The Nineties were not a kind decade to Bon Jovi. The Slippery When Wet boys managed only a couple of underwhelming records, while Jon Bon Jovi's career as an indie-film actor ranks with Ethan Hawke's novel and Fabio's album as a landmark of celebrity hubris. But Bon Jovi are still around, wanted dead or alive, principled popsters who now cater mainly to the overseas market — Crush comes out in Japan nearly a month before America gets it. Jon does a fine job of shaking his Bon-Bon to the blow-dried, rockish tunes on Crush, especially the Max Martin co-write "It's My Life," which sounds like a Britney track shot through the heart with Richie Sambora's voice-box guitar. Nothing reaches the trans-mall splendor of "You Give Love a Bad Name," "I'll Be There for You" or "Wild in the Streets," but like the mythical Tommy and Gina of yesteryear, Bon Jovi admirably keep livin' on a prayer.

“The A Team”

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.