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Song Stories

“A Long December”

Counting Crows | 1996

A year before this song was released, a friend of frontman Adam Duritz was hit by a car, leading to a lengthy hospital stay. Duritz, who visited his pal frequently, wrote this song -- with its California imagery -- after hanging out with some buddies late one night and before another hospital visit the next morning. "It's a song about looking back on your life and seeing changes happening, and for once me, looking forward and thinking, 'Ya know, things are gonna change for the better -- 'maybe this year will be better than the last.'"

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“Brian Wilson”
Barenaked Ladies | 1992
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“Santa Monica”
Everclear | 1996

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Song Stories

“Tonight's the Night”

The Shirelles | 1960

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."

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