The Lives of a Song: Wu-Tang's 'Can It Be All So Simple'

If John Lennon had only been one of the four members of the Beatles, his artistic immortality would already have been assured — but it was only after his marriage to artist Yoko Ono in 1969 that the figure the world now recognizes as "John Lennon" truly came into being.

“C.R.E.A.M.” is arguably the most iconic single from the Wu-Tang Clan's highly influential seminal 1993 debut, "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" — and an intrinsic staple of the American musical canon. It has inspired countless derivative works since its release, by everyone from fellow hip-hop legends to pop royalty.

From his arrival on the national scene in 1945 until his death in 1991, Miles Davis made music that grew from an uncanny talent for hearing the future and a headstrong desire to play it. From his beginnings in the circle of modern jazz, he came to intuit new worlds of sound — forever forging ahead.

Composed by George Gershwin and co-written by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward for the 1935 opera "Porgy and Bess," the jazz standard “Summertime” holds the Guinness world record for most recorded song — with versions by iconic talent spanning genres and generations, from Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong to Lana Del Rey and FKA Twigs.

Tori Amos is a Grammy-nominated legend with a celebrated 17-album catalog. She was named one of VH1’s “100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll” in 1999 and made history by becoming the first woman to have a top 10 album on the U.S. Billboard charts in the classical, alternative, and rock categories simultaneously.

Co-written by Downtown client Ryan Tedder, Beyoncé's critically-acclaimed hit single "Halo" from 2008's "I Am... Sasha Fierce" is one of the iconic singer's most culturally impactful songs. Besides topping the charts in multiple countries, it has won numerous awards — including a Grammy — and inspired several notable covers.

Known for experimentation and constant reinvention, The 1975 has captivated fans since the release of the band's 2013 self-titled debut through 2020's "Notes On A Conditional Form" — which topped the U.K. charts within its first week of release, becoming their fourth consecutive number one album.

Romano is a powerhouse producer and songwriter who has worked with a who's who of contemporary hip-hop and R&B — including Chris Brown, Lil Yachty, Quavo, August Alsina, Ski Mask The Slump God, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Ne-Yo, Mulatto, B.o.B, DaBaby, Lil Durk, Ty Dolla $ign, and DDG, among others.