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Song Stories

“Unbelieveable”

EMF | 1991

While many hip-hop acts were sampling musical icons like James Brown, this British dance act sampled an unlikely source in this club rouser: comedian Andrew "Dice" Clay. While video viewers heard Clay's trademark "Oh!", Clay's face couldn't be seen, since the salty-tongued comic had been banned from MTV for life. (Years later, the network lifted the ban.) While EMF had a few other dance hits, "Unbelievable" was forged with the band's identity, due to its rapid success. "Sometimes I wish we could've done it a little more gradually," guitarist Ian Dench said.

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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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