MUSIC HISTORY

'Take on Me' by a-ha helped redefine music videos for MTV.

Penciling in the History of A-ha's 'Take on Me'

The biggest hit that pop band a-ha ever had was actually a reworked idea. 'Take on Me' had failed three times before.

Along with Mr. Zip, The Swingin’ Six made ZIP codes mainstream.

How The Swingin’ Six Helped Introduce ZIP Codes to the American Public

With upbeat songs and catchy lyrics, the 1960s band The Swingin’ Six helped usher in a new era for the United States Postal Service.

A stained-glass image of John Newton, the man who wrote "Amazing Grace."

From Stormy Seas to Civil Rights: The Surprising History of 'Amazing Grace'

Though strongly associated with the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the popular hymn was born off the shores of Buncrana, Ireland.

The Rolling Stones and Rice Krispies once collaborated.

Snap, Crackle, Keith: When the Rolling Stones Recorded a Rice Krispies Jingle

Before the rock band hit it big, they wrote and performed a commercial jingle for the popular rice cereal.

12 Surprising Facts About Selena

By the time of her tragic death at the young age of 23, Selena Quintanilla—better known simply as Selena—was already an American icon.

20 Memorable One-Hit Wonders

There are a million no-hit wonders who’d gladly trade places with these one-hit wonders, which thrilled us for a short time, filling holes in our souls that we didn’t know existed, then got out of the way—voluntarily or otherwise.

Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong in HBO's Succession.

The Surprising Stories Behind 11 TV Show Theme Songs

The 'Succession' theme song has a sleigh bell in it, and 'The Sopranos' intro is actually about a woman who killed her husband.

Marjut Valakivi, Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons

Jimi Hendrix’s Connection to Hogan's Alley—Vancouver's Lost Black Neighborhood

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle but spent much of his childhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, where his grandparents lived in Hogan's Alley—a historical Black neighborhood that was lost to time and urban renewal.

Frieda Belinfante (left) and Henriëtte Hilda Bosmans, her then-partner.

When Europe's First Female Orchestra Conductor Foiled the Nazis While Defying Gender Expectations

Frieda Belinfante realized she wasn’t destined to be a part of the orchestra—she was meant to lead it. But the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands during World War II put her career on hold.

A photo of Radiohead members Phil Selway, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, and Ed O'Brien in 1995.

10 Facts About Radiohead’s 'Kid A'

When Radiohead released 'Kid A' on October 2, 2000, few people were prepared for the album—or the lasting effect it would have on the music industry.

B.I.G. as the (K.O.N.Y), taken by Barron Claiborne.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s Iconic "King of New York" Crown Is Expected to Fetch More Than $200,000 at Auction

The photo of Biggie Smalls crowned “King of New York” was taken just three days before his death in 1997.

The Clash—Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, and Nicky 'Topper' Headon—in New York in 1978.

10 Facts About The Clash's 'London Calling'

Rolling Stone named 'London Calling,' the landmark third album by English rockers The Clash, #1 on its list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s—and with good reason.

Elvis Presley in concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 27, 1977.

5 Bizarre Elvis Presley Concert Appearances

Elvis Presley spent a portion of his later years behaving somewhat erratically during his live performances, insulting his back-up singers and even changing lyrics to lash out at the hotel hosting him.

The Surprising Stories Behind 12 Classic Pop Songs

Bonnie Tyler was singing about lovestruck vampires long before Twilight’s Bella and Edward came along.

Who let the dogs out? In 2000, it was the Baha Men—but the novelty song's origins could date back much further.

Unraveling the 20-Year Mystery of How 'Who Let the Dogs Out' Became a Global Phenomenon

It's been 20 years since 'Who Let the Dogs Out' was released, and its impossibly infectious hook is no doubt still lodged inside your brain. But two decades later, we're still no closer to answering the question.

American singer, actress, and activist Lena Horne circa 1947.

10 Amazing Facts About Lena Horne

With a multifaceted career that lasted more than 70 years, Lena Horne is many things to many people: a talented singer, one of the most famous actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, and a tireless champion of civil rights.

17 Amazing Facts About Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock 'n' Roll,” is the legendary musician who melded country, gospel, and R&B influences to help revolutionize American pop culture.

A portrait of Marian Anderson taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1940.

Explore Marian Anderson’s Handwritten Letters, Private Recordings, and More in a Newly Digitized Collection

Marian Anderson’s singing was unparalleled—and her work to promote civil rights was just as important.

L to R: Beastie Boys Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz), MCA (Adam Yauch), and Mike D (Michael Diamond) pose in Portugal 1998.

20 Crafty Facts About Beastie Boys

Though Beastie Boys effectively disbanded following the 2012 death of Adam "MCA" Yauch, the band has been collecting fans for more than 40 years with its uniquely intoxicating, and ever-evolving, sound.

Born In the U.S.A.: How Bruce Springsteen's Anti-Vietnam Anthem Got Lost In Translation

“Born in the U.S.A.,” the title track off Bruce Springsteen’s blockbuster 1984 album, isn’t the patriotic singalong many people thought it was.

The Santa Cruz town elders probably would've been alarmed by the audience's enthusiasm for Big Jay McNeely in 1953.

The Racist Origins of Santa Cruz, California's Rock ‘n’ Roll Ban of 1956

Police officers were horrified when they saw teenagers exhibiting “highly suggestive, stimulating, and tantalizing motions” at a rock ‘n’ roll concert. But how much of a role did race play in their outrage?

George Michael, Bob Geldof, Bono, Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, and Howard Jones gather together for the Live Aid finale at London's Wembley Stadium.

Live Aid: The Complicated History of the World's Biggest Charity Concert

The 1980s were a busy time for do-gooder musicians like Bob Geldof, who wanted to use his voice to make the world a better place with events like Live Aid. But the concert's legacy is a bit more complicated.

The Time David Bowie Called Out MTV for Ignoring Black Artists

In a 1983 interview clip, David Bowie is shown criticizing MTV for ignoring black musicians in favor of white artists.

Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina making some waves on the cover of 1973's "Full Sail" album.

If the Yacht Is a Rockin': Riding the Yacht Rock Nostalgia Wave

Yacht rock began as a sendup of the late '70s and early '80s smooth jams to which many Millennials and late period Gen-Xers were likely conceived, then morphed into a beloved musical genre that has come to define the summer months.

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