STORIES Behind the SONGS

From Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” and the Beatles’ “Michelle” to Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies”—we tell the stories behind the Grammy Awards’ top Song of the Year winners across the decades.

There’s nothing like a melody or a lyric to take us back to a time, a place, a feeling. Learning the stories behind our favorite awardwinning songs makes them even more special. As we wait for this year’s Grammy Awards (recently postponed until March 14 on CBS), we explore the backstories of some of the most memorable Song of the Year winners. The award goes to the songwriters rather than the performers, but Songs of the Year are sometimes sung by their writers, making them even more personal and meaningful. Here are some of