MUSIC

10 Surprising Facts About Wham!’s “Last Christmas”

Over the course of his illustrious career, George Michael gave the world many gifts. One that keeps on giving is “Last Christmas,” the 1984 holiday classic by Wham!, Michael's pop duo with Andrew Ridgeley.

Now’s a good time—so good, so good, so good—to dig into the rich history of “Sweet Caroline.”

Unraveling the Many Mysteries of Neil Diamond’s ’Sweet Caroline’

Now’s a good time—so good, so good, so good—to dig into the rich history of Neil Diamond's iconic tune.

Misconceptions About Popular Songs

Pop songs get misinterpreted all the time, and we're here to break down the real stories behind your favorite bops, from Nirvana to Bruce Springsteen.

What Is the Longest Song Ever Recorded?

The Guinness World Record holder for longest song ever is based on a 16th-century Indian poem.

Make “Believe“: How Cher Staged One of Pop Music’s All-Time Greatest Comebacks

In 1998, Cher reinvented herself yet again—and forever changed the way hit songs were made—with “Believe.“

Forget about trying to nab any of these records.

8 World Records Too Dangerous for Guinness

The world's longest saxophone note is too risky to attempt. So is the world's longest kiss.

Watching Blobs of Paint Move to Chopin Is Oddly Soothing

This digital art piece from Thomas Blanchard set to Chopin’s Nocturne Op. ,9 No. 2 is oddly soothing.

‘Do, Re, Mi’ can help people learn to play the piano.

Why Are the First Notes of a Tonal Scale Called ‘Do, Re, Mi’?

Solmization, or the practice of assigning syllables to the different “steps” of the scale, originated in ancient India.

Time After Time: The Surprising Connection Between Taylor Swift’s “22” and Hanson’s “MMMBop”

It’s possible to sing the chorus to Hanson’s 1997 smash “MMMBop” over the chords to Taylor Swift’s 2012 hit “22.”

Britney Spears performing at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.

12 Surprising Facts About Britney Spears

Britney Spears’s songs, music videos, and live performances defined an era and inspired an entire generation of future pop stars.

10 Facts About Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

In 1994, Mariah Carey surprised everyone—including herself—by coming out with what would quickly become a Christmas classic.

‘Lyrically Correct’: Put Your Hip-Hop and R&B Knowledge to the Test With This Y2K Music Trivia Game

‘Lyrically Correct’ is the ultimate music trivia game for hip-hop and R&B lovers.

One Minute of Music: Remembering the HitClips Fad of the Early 2000s

The tiny chips held just 60 seconds of pop music, but kids still couldn’t get enough.

The Backstreet Boys in a late ’90s portrait session.

“I Want It That Way”: How Max Martin’s ‘Melodic Math’ Led to This Enduring (and Confusing) Backstreet Boys Hit

The Backstreet Boys’ 1999 smash “I Want It That Way,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary in April 2024, is among the definitive songs—if not the definitive song—of the ’90s teen-pop explosion.

The Real Story Behind the Iconic ’Friday the 13th’ Whisper Sound Effect

Whether you think it's saying "chi chi chi, ha ha ha" or "ki ki ki, ma ma ma," you know the one we're talking about.

Still from 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951) beside illustration of a theremin.

Audio Invasion: How the Theremin Went From Soviet Labs to Hollywood

The theremin—a spooky instrument that scored the biggest sci-fi films of the 1950s—was invented by accident.

You, too, could be dreaming about these cookies.

How to Make Taylor Swift’s Famous Chai Cookies With Cinnamon Eggnog Icing

Taylor Swift once shared recipes for two different versions of her chai sugar cookies—here are both.

The Empire State Building lit up for the annual "Run-Up" in 2018.

Debunked: The Empire State Building Didn’t Actually Light Up for Taylor Swift’s “Ketchup and Seemingly Ranch”

The Empire State Building seemingly lit up for "ketchup and seemingly ranch." But not everything is as it seems.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their rock era circa 1990.

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Went On a Live Concert Tour

In 1990, kids went crazy for lip-syncing Turtles who were rocking out live on stage—and trying not to pass out in the process.

10 Wonderfully Weird Muppet Duets

The Muppets have squared off against everyone from Johnny Cash to Celine Dion.

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!

10 Surprising Facts About Wham!

With their brightly colored short shorts and ridiculously catchy songs, Wham! were the definitive pop group of the '80s—though they were initially seen as a political act.

20 Spectacular Movie Musicals From the Last 50 Years

The last half-century or so has given us some of the best musical movies of all time.

Dee Snider defends artistic freedom during the 1985 PMRC Senate hearing on the perils of rock music.

Parental Advisory: When Tipper Gore Took on ‘80s Rock Music

Suggestive lyrics from bands like Twisted Sister led to the 1985 Parents Music Resource Center Senate hearing on whether musicians should be allowed to rock without parental supervision.

15 Memorable Facts About Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse recorded just two albums during her lifetime, but her singular talent was enough to quickly earn her legendary status.