More Top Stories: Aretha Franklin, Wyclef Jean, U2

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Aretha Franklin Cancels Concert After Son's Attack
Aretha Franklin, Rolling Stone's Greatest Singer of All Time, canceled a performance in Kansas City last night, following an assault on her son Eddie last week which left him in a Detroit hospital. No arrests have been made in the attack. [Sound Spike]

Kid Cudi Pleads Guilty to Possession
Kid Cudi pleaded guilty to a charge of drug possession, and was sentenced to two days of community service. [TMZ]

Wyclef Jean Hospitalized for 'Stress and Fatigue'
Wyclef Jean was admitted into a New Jersey hospital this weekend to treat headaches that have dogged him over the past few weeks. Jean has recently been busy recording new music and meeting with members of the UN. [ Billboard ]

'Idol' Runner-Up Crystal Bowersox Engaged
American Idol's season nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox, who broke up with her previous boyfriend hours before last season's finale, has revealed she is engaged to current boyfriend, musician Brian Walker. The couple will wed next month. Bowersox is currently recording her debut album. [ People ]

U2 Perform 'Spanish Eyes' in San Sebastian
U2 dusted off the Joshua Tree-era b-side "Spanish Eyes" for their 360 Tour stop in San Sebastian, Spain last night. The band hasn't performed the song since August 2001. [U2.com]

Daft Punk Set 'Tron' Soundtrack Release Date
Daft Punk will release their soundtrack for the film Tron on November 22nd. The album will be released digitally and in a "deluxe" physical edition. [ Tron Soundrack]

Animal Collective Shoes to Include Unreleased Music
Animal Collective's Avey Tare has designed a slip-on shoe, dubbed "The Tobin," for Keep Company, with proceeds benefitting the Socorro Island conservation fund. The shoes, which become available in March 2011, will be accompanied by a cassette tape of unreleased music by Animal Collective. [Consequence of Sound]

Plus: ABBA suing political party over "Mamma Mia," Susan Boyle covering "Perfect Day" and more.

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  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  MOVIES 'This Is the End' Brings the Goods
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  TV The Women of 'Mad Men'
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Everyday People”

Sly and the Family Stone | 1968

"Everyday People" managed to trailblaze in two different ways -- it was one of the first pop hits to deal with the subject of racial harmony, and it utilized Larry Graham's "slap" technique on the bass guitar, which would soon be copied by countless other bassists. Graham once said about his pulsating style, "I'd never done that before … that's where the freedom of creativity came in for the band, that we'd be allowed to do that." In 1978, the song's line "Different strokes for different folks" would be borrowed for the title of the hit television show Diff'rent Strokes.

More Song Stories entries »

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