Key songs | John Fogerty’s ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone’

“The pure working-class poet voice of John Fogerty really sunk in when I began playing my solo Nightwatchman shows. I performed ‘Fortunate Son’ as part of my regular set. The visceral impact that song had on me as a performer, and then translating it to an audience, was very special.” — Tom Morello (From left to right: Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, Tom Morello.)   (Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Getty Images)

“I sang ‘Centerfield’ [his 1985 solo hit] at 13 at Jamboree in the Hills, our big outdoor music festival in the hills [of West Virginia]. There were 40,000 people there, and local acts got to do three songs in between sets by people like Charlie Daniels. I got to go out and play ‘Centerfield’ as one of mine, just because of loving everything about that vibe, it was a song about baseball and the metaphor of ‘Put me in, Coach — I’m ready to play.’” — Brad Paisley  (Mark Davis / Getty Images)

“‘Bad Moon Rising’ is one of those songs that when I first started playing in a band, I wanted to learn. I felt like if I could play that all the way through, I’d definitely feel cool. He does things in such a classy way, you don’t every feel like you’re being preached to. You can understand the songs and sing along with them and it’s always fun. They never make you feel down, and you feel like really getting something out of every song. That’s the sign of a good song.” — Miranda Lambert  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)