Music History Today: March 21, 2023

March 21, 1994: Bruce Springsteen won the Best Music, Original Song Oscar at the 66th Academy Awards for "Streets of Philadelphia."

"Streets of Philadelphia," written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, was used in the opening credits of the 1993 film Philadelphia.It won the Grammy Award for Best Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

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In early 1993, director Jonathan Demme asked Bruce Springsteen to write a song for the film Philadelphia, then in progress, and in June, after the conclusion of the Other Band Tour, the singer-songwriter recorded it. 

Read more: Call Me Fred Radio

March 21, 1964: On their way to Number 2, The Beatles sky-rocketed from 55 to 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 with "Twist and Shout."

A Philadelphia R&B group called The Top Notes originally recorded "Twist and Shout" in 1961. The Beatles emulated The Isley Brothers' 1962  hit cove. The Fab Four ended many of their early live performances with this track. It was their opening song at their Shea Stadium performance on August 15, 1965. 

Read more: Songfacts

March 21, 1973: The film Godspell was released. 

Godspell was the second musical of the early '70s based on the life of Jesus Christ, following Jesus Christ's Superstar.

Though the film was not a commercial success and took 25 years to get on video, the soundtrack album reached the Top 40 and stayed on the charts for almost a year. 

Read more: The Guardian

March 21, 1992: Nirvana entered Billboard's Hot 100 with "Come As You Are." 

The chords in "Come As You Are" are a slowed-down replica of Killing Joke's 1985 track "Eighties." The songs were so similar that Nirvana considered holding off releasing theirs as a single. Killing Joke considered legal action, but when Kurt Cobain died, they decided not to sue. 

Read more: Songfacts

Streets of Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen