The "strange facts" you know about songs thread.

[Deb in IA]

..except for one:

My husband swears he heard somewhere that the Aerosmith song "Dude Looks Like A Lady" was written about Vince Neil, from Motley Crue. I have no idea if this is true.

Gotta Get To Disney!

Actually, it is Steven Tyler who is looking a lot like a lady these days:

OK, here's some from me:

The most famous 3-note riff that all the world instantly recognizes as the start of "Satisfaction" from the Rolling Stones was actually penned after Keith Richards woke up from a deep slumber, grabbed a piece of paper next to his bed, and wrote down a scrap of a melody that just popped into his head.

The Kinks' song "Lola" was inspired by a true incident, when lead singer Ray Davies took a transvestite back to his hotel room in Paris, only to discover his date had beard stubble.

 

[Towncrier]

I know of a couple:

Le Freak by Chic was recorded when the band was refused entrance to Studio 54 on New Year's Eve 1977. The band went back to one of the member's apartment, drank champagne, and started jamming. They were upset and the original lyrics are not safe for the DISboards. Wikipedia has the full story for those interested.

The Barry Manilow song "Mandy" was originally titled "Brandy" when it was written and released in England in 1971. By the time that Barry Manilow recorded the song in 1974, the group "Looking Glass" came out with the song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" in 1972, so the lyrics were of the Manilow version were changed to avoid confusion.

 

[Costumesaremylife]

I know of a couple:

Le Freak by Chic was recorded when the band was refused entrance to Studio 54 on New Year's Eve 1977. The band went back to one of the member's apartment, drank champagne, and started jamming. They were upset and the original lyrics are not safe for the DISboards. Wikipedia has the full story for those interested.

The Barry Manilow song "Mandy" was originally titled "Brandy" when it was written and released in England in 1971. By the time that Barry Manilow recorded the song in 1974, the group "Looking Glass" came out with the song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" in 1972, so the lyrics were of the Manilow version were changed to avoid confusion.

I saw an interview in which Barry spoke about that song and that there was at least one take of the song where he sings brrrrrmmmmmmmandy.

 

[Deb in IA]

Here's another:

Buddy Holly's hit "Peggy Sue" was originally called "Cindy Lou", after Buddy's niece. The name was changed to Peggy Sue, for the girlfriend of the Cricket's drummer.

 

[N.Bailey]

With all the John Denver trivia on the thread, I'm shocked that no one mentioned, "Annie's Song." John Denver wrote it on a ski lift in just over 10 minutes about his wife. Annie (and Annie isn't mentioned anywhere in the song). He'd go on to say, when you truly mean it, it just comes naturally (paraphrasing).

 

[N.Bailey]

I read something about this years ago, but can't find it now. This is the closest thing I could find.

Biggest Historical Mistake in Music
“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”

“Guitar Groups are out of fashion, Mr Epstein”.

Decca Recording Company rejecting the Beatles in 1962.

Oops!

Dick Rowe was an A&R man at Decca Records from the 1940s to the 1960s and the finger points at him for rejecting signing up the Beatles.

The Beatles signed up to Parlophone part of the EMI group, before eventually starting their own Apple Label.
http://musicouch.com/musicouching/10-amazing-music-trivia-facts-you-never-knew/

 

[Costumesaremylife]

"The Sweetest Thing," by U2 was written by Bono after he forgot his wife's birthday.

 

[petchie]

Carly Simon wrote the songs "Anticipation" and "Legend in your own time" about Cat Stevens. (they were dating)

After they broke up, he wrote "Sweet Scarlet" for her.

 

[brp]

Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Shynyrd) - A response to the unflattering description of the South in Neil Young's "Southern Man".

And then Warren Zevon wrote a song called "Play it All Night Long," possibly in rebuttal to this, but it has the line:

'Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song. Turn the speakers up real loud; play it all night long."

This one is considerably more critical of the south than Neil

Cheers.

 

[dislal]

DH says that "Helter Skelter" was written about (or at least named after) a slide in a British amusement park.

I was told once that this song was about the Charles Manson murders of the 60's does anyone have any information about this?

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I was told once that this song was about the Charles Manson murders of the 60's does anyone have any information about this?

Manson is associated with "Helter Skelter," the term he took from the Beatles song of that name and construed as an apocalyptic race war the murders were putatively intended to precipitate (wikipedia) So, in other words they were associated but the other way around from what you were told.

 

[N.Bailey]

Manson is associated with "Helter Skelter," the term he took from the Beatles song of that name and construed as an apocalyptic race war the murders were putatively intended to precipitate (wikipedia) So, in other words they were associated but the other way around from what you were told.

Susan Atkins came up with an alternative theory about the case and it was pretty compelling. Not that she's innocent (she also claims that), but her version of events (and some were in hindsight) is much more plausible than starting the race war. It's a pretty long read, but it is interesting for anyone interested in the case/murders. Susan has had 4 decades to come up with a theory though, so it may be 100% untrue. I should point out too, it's not written by her though most of it has met her approval.
http://www.susanatkins.org/6-Myth.html

It's funny (not really as the savagery of those acts are NOT funny), but it's funny that Patricia Krenwinkel spelled Helter Skelter, Healter Skelter.

Manson was a huge fan of the Beatles.

 

[Disney-Kim]

This is funny...my DH and I were just having this discussion over the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

He thought it was about hell and I thought it was about drug addiction. if you listen to the lyrics the drug thing really comes in to play....

well we looked it up and the Eagles said in an interview that it was about the excesses of Hollywood and how you couldn't escape them. what how boring....and yes they admitted that it was "boring".

 

[MineMail]

The Plain White T's band member, Tom Higgenson, wrote "Hey There Delilah" for a real person that he never even dated.

From Wikipedia:

The song was written after Higgenson met Delilah DiCrescenzo, a nationally ranked American steeplechase and cross country runner.[15] Despite the fact that she informed him that she already had a boyfriend, Higgenson felt strongly enough about DiCrescenzo to write a song about her.

 

[Poohbear123]

Chicago's "Does anybody really know what time it is" was written after one of the band Members asked a Doorman at the Hotel they were staying out, What time is it? He answered..."Does amybody really know what time it is..

 

[Jennasis]

Cyndi Lauper's song "She Bop" has two meanings. Kids were meant to understand the song to be about dancing. Adults were meant to get the real adult meaning. It worked. When I was a kid growing up in the 80s, I had NO idea what it was really about. I used to go around singing that all the time. Who knew that sweet little Cyndi Lauper was such a perv!

According to Cyndi herself in an interview I saw her do, the song only has ONE meaning (naughty naughty!).

I was told once that this song was about the Charles Manson murders of the 60's does anyone have any information about this?

Manson thought the song was "speaking" to him and wrote the words Helter Skelter on the wall in blood after the murders. The song was not about Manson.

 

[legalsea]

On the Beatles first album (Meet the Beatles) John Lennon plays the harmonica on one or two songs. He stole that harmonica from a department store.

“Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is based on an actual incident in Switzerland (a fire at a famous hotel next to a lake). Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were staying at the hotel, along with Deep Purple.

Finally, “Your So Vain” by Carly Simon: the subject of this hit tune was me. Many people think it is about Warren Beatty. Since I don’t like him, I have let the rumor ride for decades. Time to end it.

 

[N.Bailey]

This is funny...my DH and I were just having this discussion over the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

He thought it was about hell and I thought it was about drug addiction. if you listen to the lyrics the drug thing really comes in to play....

well we looked it up and the Eagles said in an interview that it was about the excesses of Hollywood and how you couldn't escape them. what how boring....and yes they admitted that it was "boring".

That is disappointing. I always thought it was about Hell too.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was written about himself after someone (presumably Bernie Taupin) saved him from committing suicide. As I've heard it, Elton was quickly approaching his wedding day (to cabaret singer Linda Woodrow) and in complete dread he contemplated suicide over going through with the marriage. Supposedly Bernie saved him and convinced him to NOT go through with either the marriage or his suicide attempt. Elton supposedly attempted suicide by turning the gas oven on, and laying beside the open door with a pillow under his head. One thing probably kept him alive prior to Bernie discovering him....Elton left all the windows open.

Linda is the princess perched in her electric chair.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

That's what song facts says!

Oh great. Thanks. Now I have to admit that my husband was right.

Actually, it is Steven Tyler who is looking a lot like a lady these days:

That is seriously scary.

Gotta Get To Disney!