Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Katy Perry Performed a Song With Elmo That ‘Sesame Street’ Wouldn’t Air

Katy Perry was happy to perform one of her hit songs with 'Sesame Street''s Elmo. Despite this, parents responded to the performance negatively and the segment was never aired on television. The song Perry sang with Elmo became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

The Rolling Stones’ 1st Hit Song Was Written by Chuck Berry

The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger had mixed feelings about Chuck Berry's songs. Regardless, The Rolling Stones covered one of Berry's songs early in their career. Subsequently, Jagger felt The Rolling Stones should stop covering blues songs. The cover became a hit in the United Kingdom but not the United States.

Music

Kiss’ Ace Frehley Hated That Gene Simmons Made a Song With Helen Reddy

The members of Kiss all released solo albums in 1978. Ace Frehley said Gene Simmons made a mistake when he worked with Helen Reddy on his solo album. The album included a song that became a minor hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

Jennifer Lopez ‘Lucked Out’ When She Got to Record 2 Songs Lady Gaga Wrote

Jennifer Lopez said she was, in a sense, working on her album 'Love?' since she was 13. She worked with Lady Gaga producer RedOne on some of the songs from 'Love?' Gaga co-wrote two of the songs from 'Love?' 'Love?' became a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

Paul Stanley Reveals Why Kiss Was ‘So Much More’ Than Aerosmith

Kiss' Paul Stanley revealed critics did not always appreciate his band. He said his band's closest contemporary was Aerosmith. He said Kiss was so much more than Aerosmith. Both classic rock bands worked with the same producer. Kiss worked with this producer on an album that reunited the group's original line-up.

Music

James Blunt Said ‘You’re Beautiful’ Is a ‘Creepy’ Song Based on a True Story

James Blunt said "You're Beautiful" was inspired by an event from his life. He thinks the song is creepy rather than romantic, as it's about a stalker. Blunt was unprepared for the track's popularity. "You're Beautiful" became a massive hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

David Bowie’s Hit Song ‘China Girl’ Allowed Iggy Pop to Get Married

During an interview, Iggy Pop revealed David Bowie's "China Girl" had a major impact on his personal life and finances. He also commented on a few of Bowie's cover songs. Bowie’s "China Girl" became a big hit in the United States, as did its parent album, ‘Let’s Dance.’

Music

Kiss’ Ace Frehley Said He Made This Rolling Stones Song ‘Something Special’

Kiss' Ace Frehley credits songs by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and other British Invasion bands with saving his life. Kiss covered one of the songs from The Rolling Stones' 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' on the album 'Dynasty.' 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' and 'Dynasty' became hits.

Movies / Music

‘Star Wars’: Carrie Fisher Let a Star Record a Hit Song in Her Bathroom

'Star Wars' actor Carrie Fisher let a future star stay in her home in Los Angeles. While the singer was there, he composed one of his hit songs in her bathroom.

Music

DaBaby: Did He Ever Have a No. 1 Hit Song in the United States?

DaBaby has produced a number of hit songs. He expected one of his tracks to hit No. 1. He feels that all artists strive to write No. 1 hits. One of DaBaby's songs outperformed all the others in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

Elvis Presley Inspired a ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Song That Was Censored on TV

"Weird Al" Yankovic once recorded a parody of Elvis Presley's doo-wop songs. It was once censored on a television show. The censorship made the song seem more risque than it actually was. Fourteen years after he recorded it, Yankovic cited the Elvis spoof as his favorite of his own songs.

Music

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney Inspired Brandy and Monica’s ‘The Boy Is Mine’

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney inspired Brandy and Monica's 1990s R&B classic "The Boy Is Mine." Brandy had a strong reaction to the song when she first heard it. She said it impacted how the world treated her and Monica. "The Boy Is Mine" became a massive hit in the United States.

Music

RuPaul: Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain Loved 1 of His Songs

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana really liked one of RuPaul's most famous songs. RuPaul said Courtney Love and the members of Nirvana understood drag in a way others do not. The song in question was a minor hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

John Lennon Wrote This Love Song as a Tribute to All Women

John Lennon said one of his love songs was written to every woman. He said his relationships with women were often poor, but that he was trying to change. The song in question was a big hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

John Lennon Told Paul McCartney He Was Leaving The Beatles in a ‘White Album’ Song

John Lennon used a comedic lyric in The Beatles' 'White Album' to send a message to Paul McCartney. The song features references to "Strawberry Fields Forever," "The Fool on the Hill," "I Am the Walrus," and other Beatles songs. The 'White Album' was a huge hit.

Music

Helen Reddy’s ‘I Am Woman’: Her Husband Peed on the Desk of Someone Who Hated It

Helen Reddy was most known for covering "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from 'Jesus Christ Superstar' before she released "I Am Woman" as a single. A record executive didn't like the latter song, so her husband peed on his desk. "I Am Woman" became a hit in the United States.

Music

The Beatles’ George Harrison Said Listening to This Elvis Presley Song Was a Spiritual Experience

The Beatles' George Harrison heard one of Elvis Presley's songs while riding his bike. George said the song provided hope to the people of Great Britain and said listening to it was a spiritual experience. The song became popular in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

Davy Jones Said The Monkees Wore JCPenney on This Album Cover

The Monkees didn't make much money from their second album, 'More of the Monkees.' Davy Jones said the band wore JCPenny clothes on the cover. Micky Dolenz hated the cover. 'More of the Monkees' was a success in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Music

George Harrison’s Son Let ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Release His Beatles Parody Song 36 Years After He Wrote It

"Weird Al Yankovic" parodied one of the Beatles songs that George Harrison wrote. Yankovic rewrote the original song so it was about a 1980s trend. He recorded the parody in the 1980s and released it in 2017 after receiving Dhani Harrison's blessing. The response was minimal.

Music

George Harrison Helped Inspire ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis

George Harrison made an album that helped inspire "Wonderwall" by Oasis. In interviews, Oasis' Liam Gallagher discussed his interpretation of "Wonderwall" as well as the origin of the song. The track became a hit in the United States even though the George album in question did not.