Hit Songs That Only Exist Because Artists Didn't Back Down
Some hit songs initially didn't thrill the music industry's gatekeepers, and artists had to fight tooth and nail to have them released.
Read MoreWith Us Since
2016
Brian Boone
Grunge Editorial Policies
The unique content on Grunge is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with a broad array of expertise in music, music history, pop culture and strange news. Our goal is to provide accurate and diverse content bolstered by expert input.
Focused on accuracy and ethical coverage, the Grunge editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
Stories By Brian Boone
-
-
Musicians Who Rescued Their Dying Careers With One Song
Everybody loves a comeback, and every so often, a musical dynamo of the past hits the Top 10 with an fresh hit. Artists like ABBA and Meat Loaf are just two.
Read More -
Eric Clapton Re-Recorded This Classic Song For A 1987 Michelob Beer Commercial
You may know "After Midnight" as a popular beer commercial, but its history is older than its 1987 debut — and was written by someone other than Eric Clapton.
Read More -
5 Singers Who Were Wrong About Other Hit Artists' Success
Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Mike Patton, and Neil Diamond have served up some pretty brutal commentary about up-and-coming artists.
Read More -
Rock Bands That Hit Record Career Lows At The Worst Time
No rock band has ever reached a place of popularity and blockbuster sales and stayed there forever — and some drop off at the worst times and never climb back.
Read More -
1968 Was The Biggest Flop Of The Decade For No. 1 Hits
While there were several songs you know and love to hit No. 1 in 1968, it was actually was the worst year of the 1960s as far as volume of No. 1 hits go.
Read More -
Hit Songs With Fewer Than 10 Unique Words In The Lyrics
It's so impressive that these songs became fan favorites with only a handful of words, and you know some of them — "Tequila" and "Wipe Out" for starters.
Read More -
This Masterpiece Of A Song Held The No. 1 Spot The Longest In 1972
Not only was this chart-topping song a huge hit in 1972, it also beat all other songs that year for the longest time in the No. 1 position.
Read More -
Classic Rockers Who Quit Struggling Bands Right Before They Hit The Fame Jackpot
Rush, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Clash, and Genesis all had members who quit before the struggling bands became famous rock stars.
Read More -
Classic Singers Whose Songs Hit No. 1 Shortly After They Died
Despite tragically dying in accidents, through misadventure, or at the hands of a murderer, these musicians had a post-mortem No. 1 hit just around the corner.
Read More -
This Classic Rock Band Narrowly Missed The No. 1 Spot So Many Times It Set A Record
A short-lived but prolific classic rock band made the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 five times, but never made it to No. 1, setting a unique record.
Read More -
Car Commercials That Drove These Catchy Songs Up The Charts
Every good car ad needs a catchy tune, but what if the song becomes the star? From new acts to a superstar, these artists found out how selling out can cash in.
Read More -
Strange Things From The Early Days Of MTV You Didn't Know
How much cable viewers came to want their MTV cannot be understated, and it all started amid the many strange things that happened in the network's early days.
Read More -
This Infectious Love Song Held The No. 1 Spot The Longest In 1961
Weaving insomnia into a heartwarming love story, with powerful vocals and a toe-tapping beat, this 1961 classic topped the charts for a rarely beaten stretch.
Read More -
5 Classic Rock Stars Who Were Snubbed For Best Original Song At The Oscars
Van Morrison. Paul Simon, and Peter Gabriel are just three of the classic rock artists who made it to the Oscar nominees list but never the podium.
Read More -
5 Classic Rock Stars Who Won Oscars For Best Original Song
Some classic rock artists segued from making epic songs you can still hear on the radio today to creating movie tunes that won them the Oscar.
Read More -
Barry Manilow Once Joked That This Peculiar '70s Jingle Was A 'Low Point' In His Career
Barry Manilow is called the king of jingles, and for good reason, since he was both prolific and successful with them. However, there is one he's not a fan of.
Read More -
Music Icons Who Were Arrested While On Tour
Sometimes brilliant musical artists enjoy such a freewheeling lifestyle afforded by fame, money, and adulation that they forget they aren't above the law.
Read More -
Why Listening To Music On The Original iPod Was Better Than Everything Before It
The original iPod revolutionized portable music, taking everything that made previous products great and solving all of their problems in one small device.
Read More -
How Whitesnake Turned A Massive Flop Into Its Biggest Hit
For much of the 1980s, Whitesnake trod water until it recorded a new version of a 1982 song, which took the big-haired hard rock band to No. 1 in 1987.
Read More -
This World-Famous Love Song Held The No. 1 Spot The Longest In 1985
After a debut performance at the first-ever MTV Music Awards, this now world-famous love song topped the charts for six straight weeks across two years.
Read More -
Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son Was A Seething Anti-War Protest Song Until Movies Ruined It
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" is a serious protest song, but oversaturation in movies stripped the power and meaning from the anti-war anthem.
Read More -
Strange Things About The Monkees You Don't Know
The Monkees may be one of the '60s best-known acts, but from "The Three Stooges" influences to having a hand in creating MTV, there's plenty more to learn.
Read More -
The Full Version Of The Family Ties Theme Song Is An Underrated Must-Listen For '80s Kids
There is a lot more to the theme song to "Family Ties" than the one minute version of "Without Us" that kicked off the show. It's a must-listen for '80s kids.
Read More -
5 Classic Love Songs That Snagged The No. 1 Spot For Just One Week
What does 1987's "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" have in common with 1964's "My Girl"? Both classic love songs only held the top spot for a single week.
Read More -
5 Songs Featured In EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert That Define The Untamed Spirit Of Rock 'N' Roll
Featuring once-lost footage of the King, these songs from "Elvis Presley In Concert" showcase the kind of raw rock 'n' roll energy that drove fans wild.
Read More -
11 Hidden Truths About Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon
After getting weird on "Meddle," Pink Floyd embraced soundscapes and recording techniques to deliver the sprawling and thoughtful "Dark Side of the Moon."
Read More
