Songfacts

Songfacts
Type of site
Song database
HeadquartersHartford, Connecticut
Founder(s)Carl Wiser
Employees13[1]
URLsongfacts.com
RegistrationOptional
Launched1999
Current statusActive
OCLC number892018719

Songfacts is a music-oriented website that has articles about songs, detailing the meaning behind the lyrics, how and when they were recorded, and any other info that can be found.[2][3][4]

The journalists who work for the site have interviewed thousands of artists and songwriters to get the facts behind the songs, including Peter Murphy,[5] Gene Simmons,[6] Mick Jones,[7] Ian Anderson,[8] Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down),[9] Billy Steinberg,[10] Matt Thiessen,[11] Tomas Haake,[12] Jo Dee Messina, Marc Roberge, Bill Withers, Janis Ian, Emily Saliers.[13] and Willie Chambers.[14]

The site was started by WHCN DJ Carl Wiser[15] in Hartford, Connecticut, in August 1999. Wiser originally created the list as a database to prepare for his radio programs but then he posted it online. It was initially used mainly by DJs, but in 2002 it was chosen as a "Yahoo! Pick".[16][13][17]

The August 2004 issue of Men's Journal listed Songfacts as one of the "100 Best Websites for Guys".[18] USA Weekend has praised it as "a virtual Behind the Music".[19]

References

  1. ^ "Songfacts Writers". Songfacts.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  2. ^ Peyton, Dave (May 27, 2002). "Leaf through pages to preview new books". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Boswell, Randy (July 15, 2016). "Solving the Mystery of 'Heartbreak Hotel'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  4. ^ Israel, David K. (August 16, 2007). "On Music: Songfacts.com". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  5. ^ Zaleski, Annie (October 12, 2018). "Why Peter Murphy's 'Cuts You Up' Was One of the Biggest Alternative Hits of the Pre-'Nevermind' '90s". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  6. ^ Buchanan, Brett (January 8, 2019). "Howard Stern Rejected Gene Simmons & Sting MTV Video For Bizarre Reason". AlternativeNation.net. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  7. ^ Kielty, Martin (January 22, 2019). "Foreigner Search for Fan Who Inspired 'Juke Box Hero'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Navon, Mois (November 21, 2009). "Bungle In the Jungle". Aish HaTorah. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  9. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (October 23, 2009). "No. 42: 3 Doors Down, "Kryptonite"". Idolator. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Wurzer, Cathy (November 7, 2016). "How Cyndi Lauper put her stamp on 'True Colors'". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Grossbart, Sarah (February 16, 2019). "Inside Katy Perry's Dramatic Path to Forever With Orlando Bloom". E!. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (November 9, 2018). "Meshuggah's 'Chaosphere': 6 Things You Didn't Know". Revolver. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Bryan Adams Turns 50, Talks to Songfacts.com about his Greatest Hits". PRWeb. November 5, 2009. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Songfacts, January 3, 2018 - Willie Chambers of The Chambers Brothers by Jeff Suwak
  15. ^ Frank, Bill (May 16, 2011). "Carl Wiser, CEO of Songfacts.com, Discusses Music Trivia About TV Theme Songs". The Bill Frank Radio Show. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  16. ^ "Yahoo! Picks - Songfacts". Yahoo!. May 17, 2002. Archived from the original on June 28, 2002. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  17. ^ McConnell, Rob (December 17, 2009). "Segment 2 - Carl Wiser". The 'X' Zone Radio and TV Show. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  18. ^ "FanZines". Men's Journal. August 2004. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019. Songfacts.com: Curiosity, rumors, legends, and correct text for rock songs. A must if you want to knock out people in bars
  19. ^ Andrukonis, David (July 18, 2004). "Lyrics and then some". USA Weekend. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.