Top 10 Interesting Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Iconic Songs

“I Will Always Love You” (1974) by Dolly Parton

Several years into making music, Dolly Parton was working with entertainer Porter Wagoner. The artist then decided she wanted to come out from her partner’s shadow. “I Will Always Love You” was her attempt to say goodbye, with the artist choosing to move on with her life and career. It sounds like a traditional love song, but it’s also rooted in Parton’s professional ambition. She later proved that she made the right decision on multiple counts. If the songwriter never made this big move, we might’ve never had this version or the Whitney Houston cover.

“Peg” (1977) by Steely Dan

During their first decade, Steely Dan developed a reputation as perfectionists. “Aja” is one of their best albums with songs like “Peg” showing their eye for detail. To achieve high-quality sounds, captains Donald Fagen and Walter Becker invited several musicians to record. This resulted in many discarded attempts at a guitar solo. Recruiting artists like mercenaries, Fagen and Becker waited until they got exactly what they wanted. Jay Graydon gave the winning performance for the final track. It weaves perfectly into a rich tapestry. In a virtuoso effort, Graydon proves himself among a great roster of session players.

“American Pie” (1971) by Don McLean

In this folk tune from the 1970s, Don McLean engages with tragedy and pop culture. The song was partially inspired by “The Day the Music Died.” Like so many others, McLean reeled from the deaths of Buddy Holly and other artists in 1959. Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash that year. The songwriter also added in cryptic references, giving audiences decades to analyze his poetry. It’s an epic track that could be considered part eulogy and part history lesson. In both cases, the singer seems to mix together his personal grief with that of an entire nation.

“Superstition” (1972) by Stevie Wonder

When most people consider this song, they think about the work of Stevie Wonder. Some listeners don’t know that another famed musician had a hand in the production. Jeff Beck helped to shape the direction of “Superstition.” While he might not have a writing credit, the guitarist influenced the beat and overall direction. Beck thought he might have the song for himself, but he was beaten to the punch in 1972. This momentary duo stayed solo artists, but the world clearly benefited from their brief collaboration. Many years later, the British artist joined Wonder onstage to play the hit once more.

“Human Nature” (1982) by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson didn’t write this track from “Thriller,” but he did receive help from talented musicians. Toto band member Steve Porcaro ended up being one of them. After his young daughter told him about being hurt by a boy, Porcaro came up with the idea for “Human Nature.” While it wasn’t written for Jackson, producer Quincy Jones heard an early version from Toto bandmate David Paich’s demo collection. Writer John Bettis then helped to re-shape the song with different lyrics. Porcaro left his mark on an awesome record by bringing his own personal life to the music.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) by Nirvana

While it might have become a grunge anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” started from much humbler beginnings. Kurt Cobain found a message on his wall courtesy of singer Kathleen Hanna. Hanna and Cobain’s partner Tobi Vail had an inside joke about deodorant, with the former writing that “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit.” The Nirvana frontman didn’t know about the brand name and took it to mean something deeper. He later realized that it was a much more innocent joke. Regardless of its origins, the iconic title fueled one of the greatest tracks in the 1990s.

“We Are the World” (1985) by USA for Africa

After “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” came out, artists in the US wanted to do a charity song with American musicians. Legends like Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie, and Quincy Jones spearheaded the effort. They prepped the “We Are the World” track and brought in an all-star lineup. On the night of the American Music Awards, the group met in a Hollywood studio. One of the finest rosters in music history assembled, all working to raise money for famine relief. The bulk of the work took place during a marathon session. A late-night became an early morning as singers like Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Ray Charles performed.

“Under Pressure” (1981) by Queen & David Bowie

As artists at the top of their game, both Queen and David Bowie assembled for this iconic hit. Many people don’t realize that it came out of some improvisation. Both parties happened to be at the same studio in Switzerland. With Bowie joining the “Hot Space” sessions, the collaboration led to “Under Pressure.” Some musical experiments and jamming led to this end result. All five musicians shared credit, with their free-spirited teamwork going down in history. Freddie Mercury and his bandmates used various methods to write, with the process for “We Will Rock You” also producing classic results.

“Gimme Shelter” (1969) by The Rolling Stones

When the British rock band needed a backup singer, they brought in the talented Merry Clayton. The vocalist arrived at the studio in the middle of the night, still wearing her pajamas. During the last-minute session, Clayton delivered a powerful and iconic part. This includes her memorable voice crack that might be the track’s highlight. Without knowing the Stones, the artist arrived ready to collaborate alongside legends like Mick Jagger. The fury of the take hasn’t aged a day, punctuating the harsh tone of the lyrics. “Gimme Shelter” would not be the same without her contributions.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Songwriter Jim Steinman Envisioned the Song for a Vampire Musical

Diane Warren Was Inspired by an Interview with Barbra Streisand & James Brolin

This Heartfelt Song Examines Personal Relationships with Tremendous Empathy

As It Turns Out, the Smoke Came from a Real Fire at a Frank Zappa Show

“Get Back” (1969) by The Beatles with Billy Preston

Even with one of the best bands ever, the recording process comes with happy accidents. During one session, Paul McCartney started playing a bass line. It became the seed that grew into “Get Back.” Around the same time, he wrote “Let It Be” after his mom visited him in a dream. McCartney’s creativity knows no bounds, with a basic instrumental turning into a larger composition. It was just the idea the songwriter needed to boost morale and create a classic. First released as a single, the track featured guest musician Billy Preston. A later version was the last song on their final studio album.


Did we forget another amazing story about a classic tune? Let us know in the comments below.