk-rock defiance.