Greg Lake died this week, and this track remains an enduring Christmas classic. Credit: Syco Music, Universal, Decca, Symphonia  

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This 1853 Christmas Carol, set to the melody of a 13th-century Nordic Hymn, has since fallen into the hands of Joan Baez, Tom Jones and Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple.  

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Prince wrote his song about partying in the face of nuclear threat during the cold war but it gets heavy rotation to this day  

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David Honigmann follows Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway' from its origins in a Welsh cottage to 'Wayne's World', the White House and bedrooms everywhere  

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The song that defined Fleetwood Mac's high water mark went on to be covered by country-folk and hip-hop artists Credits: Rhino/Warner Bros, Charly Digital, Universal Music International Ltda, S4DK  

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Ian McCann charts the transformation of UB40’s number one hit, from Neil Diamond’s country ballad to iconic reggae ditty. Credits: Virgin Records, Universal Music International Ltda, Sanctuary, Capitol Records, Authentic Jamaican Music, K-Licious Music  

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Joy Division's stripped-down sound signaled a new direction for music in 1978, but the lyrics to this song would prove horribly portentous. Credits: WM UK, London Records, Universal Music International Ltda, Palare, BBE  

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The song crystallises a moment in time between the optimism of the Summer of Love and the darkness on the desert horizon. Cathi Unsworth explores its history. Credits: Boots Enterprises, Inc., 4AD, Columbia, Ever  

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Songs can be mixed blessings. Screamin' Jay Hawkins' most famous one brought bliss to all who touched it - except its composer. Credits: AP MUSIC LTD, Universal Music International Ltda., Rhino  

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For more than 50 years, this ballad's haunting charms have proved irresistible to many of the world's leading musicians. Credits: Firefly Entertainment, Black Sheep Music, X5 Music Group, Manhattan Records, UMC, Mute/BMG, Sony Music Classical, RCA Records Label  

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Paul Anka originally wrote the song for, and in the persona of, Frank Sinatra, claiming he'd "never written something so chauvinistic, narcissistic, in-your-face and grandiose."  

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The Japanese hit has been renamed and redefined by western artists from the Gipsy Kings to Snoop Dogg. Credits: JB Production, K-Tel, New Jersey, 2012 Carinco Neue Medien AG  

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David Cheal traces the song's journey from a forgotten 1950s melodrama to an enduring love ballad covered by Nina Simone, David Bowie and George Michael. Credits: Old Style, Blooming Jazz Records, Rhino/Warner Bros., Parlophone UK, One Little Indian Ltd, Lakeshore Records, Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.  

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Amy Walker on how a saccharine love song was transformed by Otis Redding into a provocative and impassioned soul classic. Credits: Baierle Records, Cool Note, 104pro Media, Daxa production, Digital Remasterings, ABKCO Music & Records Inc., Rhino Atlantic, Universal Island Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC/Shawn Carter  

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Harriet Fitch Little on how Dolly Parton's anti-work anthem went from the movies to the White House to a muddy field in Glastonbury. Credits: Sony Music Entertainment, Capitol Steps, Pumpin' UK Records, Dolly Records, BBC/Glastonbury  

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Sue Norris on how Cissy Houston and Gladys Knight respectively transformed the sound, and meaning, of Jim Weatherly's country number. Credits: X5 Music Group, Jim Weatherly, Carinco AG, Capitol Records LLC.  

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Peter Aspen looks at how The Eagles turned a few improvised chords into one of the most iconic, and enigmatic, rock songs of the 1970s. Credits: Rhino/Elektra, Parlophone UK, UMG Recordings, Elemental Records, Sony Music Entertainment  

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Helen Brown looks at how the most successful Disney song of all time became an unlikely favourite among prisoners and a "coming out anthem" for the LGBT community. Credits: Walt Disney Records, Black Crow Records  

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Ian McCann looks at how a turn-of-the-century Neopolitan ballad was adapted into a hit for Elvis, before becoming an anthem for ice cream lovers and football fans alike. Credits: Bongiovanni, Delta, AP Music Ltd, Nuova Canaria, Randy's Group, Inc, Autarc Media GmbH  

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Sue Norris explores how a B-side by a little known American singer, Gloria Jones became a cult hit on the 1970s English northern soul scene, before being turned into one of the most recognizable pop songs of all time by Soft Cell. Credits: Universal Music TV, Universal Music Enterprises, Parlophone UK, Interscope Records, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Tacca Musique  

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Ian McCann takes a look at one of the greatest and most culturally influential rap songs by genre pioneers Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. A hit urban anthem, it almost wasn't recorded... Credits: Castle Communications, Warner Bros, Wagram Music, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Atlantic Records  

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Helen Brown looks at how Serge Gainsbourg's infamously salacious love song originally written for Brigitte Bardot would become a hit for the French composer and his English girlfriend Jane Birkin, despite facing widespread bans and condemnation. Credits: Mercury France, Mercury Music Group, Rarity Music, Parlophone UK, Barclay.  

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David Cheal looks at how Bob Dylan took inspiration from an old Scottish border ballad while writing this era-defining apocalyptic vision of what he saw as the violent, ignorant and hypocritical socio-political landscape of 1960s America. Credits: Sony Music Entertainment Inc, A Wing & A Prayer Ltd, Vanguard Records, Virgin Records. Patti Smith Nobel ceremony recording courtesy of: Nobelprize.org.  

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David Honigmann looks at how a sleeping Keith Richards dreamt up a riff that would later develop into a number one hit for Rolling Stones and become one of the most recognisable rock anthems of all times. Credits: ABKCO Records Inc, Universal International Music B.V, Rhino Atlantic, Virgin Records Ltd.  

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Twenty years after they headlined Glastonbury, Radiohead return to the British music festival. FT pop writers Ludovic Hunter-Tilney and David Cheal discuss the band's lullaby of despair 'No Surprises' from their 1997 album OK Computer. Credits: Sire/Warner Bros, mudhutdigital.com, XL Recordings, Easy Star, SKIP Records  

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The singer’s old label boss called the song ‘a morbid mess’, but it shot to number one in the US. Ahead of the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death in August, FT pop writers Peter Apsden and David Cheal discuss the song's origins, dark appeal and afterlife. Credits: 104pro Media, Legacy Recordings, Entertain Me Ltd, Spectrum, Omnivore Recordings, Vengeance Records  

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It achieved distinction in an era of elemental riffs, and journeyed effortlessly to and fro across the Atlantic. It also marked a turning point in the career of the greatest guitarist who ever lived: Jimi Hendrix. FT pop writers Peter Aspden and David Cheal discuss "Wild Thing" 50 years after Hendrix's groundbreaking performance at the Monterey Pop festival.  

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From Bob Dylan to Adele, the song that was first called 'a spare ballad undermined by greetingcard lyrics' is now a karaoke tearjerker. FT pop writers David Cheal and Helen Brown debate the origins, meanings and cover versions of 'Make You Feel My Love'.

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Billie Holiday’s 1939 'Strange Fruit' was called 'the first significant protest in words and music, the first unmuted cry against racism'. Other singers attempted it, from Nina Simone and Diana Ross to Jeff Buckley and Kanye West. But could any match the power of the impassioned original? FT pop writers David Cheal, Fiona Sturges and Helen Brown discuss the song's origins and afterlife.

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During an interview at Tuesday's NTAs on Tuesday, the screen star, 41, insisted singing the rendition of The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's tune  'felt appropriate'.

After what Bernie Taupin called a, '52 year old marriage,' Elton John and his longtime songwriter Taupin have finally won an award together.

First he dispatched a rank outsider. Then one of the biggest rebels in tennis. And yesterday Rafael Nadal came up against the eternal entertainer that is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and again prevailed.

The 25-year-old Grammy winner and the 23-year-old IMG Model rang in their New Year with plans on having 'babies next season'

Nicki Minaj dropped a music video for her new song Megatron, after promoting the track on social media for weeks.

Listeners called the Anaconda rapper out as disrespectful after using the lyrics: 'All you b*****s Rosa Parks, uh oh, get your a** up' in the forthcoming track, tentatively titled Yikes.

Singer and former-reality star Julius Cowdrey has described his recent battle with coronavirus as 'awful' and has warned that 'the virus spreads like wildfire'.

Ed Sheeran has found himself in another court battle in which he is being accused of 'stealing' material for his songs.

Ed Sheeran's manager has revealed that the Shape Of You singer asks him whether he can do the James Bond theme song every day.

Researchers looked at Spotify playlists that contain the words 'holiday playlist', 'beach playlist', 'summer tunes', 'summer time songs' and 'holiday playlist 2020' to find the 100 most popular tunes.

Johnny Depp takes over as lead vocalist for a cover of David Bowie's classic song Heroes from Hollywood Vampires upcoming album Rise.

While Alicia Keys was busy with her hosting duties at the 2020 Grammy Awards on Sunday night, she also took time to debut her new song Underdog.

The singer, 26, attended the 62nd Grammy Awards with her mother Joan Grande and her father, who she has recently reconciled with after a falling out.

Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, 28, released a new single yesterday called 'Fearless,' which she dedicated to Fiji and people affected by climate change. All the proceeds, she said, would go to her non-profit.

The 43-year-old country star hilariously pranked Kelly Clarkson, 37, on Monday's episode of The Voice, secretly playing the song 'Don't Speak' every time she spoke.

Adam Levine opens up to Ellen DeGeneres about his decision to leave The Voice and how the death of his friend and manager inspired the new Maroon 5 song Memories.

The 43-year-old country star showed his softer side Monday on The Voice as he recalled the humble beginnings of his career after a contestant performed his signature song, Ol' Red.

The 40-year-old coach broke into song to win talented contestant Khalea Lynee, 36, on Tuesday's episode of The Voice, crooning to her until she picked him to be her mentor.

The 18-year-old singer broke down onstage during Monday's episode of The Voice after a performance reminded her too closely of someone she'd lost.

Blake performed the song Hell Right with fellow country singer Trace Adkins. The song is about getting drunk and uses the word 'hell' a lot.

The 27-year-old singer blocked Kelly Clarkson, 37, from pursuing a singer who covered her hit song Miss Independent on Tuesday's episode of The Voice.