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Song Stories

“Adventures of Raindance Maggie”

Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2011

Following a short hiatus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers returned in 2011 with a single that they had planned as an instrumental until Anthony Kiedis boogied down with a tree. "I took it home and it felt so fun to listen to," Kiedis said upon first hearing the song. "I literally left it on in my driveway, opened the door and danced with the tree next to me for quite a while." Oddly enough, the video for "Rain Dance Maggie" was originally slated to be directed by hip-hop artist and former film student Kreayshawn.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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