MUSIC HISTORY

1984 Cable Music Channel "It's live it's 24 hours a day" TV Commercial

How MTV’s First Rival Became Cable TV’s Biggest Flop

With the Cable Music Channel, Ted Turner tried to take on MTV and failed—but somehow still managed to win.

How David Bowie Helped Pave the Way For the Download Age

The groundbreaking artist made history in 1999 with his album ‘Hours’ when he sold it as an internet download before it hit stores: “Mark my words … we are not going back to record companies and through shops.”

The Real History of the Folk Song ‘Kumbaya’

From a heartfelt spiritual, to a children’s campfire song, to a powerful protest anthem, to a derisive phrase, “Kumbaya” is certainly a bit of a musical chameleon.

The 10 Highest Grossing Tours of All Time

The list includes some veteran rockers, a couple of pop superstars, and two very powerful women whose influence transcends music.

Madonna’s May 2024 concert at Copacabana Beach was one of the largest in the world.

The 10 Biggest Concerts in History

Rod Stewart, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones had some of the largest concert crowds in history.

20 Albums Turning 50 in 2024

Everything from ‘Jolene’ to ‘Waterloo’ is hitting the big 5-0 in 2024. Give ’em a spin.

Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli.

10 Hit Songs That Weren’t What They Seemed

From Milli Vanilli’s “Girl, You Know It’s True” to Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam,” these songs all made it to the Billboard Hot 100—and they all had something to hide.

The Vice President Who Wrote a Hit Song

Long before he was Calvin Coolidge’s vice president, Charles Dawes wrote an instrumental piece called “Melody in A Major” that later became a #1 hit.

MC Skat Kat and Paula Abdul on tour in 2017.

The Nine Lives of MC Skat Kat, Paula Abdul’s Co-Star in “Opposites Attract”

The animated rapping cat helped propel “Opposite’s Attract” to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1990—and he still occasionally pops up in some surprising places.

Leonard Cohen, Chelsea Hotel, Phoebe Bridgers.

9 Memorable Songs About the Chelsea Hotel

From Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2” to Jesse Jo Stark’s “Chelsea Hotel,” these songs capture the mythos of the inimitable Hotel Chelsea.

These two shared even more in common than you might have thought.

6 Famous Guitarists Who Lost Their Instruments (And Sometimes Got Them Back)

Some, like Paul McCartney’s Höfner 500/1 violin bass, have since been recovered, but the whereabouts of other famous guitars—like Eric Clapton’s “Beano ‘Burst”—remain a mystery.

The Maniac Next Door: The Surprisingly Bizarre Origins of Michael Sembello’s Pop Hit From ‘Flashdance’

Michael Sembello’s synth-driven hit song from ‘Flashdance’ is rumored to have been inspired by William Lustig's 1980 slasher classic, ‘Maniac.’ But as it turns out, the true story is even weirder.

Chris Kelly and Chris Smith of Kris Kross.

When Kriss Kross Launched a Backward Clothing Trend

Featuring rappers Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith, Kris Kross rose to international fame with their infectious 1992 debut single, “Jump.” The duo rocked mega-baggy jeans, baseball caps, and oversized sports jerseys—all worn backward.

Cult of Musicality: How Living Colour Defied Expectations and Defined Hard Rock in the ‘80s

How Living Colour fought their way to the top of the charts—and is still going strong.

Smokey Robinson, Dolly Parton, and Bruce Springsteen.

The Strange Origins of 25 Popular Songs

You’ve hummed along to them in the car, belted them out in the shower, and performed them on karaoke night. But do you really know what the lyrics to even some of your favorite songs are talking about?

8 Bands Named After People Not In The Band

Behind the bands Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hootie & the Blowfish were their less-famous namesakes.

Why ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ Became the Soundtrack of American Graduations

“Pomp and Circumstance,” also popularly known as “The Graduation March,” is typically used during graduation processionals. Here’s why.

Why Do Some Songs Fade Out at the End?

Taylor Swift is just the latest in a long line of musicians who like to employ a “fade-out,” where the song gets gradually quieter in the closing seconds.

“Blackbird” Revisited: How The Beatles’ Civil Rights Anthem Has Been Inspiring Artists for More Than 50 Years

How Johann Sebastian Bach and the Little Rock Nine inspired one of The Beatles’ biggest hits—and one of the most covered songs ever recorded.

Plenty of songs take their inspiration from actual people.

The Real People and Events Mentioned in 11 Hit Songs

Some songs remain mysterious. Others, like "My Sharona," have a clear (albeit disturbing) origin.

The Surprising Name Origins of 20 Famous 1980s Bands

The decade of shoulder pads, leg warmers, and piano-keyboard neckties brought with it some ridiculously awesome band names.

The 10 Most Streamed Songs of the 20th Century

Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was a massive hit when it was released in 1975, and is still a hit in the internet era.

Freddie Mercury’s Beloved London Estate Is on the Market

Attention all Queen fanatics with at least $38 million to spare: Freddie Mercury’s former London home can be yours!

10 Songs Inspired by the RMS ‘Titanic’

Songs about ‘Titanic’ go way beyond Celine Dion’s smash hit “My Heart Will Go On.”