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16 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Popular Songs That'll Change The Way You Listen To Them

Did you know that Dolly Parton used her acrylic nails to write "9 to 5"?

1. Harry Styles wrote "Falling" in just a shower towel with Fine Line songwriter and producer Thomas Hull, aka Kid Harpoon, in only 20 minutes.

Harry Styles playing the piano in the "Falling: music video

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2. Stevie Nicks wrote "Landslide" about her difficult breakup with Lindsey Buckingham in 1974 just before they joined Fleetwood Mac.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham performing "Landslide" in the '90s; the "Fleetwood Mac" album cover from 1975

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3. While recording "Partition" in the studio, Beyoncé didn't come prepared with any lyrics — she completely ad-libbed the song as soon as she heard the bass line and beat.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé in the backseat of a car in the "Partition" music video

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4. When John Lennon divorced his first wife in the late '60s, Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" for Lennon's son, Julian, to make him feel better.

Paul McCartney holding Julian Lennon during a holiday in Greece

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5. Dolly Parton used her acrylic nails to write "9 to 5" because she believed they sounded like a typewriter.

Judy and Doralee talking in the office in "9 to 5"

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6. Lil Nas X wrote "Old Town Road" for his Twitter followers during his first year of college instead of retaking a math class.

Lil Nas X riding on a horse down an empty road while wearing a cowboy hat

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7. When John Legend first played the wedding classic "All of Me" for his then-fiancé, Chrissy Teigen, she cried.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen looking at each other through a window in the "All of Me" music video

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8. Billie Eilish wrote "Bellyache" from the perspective of a serial killer.

Billie Eilish standing in the middle of an empty road in the "Bellyache" music video

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9. Taylor Swift was inspired to write "Death by a Thousand Cuts" after watching the Netflix rom-com Someone Great.

Jenny, Blair, and Erin from "Someone Great" dancing while smoking; Taylor Swift's "Lover" album cover

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10. Donald Glover said that "This Is America" is a song for the people, and it's up to them to interpret what it's really about.

Childish Gambino dancing in an abandoned lot with kids behind him

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11. Alicia Keys wrote "If I Ain't Got You" on a plane immediately after she found out that Aaliyah had died in a plane crash.

Alicia Keys singing outside in the winter in the "If I Ain't Got You" music video; Aaliyah wearing a hat and gloves while performing on a TV show

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12. Frank Ocean wrote "Novacane" about the numbness you experience when you don't love someone you're in a relationship with.

Frank Ocean sitting on a bed in the "Novacane" music video

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13. Lady Gaga actually wrote "Shallow" as the ending song of A Star Is Born because in the original script, Bradley Cooper's character drowned.

Ally and Jackson singing together on stage for the first time

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14. Jimi Hendrix completely made up "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" on the spot while someone was filming the Jimi Hendrix Experience recording music in the studio.

Jimi Hendrix playing acoustic guitar while wearing a hat and colorful clothing

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15. Cyndi Lauper's hit "She Bop" is actually about masturbation, and she read lifestyle and entertainment magazines like Blueboy for lyric inspiration.

Cyndi Lauper reading a "Beefcake" magazine in the front seat of her car for the "She Bop" music video

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16. And "Ms. Jackson" by Outkast was André 3000's apology to Erykah Badu's mom for the breakup between the two hip-hop artists.

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