Songs with cool stories behind them

[The Owl]

Donna Summers' "She Works Hard for the Money" was written about the African-American female bathroom attendant at the original Chasen's restaurant in Los Angeles.

[AngusThermopyle]

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Interestingly, the song "Killing Me Softly" was apparently written about "American Pie", because Roberta Flack was so moved when she heard the song that she felt like Don McLean was, "singing my life with his words."


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A poem was written by folk singer Lori Lieberman after she saw McLean perform "Empty Chairs" and other songs. It was reworked by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel into the song Flack recorded two years later.

[Fast Food Knight]

I was just trying to give Tuq a hard time. I think you all might be on to something about it being a chick thing... although I do hate 'Beautiful' by James Blunt, as well.

[prohornblower]

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... although I do hate 'Beautiful' by James Blunt, as well.

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That is a real good start. FFK, what are your thoughts on Coldplay? Nickelback? Led Zeppelin?

[Fast Food Knight]

Coldplay? Like... but definitely in the Delilah category
Nickelback? Hate.
Led Zeppelin? Love.

[blacklab]

Hey Man, Nice Shot by Filter

The song became notorious, as it was believed to be honoring the January 22, 1987, public suicide of Pennsylvania state treasurer Budd Dwyer, who shot himself during a press conference with a .357 magnum. A May 1996 interview with Filter in Addicted to Noise magazine and an official statement by the band confirmed this. Many have speculated that it could also be a lyrical paean to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide. Filter explained in an official statement:

The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice shot' is a reference to the final act itself, an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for what they believe is right. We are extremely sensitive and respectful to the family and friends of Mr. Dwyer. We have both lost friends to suicide and felt nothing but sympathy and loss for the victims, and those involved in such a tragedy.

[nath]

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Hey Man, Nice Shot by Filter

The song became notorious, as it was believed to be honoring the January 22, 1987, public suicide of Pennsylvania state treasurer Budd Dwyer, who shot himself during a press conference with a .357 magnum. A May 1996 interview with Filter in Addicted to Noise magazine and an official statement by the band confirmed this. Many have speculated that it could also be a lyrical paean to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide. Filter explained in an official statement:

The song 'Hey Man Nice Shot' is a reaction to a well-documented public suicide. It is not a celebration or glorification of taking one's own life. The phrase 'hey man, nice shot' is a reference to the final act itself, an expression of guts and determination of a person standing up for what they believe is right. We are extremely sensitive and respectful to the family and friends of Mr. Dwyer. We have both lost friends to suicide and felt nothing but sympathy and loss for the victims, and those involved in such a tragedy.

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Yeah, I like this song, too. And I have a grim fascination with the video clip of Mr. Dwyer's final moments.

For more recent stuff, Jens Lekman's "A Postcard to Nina" is, according to him, based on a true story, about how he visited his lesbian friend in Berlin and posed as her boyfriend so her Catholic father wouldn't suspect anything.

[prohornblower]

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Coldplay? definitely in the Delilah category
Nickelback? Hate.
Led Zeppelin? Love.

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This is great news! [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]