Making of a Classic: 35 Little-Known Facts About the Songs That Became Anthems

Paul McCartney wrote the song "Let it be" during a period when the Beatles weren't sure how long would their success last. McCartney's mother, who had passed away from cancer when he was 14, came to him in a dream and reassured him saying: "It will be all right, just let it be"

27. The song "Sultans of Swing" was inspired by Mark Knopfler witnessing a shoddy pub band playing to a small, drunken crowd. At the end of their set, the singer finished with “Goodnight and thank you. We are the Sultans Of Swing.”

28. Minnie Riperton wrote the song, "Lovin' You (is easy 'cause you're beautiful)" for her baby daughter who grew up to be SNL cast member, Maya Rudolph.

29. The Led Zeppelin song "D'yer Mak'er" is pronounced "Jamaica" in reference to the way British people say the country's name, hence the reggae beat.

30. In 1942, the song "Deep in the Heart of Texas" was banned by BBC during working hours on the grounds that its infectious melody might cause wartime factory-hands to neglect their tools while they clapped in time with the song.

The 1968 rock song In A Gadda Da Vida was intended to be "In The Garden of Eden". Frontman Doug Ingle, who came up with the song, was hammered on red wine and his bandmates couldn't understand him.

32. Billy Joel's signature song, "Piano Man" is based on Joel's real-life experiences as a lounge musician. John-the-bartender, Paul-the-real-estate-novelist, and the waitress are all real people.

33. Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard's verse on the hit song "Ghetto Supastar" was the result of him showing up at the wrong studio, loving the song, and asking to be part of it.

34. Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" was originally never intended to be released as a single. When Hawaiian DJ Pablo Sato downloaded the album from an MP3 site, he played the song on American radio the next day. Within a couple of days, it was the number-one requested song.

35. George Michael donated the royalties from the song “Jesus to a child” to the charity ChildLine [a child counseling charity] in secret.