Elvis Costello’s 1989 hit single “Veronica” was co-written with Paul McCartney and appeared on Costello’s album Spike. The song matters for pairing two major British songwriters and for addressing Alzheimer’s disease through an upbeat, defiant pop song rather than a sentimental ballad.

Costello conceived “Veronica” as a tribute to his grandmother, whose condition involved periods of confusion and lucidity. McCartney, who had invited Costello to collaborate, helped improve the chorus and reshape the bridge; the pair later wrote several other songs together. Costello initially felt alienated by the single’s success, but said changing its key helped him reconnect with its personal meaning.