Grunge

Despite the much-loved "Bohemian Rhapsody" being now considered among the finest songs ever recorded, the origins of the theatrical hard rock classic were torturous for the members of Queen. In fact, we now know that "Bohemian Rhapsody" nearly didn't exist at all, despite Freddie Mercury spending years building up the material for the classic song.

There's just something about folk rock that keeps people coming back for more. That's not meant as shade to other genres, of course. But you can't deny that the deeply thoughtful, lyrical artistry and rich music that characterizes folk rock are endlessly engaging in the right hands. Just look at the many, many covers that have sprung up in the wake of the genre's most popular tunes.

Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 classic "Bad Moon Rising" opens explosively with the title line, and it remains an instantly recognizable staple of classic rock radio. But despite its upbeat instrumentation and driving tempo, the song is, as the name implies, a deeply foreboding song that seemed to signal the end of the optimism initially attached to the countercultural movement of the 1960s and the so-called Summer of Love and the arrival of a much darker period of human history.

This week 62 years ago, a song by the Four Seasons ascended to the No. 1 position on the Hot 100 and held that position for two weeks. That track was "Rag Doll," composed by group member Bob Gaudio with their producer of choice, Bob Crewe. One of the most consistently popular and prolific groups of the 1960s, the Four Seasons synthesized airtight vocal harmonies, falsetto tricks on the part of lead singer Frankie Valli, and elements of early rock 'n' roll and R&B to create undeniable hits.

Aretha Franklin is almost universally acclaimed as perhaps the greatest vocalist to ever put their voice to record. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, she was raised in Detroit, Michigan, primarily by her father, C.L. Franklin, an acclaimed Baptist minister known for his incredible singing ability and captivating sermons.

Many anthemic and populist rock 'n' roll power ballads boast some surprisingly highbrow origins: They're built on older pieces that fall under the classification of classical music. While power ballads are commonly associated with famous hair metal bands of the 1980s, it's a format that both predates and outlasted that era.

Whenever someone sings, "Where did you come from? / Where did you go?" it's all too tempting to hop right in and add, "Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?" Most people know the song and at least some of the words, but nobody knows who wrote it. The version that most people are familiar with is Rednex's "Cotton Eye Joe." From boomers to Generation X and Millennials, you can't help but bust a move to this '90s dance rendition of a folk classic.

It's both difficult and rare for a band to attain a No. 1 single — and it's all the more difficult when somebody else notches that career milestone with a song that group rejected. It's part of the dark side of the 1960s music industry, and beyond that, even the most prominent bands didn't always write their own material. They relied on outside songwriters to create and pitch the songs that would become the big hit singles. Songs might be thoroughly shopped around before a match was made.

When Carole King became explosively popular with the release of her 1971 album "Tapestry," that success wasn't overnight or sudden: She'd been working as a songwriter for more than a decade, and since she was a teenager. In fact, before she became a headlining musician who sold millions of albums in the 1970s, Carole King wrote a slew of well-crafted and well-known tunes, along with writing partner Gerry Goffin, that went on to be recorded by a number of famous acts of the 1960s.

The 1980s were known for many things, especially the stellar tunes from all kinds of genres that still remain popular today. But if nothing else, the decade knew how to throw a wild party. Though pop culture often depicts the '70s as the most rambunctious decade — in part thanks to a handful of movies that nail what it was like to be a classic rock fan then — the '80s were right on par.