Encore: The Stories Behind The Songs You Love iHeartRadio

Amy Lee and LZZY Hale sit down with our team for Encore to discuss the impact of Evanescence's 'Bring Me To Life' 20+ Years later, what it did for Rock Music, and why the 'rap' part of the song has become a blessing in disguise!

Listen to the Season 1 Episode of Encore - 'Wake Me Up Inside'

When Maroon 5 came up with their smash hit “Moves Like Jagger,” they knew Jagger was a name that would resonate with listeners. And in 2011, Maroon 5 definitely knew what their fans wanted to hear.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Have you ever heard of the ‘90s alt-rock band Kara’s Flowers? If you haven’t you’re not alone. They were one of the more forgettable bands of their time. Kara’s Flowers did catch the attention of Rob Cavallo, who you may remember as the guy who produced Green Day’s American Idiot. He saw a lot of potential in Kara’s Flowers and produced their second album, the power-pop-tinged The Fourth World. Upon its release in August 1997, the album only sold 5,000 copies.

In 2001 Kara’s Flowers resumed band activity, changing up their sound by trying a number of different styles, including country and folk, before settling on becoming what they deemed "a soul band, but with five white dudes.” They cut a demo for MCA Records, but the label rejected it. However, they did find an interested label in Octone Records, whose co-founder Ben Berkman had worked at Warner Music and knew of the band from their time with Reprise. 

In a 2004 interview with Hit Quarters, Berkman said he loved what he heard in a song called “Sunday Morning” but couldn’t believe it was the same band because they had such a completely different sound. It was clear to Berkman that the band was ready to take off. All they needed now was another guitarist and a brand new name.

Eventually the band decided on the name Maroon 5. Why “5” and not, say, Maroon Moon? Well, the answer remains to be a secret between band members… and Billy Joel. Wait, Billy Joel?

Now with a record deal and a brand new name, Maroon 5 were a whole new band. Their first single, “Harder To Breathe” was a slow-mover on the charts, but eventually earned the band some airplay. Once it caught on the band decided to re-release the album one year later, and at the beginning of 2004 they issued a second single, “This Love,” a song influenced by Stevie Wonder and written about Jane moving out after the breakup. As you may already know, “This Love” became a smash hit, followed by “She Will Be Loved” and “Sunday Morning.” You know them all. And just like that Maroon 5 were now a household name.

Their second album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" was an instant hit - thanks to lead single “Makes Me Wonder,” which became the band’s first song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It actually broke a record by jumping from #64 to #1 based purely on its first week of iTunes sales. 

Maroon 5 wanted a different experience when it came to making album number three. Luckily they received a phone call from Mutt Lange, the famous South African producer, who asked if he could make their next record with them. 

Mutt has quite the résumé. He got his start in the late ‘70s, by producing both AC/DC’s Highway To Hell and Back In Black. From there he would produce classic records by Def Leppard, The Cars, Michael Bolton, and Canada’s own Bryan Adams.

Maroon 5 released their third album, Hands All Over, on September 2010. It would debut at #2 on Billboard’s album chart and receive mixed reviews, but got some love from Rolling Stone, which called it “the band's brightest-sounding and poppiest yet.” 

The upbeat, funky pop on singles like “Misery” and “Give A Little More” demonstrated a punchier sound. Although the album sold well enough and kept them on the road, something was missing.Up until this point, Maroon 5 had only ever written songs themselves. They had never worked with anyone outside of their circle. But they felt it was time to open the door to other songwriters and see what could happen.Luckily for Maroon 5, two up-and-coming producers were working on a song that would become not just the year’s biggest hit, but the band’s biggest hit ever. 

This is the true story of Maroon 5's 'Moves' Like Jagg

It isn’t easy to shed a boyband or girl group image. 

Over the years, plenty of artists have tried and failed to hit the heights of superstardom that they have seen in a group setting. In many ways; the bigger the group, the more of an uphill battle it is to prove to fans that a solo career is a serious, worthwhile endeavor.  

Without re-litigating the entire NSYNC-to-solo-star trajectory of Justin Timberlake, it is important to look back at what was one of the more seamless breakout transitions to solo stardom in pop history, and where Justin Timberlake stood in the pop world in the years leading to SexyBack.

In 2002, NSYNC finished up their heralded Celebrity Tour that was praised by critics as a more ‘accessible and down-to-earth’ show. 

As if specifically crafted to give all of the boys in the group a glow-up, the tour included medleys of the Beatles and the Temptations, and focused on downtempo songs with more musicality to them. The pop hits were still there of course, but the message was certainly that NSYNC had grown up.

The tour was short; just under two months long - and they even canceled BOTH Canadian dates in Toronto and Montreal in the run-up, (thanks for that boys) and by April 28th - just in time for fans to say “It’s gonna be MAY” - it was all over. 

Justin was just getting started though, and began working on his debut album Justified almost immediately. Working with 2000s hitmakers like The Neptunes, Scott Storch, and Timbaland, JT was ready to embrace the R&B sound that NSYNC had been toying with near the end of their run, but never fully committed to.

Although Jackson-Inspired Singles “Like I Love You”, “Senorita” and “Rock Your Body” didn’t have as much success as the album’s most iconic song “Cry Me A River” they certainly were not flops - and Justified went triple platinum in America, double platinum in Canada, and SIX times platinum in the UK.

By 2004, Justified was nominated for multiple GRAMMY awards, and beat out Christina Aguilera, George Harrison, Annie Lennonx and Michael McDonald for best pop vocal album. 

All of this is to say what is blatantly obvious - Yes, Justin Timberlake was a star, all by himself.

Moving on from music as a whole in the years that followed, Justin Timberlake spent the majority of 2004-2006 getting his feet wet in Hollywood, with roles in such films as Edison, Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, and Southland Tales.

While not exactly undeniable successes, the films did help Justin continue to shed any last remnants of boyband smell on him, and allowed him to reinvent himself as a true polymath - Justin wasn’t just a run of the mill every day *singer* - he was a full-fledged *artist*, a tastemaker, and he was ready to bring us into the future - and with him; he was bringing Sexy… back.

This is the true story of Justin Timberlake's 2006 return hit 'Sexyback'

Also Contains audio from: Pharrell On How Prince & Michael Jackson Both Turned Down His Music. Peep What Songs!

Johnny Harris dissects 'Nipplegate'

She is both the Queen of Pop and the Queen of Reinvention. She is the most successful female solo artist of all-time with more than 300 million records sold. In one word, she is Madonna. 

It is safe to say that without Madonna we wouldn’t have the likes of Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, or insert the name of any up-and-coming pop star that interests you. One could argue that Madonna is the most influential icon of her generation. Emerging from New York City’s underground in the early ‘80s, it was as if a bomb went off in the world of pop music with her arrival. Almost immediately, Madonna would change music’s landscape with her music, while grabbing headlines with her controversial opinions, outfits and actions. 

Madonna ended the ‘90s remaining one of the world’s biggest artists with perhaps her best album, Ray of Light, which flirted with electronic music and integrated the teachings of Kabbalah.

As the ‘90s came to a close and gave way to the new millennium, Madonna would be the mother of two children and be married to English filmmaker Guy Ritchie. But that didn’t slow her down, she was still on top of the world. She won a Grammy for #1 single “Beautiful Stranger,” her contribution to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and topped the charts again with her cover of Don McLean’s “American Pie.”.

Madonna would then follow that up in 2000 with the album Music, which saw her once again reading the zeitgeist and scoring big with an album of kaleidoscopic dance-pop and electronica that saw her return to the top of the Billboard 200 for the first time in 11 years. On top of that, she was cast as a lethal fencing instructor in the James Bond film, Die Another Day, for which she sang the title track. 

There was quite simply no stopping her.

In April 2003, Madonna released her ninth album, American Life. The lead single was the title track, a pointed, hot take on the emptiness of commercialism, pop culture and American values. 

Unfortunately for Madonna, both the song and the album were considered a commercial flop. Despite selling 4 million copies worldwide, American Life was the worst-performing album to that point of her career.

For the first time in 20 years, Madonna was facing potential irrelevance.

When Madonna began working on her next album, she needed to make a change. She reconnected with producer Mirwais, who had helped produce both American Life and her wildly successful 2000 album, Music. Looking to leave the serious tones of American Life behind her, the two recorded a few tracks together before Madonna realized it wasn’t heading in the direction she wanted. It wasn’t just about getting away from politics, Madonna wanted to do a complete 180 and have a good time. Like she did in the early days.

In an interview with MTV, she said, "I was angry. I had a lot to get off my chest. I made a lot of political statements. But now, I feel that I just want to have fun; I want to dance; I want to feel buoyant. And I want to give other people the same feeling. There's a lot of madness in the world around us, and I want people to be happy."

Dance music was nothing new for Madonna. She holds the record for most number one songs on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with 50. But despite their excitement, dance music was experiencing a real slump in America. After undergoing a renaissance in the late ‘90s thanks to electronica, which Madonna was a part of - dance music and club culture had taken a bit of a nose dive when the mid-2000s arrived. Naturally, that didn’t faze Madonna. She was soaking up all different eras of dance music - '70s disco, '80s electro-pop, ‘90s electronica and present-day club anthems - and focusing on classics by Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Kylie Minogue, Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, and of course, ABBA.

This is the true story of Madonna's comeback Dance Single 'Hung Up' - with newly unearthed audio from Madonna Herself!

Also contains

Welcome to Season 3 of Encore!

When the Landmark Las Vegas sphere opened up in September of 2023, with its $2.3 Billion dollar price tag, its 300 tons of steel, 16K resolution screens, 1,600 speakers and 4D machines capable of pumping in wind, scent and more into the venue… There was never any doubt that there was only one band in the world capable of matching the Sphere’s fantastical ambitions… and that band was the Iconic U2.

Officially forming in 1976,U2 had an unbelievably successful run from around 1980 all the way through to about 1997, culminating with their first Best of Collection released in ‘98 with such classics as Pride (In The Name Of Love), New Year’s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Desire, and many more.

Normally, in any band’s career - this would probably be enough - you’ve had the better part of 20 years on top, with critical and commercial success rivaling *literally* any artist that ever lived - it’s probably time to realize that your best days are behind you. Right?

U2 did *not* get that particular memo to take it easy, because they did none of the above, and as the world prepared to roll over into a brand new millennium... U2 knew there was plenty of a ‘Beautiful Day’ to be had.

This is the story of U2's comeback single, the iconic 'Beautiful Day' with newly unearthed audio from the band.

Also features audio from the official Making Of Beautiful Day Music Video

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AM 1150
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Check your local listings for air times

 

There was no artist bigger than Mariah Carey in the 1990s. She was the Artist of the Decade, according to Billboard, the ​​World Music Awards’ Female Artist of the Millennium, and the owner of 15 number one singles in the ‘90s alone. And that doesn’t even include “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” arguably her biggest song ever. That song didn’t become a #1 hit until 25 years after its release. And it has continued to top the Billboard Hot 100 every year since.

On the surface, Mariah was on top of the world, but as the new millennium struck, Mariah was going through some changes, both privately and professionally.

After years of trying she was finally exiting her tumultuous marriage to record executive Tommy Mottola. Despite filing for a separation in 1997, it wasn’t until the end of 2000 that Mariah was granted her divorce. At the same time she was leaving a bad situation with her label Columbia, where her husband was the Chairman and CEO.

As she was gearing up for the release of Glitter, her feature film debut, Mariah reportedly suffered a physical and emotional breakdown. 

Glitter’s theatrical release was delayed three weeks as a result, but it didn’t really matter - nothing could have saved the film from the savage critics, who called it “heroically bad” and “infinitely mockable.” 

Glitter became one of the decade’s biggest box office flops, winning Mariah Worst Actress at the Golden Raspberry Awards, aka the Razzies. The film’s failure didn’t help Glitter’s soundtrack either. Her first release for new label Virgin, Glitter was neither a hit with fans or critics. One writer called it an "utter meltdown -- the pop equivalent of Chernobyl." 

Mariah’s official follow up to Glitter came out in December 2002. Charmbracelet was her opportunity to make a fresh start, a “new lease on life,” she called it. Unfortunately, Charmbracelet didn’t exactly get things back on track for Mariah. While the album was one of her highest debuts on the Billboard Albums chart, sales dropped off quickly.

Then at the beginning of 2004, famed music executive L.A. Reid left his job at Arista to become the new chairman and CEO of The Island Def Jam Music Group. This would prove to be a pivotal moment for both Reid, who was forced out of Arista following the merger of Sony and BMG, and Mariah, who was in need of some career rehabilitation. 

Reid had just orchestrated a career makeover for Usher, who was riding atop the Billboard Hot 100 with his hit “Yeah!” - With that song, Usher had become the biggest artist on the planet, and Reid was looking to do the same for Mariah. 

The first step was to set her up with the right producer. Enter Jermaine Dupri, Usher’s longtime mentor who co-wrote and produced Mariah’s 1996 #1 hit “Always Be My Baby.” More collaborations followed and Mariah was hooking up with the Neptunes, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and more.

In November 2004, Mariah presented an album’s worth of songs to L.A. Reid, but Reid felt she needed a few more bangers. Mariah went back to Atlanta to work with Jermaine Dupri again and guess what? They created some magic. In just two days they came up with two songs that would end up being her album’s first two singles: “It’s Like That” and “We Belong Together.”

This is the True story of Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" with newly unearthed audio from Mariah Carey.

Also contains audio from Genius' Interview with Mariah, Released November 16, 2018.