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Song Stories

“Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)”

Monica | 1995

After producer Dallas Austin discovered 12-year-old Monica Arnold in 1991 (while she was singing Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All"), he got her a record deal. For this song, Monica's debut single, he enlisted a slew of writers including LL Cool J and Chuck D, and procured samples of songs by LL and Public Enemy. While this sassy tune about needing space seemed overly mature for Monica, who was 14 when it was released, she said it didn't necessarily reflect her experience. "Sometimes, when an older person writes a song for you, you can learn from the song after you've performed it, because you know what you're singing."

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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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