The Girl in the Song

Overview

Unveiling the identities of the muses who inspired the songs

Reading like a who’s who of rock star’s ex-wives and ex-girlfriends, this discussion of such hits as “Maggie May,” “Lola,” and “The Sweetest Thing” reveals the surprising names and relationships that inspired musical greatness. Lisa Bonet, Billie Jean King, Mia Farrow, and Gwyneth Paltrow are just a few of the women who have become immortal by being “the girl in the song.” In addition to linking the women—or in some cases girls—with the song, this rock history handbook profiles how each woman inspired the song, the song’s writer and performer, the release date, and the tunes' successes on the music charts. Accompanying mini biographies bring music buffs up-to-date on how the songs affected the muses and the current whereabouts of the women while sidebars on the performers give more details about their histories, successes and failures, and notable performances.

Reviews

"Packed with entertaining information." —Booklist

Author Biography

Michael Heatley is the author of more than 100 rock books, including The Complete Deep Purple, Dave Grohl: Nothing to Lose, Michael Jackson: 1958–2009: Life of a Legend, and Stars & Guitars. He has contributed to rock music biographies and encyclopedias such as the Virgin Encyclopedia of Rock as well as magazines such as Billboard, Music Week, and Record Collector.