Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U.” U.S. copyright-registration records identify Prince Rogers Nelson as the author of the words and…
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Who Recorded “Hound Dog” Before Elvis Presley?
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton made the first known recording of “Hound Dog.” She recorded it in Los Angeles on…
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What Did “Under Pressure” Give to “Ice Ice Baby”?
“Under Pressure” gave “Ice Ice Baby” its central musical hook: the repeating bass figure, rhythmic phrasing, sparse piano accents, and…
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Who Wrote “9 to 5,” and Why Was It Written?
Dolly Parton wrote both the music and lyrics to “9 to 5” by herself. She also performed the original recording,…
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Who Wrote “Respect” Before Aretha Franklin Recorded It?
Otis Redding is the officially credited songwriter of “Respect.” He recorded and released the original in 1965, two years before…
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