This week in music history, a celebrated soul singer became a legend. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding became the first posthumous No. 1 hit. The song was recorded shortly before Redding died in a plane crash on Dec. 10, 1967. Redding was traveling to a concert in Madison, Wisconsin, when the private plane went down in a small lake three miles shy of the runway. A month later, co-writer Steve Cropper released the single, which was technically unfinished. It topped the Billboard charts in March and stayed there for four weeks.

“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” is about finding peace in times of despair. Redding’s soulful voice brought me comfort when I felt bogged down with preparations for the future last summer. Surely, it’s comforted millions of people over the last 56 years. “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” has left a legacy greater than Redding could’ve ever imagined.

~Gabby Nelson

Today, all Little Monsters are in the holiday spirit. On March 28, 1986, Lady Gaga was born. Ever since her debut in the mid-2000s, the singer and actress has been a nonstop success. Born in New York, Lady Gaga slowly found success performing throughout New York City and perfecting her performances. According to Biography.com, she got her name from the Queen song “Radio Ga-Ga.” 

Her first hit was the party anthem “Just Dance,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard in January 2009. Following was the album The Fame and the even more acclaimed The Fame Monster, which includes some of my personal favorites of hers, “Bad Romance,” “Alejandro” and “Telephone.” 

Lady Gaga’s success is not limited to recording phenomenal music. She has won a Golden Globe for her appearance in American Horror Story, performed at the Super Bowl, had a residency in Las Vegas, and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards for the movie A Star is Born, winning one for Best Original Song. 

In recent times, she has released numerous new albums, as well as starred in another movie, House of Gucci. A few weeks ago, she attended the Oscars again and performed her song from the new Top Gun movie, “Hold My Hand.” People Magazine noted how she performed in a $7 plain T-shirt, showing off the duality of the glamorous pop superstar. 

Lady Gaga turns 37 this week, and I can’t wait to see what other accolades will be added to her spectacular career in the next year.

~Madison Reinhold

This week in music history, singer, songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff turns 39. On March 31, 1984, the Bleachers frontman was born, and his many contributions to the sound of modern pop music are celebrated. 

Other than his work as the lead singer in Bleachers, Antonoff is known for his role as guitarist and drummer in pop group Fun., lead singer in indie rock band Steel Train, and his many albums with songwriting and producer credits.

During his time writing, he has received eight Grammy awards, including Producer of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and produced and wrote for artists like Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Florence and the Machine and more. 

His mark on the music industry has been made, and pop music has Jack Antonoff to thank, in part, for evolving the sound of today’s top hits.

~Arden Vanover

While “Entry of the Gladiators” blasts in our faces on this day, at least you haven’t the unfortunate trouble of having to pronounce Björk’s name in the proper Icelandic form to her face. Speaking of Björk, did you know that in 2009, she offered her skills to Led Zeppelin? 

The legend of the eclectic Icelandic singer began in 1986 when she became the frontwoman of the Sugarcubes. The year after the band disbanded, she began her illustrious solo career. But where does Led Zeppelin come into the picture? 

In 2009, Led Zeppelin held a one-off concert at London’s O2 Arena, where 20 million people were vying for 20,000 tickets. The success of the concert prompted the band to be on board with a reunion tour. All except for the lead singer Robert Plant. Plant was overwhelmed by the reunion, and didn’t want to relive the memories, no matter how much money was offered. Plant turned down $800 million to go on the tour. That is when Björk offered her services. Sadly, it was nothing more than a fun little April Fools Day prank. Sadly, we probably will never see Björk leading a band again, but that doesn’t mean that anything won’t happen just yet.

~Ashe Burr