Every song has a story to tell

Just in case you were wondering Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the group Bikini Kill, gave Kurt Cobain the idea for the title of the song Smells Like Teen Spirit when she spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his bedroom wall after a night drinking.

In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent.

Oh and did you know that the US military used The Clash's Rock the Casbah as a rallying cry when they invaded Iraq in 1991?

And how about the fact that legendary 90s sing songwriter Jeff Buckley wrote "I couldn't awake from the nightmare, it sucked me in and pulled me under" on the song So Real on his debut and only album Grace and later drowned in a river.

Spooky huh?

All these facts behind the greatest songs and songwriters of our times - and thousands more - are available on the website www.songfacts.com.

As well as the facts behind many of the best known tracks over the decades, you can also view the videos (for the more mainstream tracks) with a handy youtube addition to the page.

Not only that you can download the ringtone, buy the track or album, and even the sheet music using links to other sites.

The website works by the user simply tapping in the name of the artist or the song. It then allows you to choose from a list if there are multiple options and away you go.

Since launching the website thousands of people from across the world have added their own views to help clear up any misconceptions behind the lyrics.

See? It is possible to write a blog without ranting about anything. Take note those people who leave comments for no apparent reason.


Got a mo? Here are the latest games reviewed:

Me? I'm still super addicted to the new Star Wars game, The Force Unleashed. Awesome.


Title: Family Trainer: Outdoor Challenge
Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 4/5

We all know the science behind what a bit of Wii Fit can do for your weight and yoga performance, but the Wii is all about fun while Family Trainer looks to get everyone involved in the fitness thing with a dance-mat style peripheral and some crazy sports to tackle.

From river rafting and mine karting to log jumping and rope skipping, this will work more than just your arms, as your feet get in on the act for total body gameplay.

Besides being darn good fun, it’s well presented and ticks every ’family appeal’ box you could imagine. Without taking itself too seriously, Family Trainer manages to dish out a hefty dose of console fitness for all ages – and where else can you ride through a mineshaft, Indiana Jones-style?


Title: Pure
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5

In a gridlocked, over-populated genre, Pure takes you to the highest peak of the great outdoors, screams "This is different!" and then throws you off the mountain.

That’s the kind of feeling you can expect midway through a race, but you’ll have no time to truly appreciate the beauty of this game as you try to bust half a dozen extreme stunts during your descent back to terra firma.

Perfecting the full repertoire of tricks is more than an added extra to winning races – it’s crucial to your success, as these will unlock the boost required to hot-foot it to the front of the pack.

All of this makes for fantastic over-the-top racing fun that should be snapped up as soon as you’ve wiped the mud from your visor.


Title: NHL 2K9
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Ice Hockey
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5

Coming hot on the heels of this month’s release of EA’s brilliant NHL 09, 2K9 was always going to have its work cut out to match or even surpass the on-ice achievements of its competitor.

Overall, this puck-fest comes a creditable second, opting for a cross between arcade and simulator action with a healthy dose of the kind of cool presentation that gives 2K9 its unique feel.

Controls are simple and intuitive enough to start slap-shotting pretty soon, but there are plenty of intricacies to master as the difficulty ramps up.

The obligatory online option boosts replay value considerably but, head to head, there’s only one winner – just.


Title: My Pet Hotel 2
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Animals
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5

If you or your children are animal lovers, you won’t fail to find a furry friend that tickles your fancy here. And there’s no smell.

In fact, it’s probably the ultimate pet care programme for people thinking of buying the real thing as you get the chance to look after your very own fish, budgies, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs or even horses.

The premise is as you’d expect: feed them, keep their enclosures clean, play with them, get new toys for them and ride them (well, the horses) in the countryside.

It’s all colourfully and cutely delivered on the DS and will no doubt prompt questions of "Can I have a real one?" within households up and down the country. Good, furry, feathered fun.


Title: Tim Stockdale’s Riding Star
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Equestrian
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5

After two decades in the equestrian world, Tim Stockdale could tell you a thing or two about horse-riding, but is virtual equestrianism a one jump too far for the British legend?

Well, there’s no doubt that Riding Star fulfils every young girl’s dream of riding a horse, taking part in show-jumping, dressage and cross-country modes.

Smooth gameplay and good graphics make this a solid title of this kind, adding to the growing bunch of horseplay on the DS. As you can imagine, horses really need to be your thing if you’re to get the most from this title, and Grand Theft Auto IV fans need not apply.

But if you want to perfect your grooming, jumping and everything in between, Tim’s your man.


GAMES CHART:

1. (-) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
2. (5) Wii Fit
3. (6) Mario Kart Wii
4. (-) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
5. (2) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
6. (1) Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
7. (10) Wii Play
8. (7) Carnival: Funfair Games
9. (9) TNA Impact
10.(3) Spore

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd