The Backstage Pass: Song Stories

Step into the intriguing world of Rock'n Roll's most notorious swindle as we delve into the captivating story behind the song "Why Did You Do It?" by Stretch, released in 1975. Join us as we uncover the chain of events that led to this audacious move and explore the impact it had on the music industry. In the late 1960s, Fleetwood Mac stood tall as the epitome of British Blues greatness, capturing...

Welcome to this episode of "Behind the Melody," where we delve into the captivating story behind the iconic song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, released in 1985. Join us as we uncover the serendipitous origins and extraordinary journey of this timeless track. The tale begins in the picturesque city of Bath, located in the enchanting South West of England. Here, two young t...

Welcome to our podcast where we take you on a journey through the fascinating story behind one of the most iconic songs in rock music history: Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The genesis of this masterpiece dates back to the late 1960s when the band's enigmatic frontman, Freddie Mercury, began developing the song. He would often play different parts of the song on the piano, piecing it together over...

The story behind the song "Valerie" is first and foremost the true story of Dave McCabe, lead singer of the Zutons, a rock band from Liverpool. The song is dedicated to Valerie Starr, Dave's girlfriend who he met during an American tour, and who is then to join him on English soil. The song's popularity skyrocketed after Amy Winehouse covered it for Mark Ronson's album "Version." The soulful rendi...

Welcome to the podcast where we dive deep into the stories behind some of the most iconic songs in music history. In this episode, we will be talking about the classic rock anthem "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple. It all started on December 4th, 1971, when the band was in Montreux, Switzerland, to record their album 'Machine Head'. They were using a mobile recording studio rented from the Rolli...

Welcome to the podcast where we uncover the story behind the hit song 'A Girl Like You' by Edwyn Collins. This song is intimately linked to the romantic biography of its author, composer, and performer Edwyn Collins, who was born in 1959 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was a talented musician who, at not even 20 years old, created the group Orange Juice with which he experienced his first success....

Welcome to a special backstage pass episode where we unravel the remarkable journey of a song that revitalized the career of one of the most iconic Rock bands of all time. Join us as we delve into the creation of 'Beautiful Day' by U2, released in 2000. In the wake of a tumultuous period marked by the disappointing response to their 1997 album 'Pop', the Irish rockers were under immense pressure f...

Welcome to a backstage pass to unravel the captivating story behind one of David Bowie's greatest hits: "China Girl." Join us in this episode as we explore the remarkable journey of this iconic song. In 1977, David Bowie decided to lend a helping hand to his friend Iggy Pop in recording his debut album. Bowie, well-acquainted with the studios at Château d'Hérouville near Paris, France, set up camp...

In this podcast, we dive into the story behind one of The Police's most iconic songs, 'Walking On The Moon'. The tale starts with a chance encounter between Sting and a composer friend in Munich. After a day of work, the two decided to explore the local nightlife and hit up a few bars. It's during this excursion that Sting has an epiphany - the sensation of walking on the moon could be a powerful...

Join us for a captivating journey as we delve into the fascinating story behind one of the iconic tracks in the world of trip hop. In this episode, we explore "Glory Box" by the renowned group Portishead, released in 1994. Travel back in time to Bristol, England, in 1991, where a unique program initiated by Margaret Thatcher aimed to assist unemployed individuals in creating their own businesses....

Join us on an exhilarating journey into the heart of one of the most iconic guitar riffs in musical history. In this episode, we uncover the fascinating story behind the creation of 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits, released in 1985. In the mid-80s, Dire Straits was a global sensation, yet struggled to gain traction in the USA. Enter MTV, the gateway to American success. Discover how the band's...

It's 2005, and Amy Winehouse has already had a small national success with her first album, "Frank." However, her demons are beginning to take hold, and her manager feels that she needs to go to rehab. He approaches her with the offer, but Amy is clear: No, no, no, she will not go to rehab. The song, which was released in 2006 as part of Amy's second album "Back to Black," was an instant hit and b...

In this episode, we explore the tale behind the timeless track "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders, released in 1979. Join us as we unravel the intriguing journey of Chrissie Hynde, the mastermind behind this influential band from the 80s rock scene. Born in the early 1950s in Akron, Ohio, Chrissie grew up in a conservative working-class environment. With only three old albums at home, she turned...

Welcome to another episode of our podcast, where we take you behind the scenes and uncover the fascinating stories behind iconic songs. In today's episode, we have an exclusive backstage pass to the track "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, taken from his debut solo album. In 1981, Phil Collins had already spent four years as the lead singer of Genesis, experiencing a whirlwind of album releases...

In 1995, "Wonderwall" was released as the third single from Oasis' album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?". The song became a huge hit, propelling the band to global success and making it one of the most iconic songs of the 1990s. But the story behind the song is as interesting as the music itself. Noel Gallagher wrote "Wonderwall" during a tour with the band in the US, in a hotel room in San Fr...

In this episode, we delve into the captivating story behind one of Elton John's most iconic tracks - Crocodile Rock. Released in 1972, this timeless song became the first of many chart-topping hits for the legendary Sir Elton John in the United States. Crocodile Rock stands out in Elton John's extensive discography with its irresistible fifties rock 'n' roll accents. But beyond its catchy melody a...

Candy Dulfer had started playing the saxophone at the age of six, inspired by her father Hans Dulfer, a renowned jazz saxophonist in the Netherlands. By the time she was 14, she was already playing with her father's band and attracting attention with her impressive skills on the instrument. It was in 1987 that Dave Stewart first heard Candy Dulfer play when he was visiting Amsterdam for a gig. He...

Welcome to this episode of our podcast, where we dive into the fascinating story behind the iconic song "One Step Beyond" by the band Madness. Join us as we explore the origins of this worldwide success and its deep roots in the British music scene. In the mid-1960s, Jamaican emigrants introduced a vibrant musical movement called Ska to the shores of Britain. This genre, derived from reggae, captu...

"Summer Son" by Texas is a catchy and upbeat pop-rock song that was released in 1999 and became a big hit in the UK and beyond. But do you know the story behind the song and the band's lead singer Sharleen Spiteri? In this episode, we'll dive into Sharleen's early years as a hairdresser and her struggles to find her true passion in music. We'll also explore how the band came up with the sound and...

In the early 1970s, Paul McCartney was at the peak of his solo career following the breakup of the Beatles. At the same time, the James Bond franchise was thriving and looking for a new theme song for their upcoming film "Live and Let Die." McCartney had always dreamed of writing a song for James Bond, but the opportunity had never presented itself. Two years before "Live and Let Die," McCartney w...

In this podcast, we dive into the story behind Amy MacDonald's hit song "This Is The Life". We follow the journey of a young girl from Scotland who found inspiration in music legends like David Bowie and Oasis. But it was a fateful evening when she accompanied her mother to a Travis concert that would change her life forever. From there, she began writing her own music and performing in local venu...

Join us in this episode as we uncover the captivating story behind the iconic track "Lady in Red" by the renowned artist Chris de Burgh. With a global album sales record exceeding 40 million, Chris de Burgh's journey from his international upbringing to his musical breakthrough is a tale of resilience and passion. Born in Argentina to a diplomat father, Chris de Burgh's childhood traversed diverse...

Welcome to our podcast where we uncover the fascinating stories behind some of the most iconic songs of our time. In this episode, we delve into the making of 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police. During the production of their 5th album, 'Synchronicity,' tensions were high among the band members. Arguments were frequent and increasingly violent, causing a strain on their working relationship. Bu...

In this episode, we delve into the story behind Coldplay's hit song 'Viva La Vida'. Released in 2008, the song was a massive commercial success and won the band multiple awards. But what inspired its creation?  During a trip to Mexico, Chris Martin visited the Frida Kahlo Museum and was struck by the artist's life and work. This experience inspired the lyrics of 'Viva La Vida', which explore theme...

In this episode of our podcast, we dive into the story behind the iconic track "Don't Stop the Dance" by Bryan Ferry, released in 1985. Join us as we explore the journey of an artist who has sold over 30 million records to date. Born in Washington, a small town in northeast England, Bryan Ferry grew up amidst the gray and gloomy atmosphere of the post-war era. While his parents envisioned him beco...