The Plastic People of the Universe started out covering Velvet Underground songs in Prague clubs. By 1989, the band had helped crush communism in the Eastern Bloc.

MUSIC
From insurance to cereal, these products were advertised with famous commercial jingles that are still stuck in our heads years later.
The “Tubthumping” rockers bid adieu to the Iron Lady with a touching musical tribute featuring “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead.”
“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the so-called Black national anthem, was written by 20th-century novelist/poet/songwriter James Weldon Johnson as a rallying cry for perseverance and social justice.
Thanks to Led Zeppelin, there is nothing more rock ‘n’ roll than Gollum slipping away with your girl.
After funding COVID-19 vaccine research and donating millions of books to kids, Dolly Parton definitely deserves a statue or two.
Although they’ve never been taken too seriously, boy bands have been a force ever since The Beatles took the stage on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and the world witnessed female "hysteria" at its best.
Will The Weeknd’s 2021 Super Bowl halftime show outshine Beyoncé’s past appearances? It’s *technically* not impossible.
The biggest hit that pop band a-ha ever had was actually a reworked idea. 'Take on Me' had failed three times before.
If you're celebrating a 50th birthday or anniversary this year, you're in excellent company. From the first e-mail to McDonald's Quarter Pounder, 1971 was a year full of change.
Contemporary music has become a constantly expanding repository of classics whose origins sprung up from their most painful and profound experiences, the relationships that dominated portions of the artists’ lives, or just chance encounters that lodged in
With upbeat songs and catchy lyrics, the 1960s band The Swingin’ Six helped usher in a new era for the United States Postal Service.
Dolly Parton has made a tradition out of leaving her Christmas decorations up through at least January 19.
Owing to boredom, spite, or just plain artistic growth, some recording artists won't give audiences what they want.
The celebrated author of 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' used music to inspire and influence his work. Now you can listen, too.
In 1956, the singer agreed to be photographed taking the vaccine in order to drum up public support.
The BBC wanted 1950s factory workers to have fun on the job—but Bing Crosby’s clap-happy hit crossed a line.
Signs of Christmastime are different all over the world, as are Christmas traditions. But, no matter where you are or how you celebrate the holiday, one thing that is universal during the holiday season: Christmas music.
Jim Carrey’s Grinch face pretty much earned him the role. As it turned out, that was the easiest part.
Though strongly associated with the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the popular hymn was born off the shores of Buncrana, Ireland.
If you never owned ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ on VHS, you might not know what we’re talking about. But there's a song that has long been missing from recent presentations.
In Tracy, California, Tom BetGeorge has turned the song "Take on Me" by A-ha into an unofficial holiday bop.