MUSIC

Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey in 'In Living Color.'

When 'In Living Color' Faced Off Against the Super Bowl Halftime Show—and Won

In the 1990s, Super Bowl halftime shows were lame. Fox decided what people needed was Jim Carrey setting himself on fire.

Warning: These facts might blow your mind.

135 Amazing Facts for People Who Like Amazing Facts

Like animals, history, science, and more? You'll want to store these amazing fun facts away for future trivia nights.

When Joe Pesci Released an Album as 'Cousin Vinny'

The renowned actor, who had a background as a nightclub singer, decided to try his hand at pop music while in character as terrible lawyer Vinny Gambini.

Taylor Swift at Texas's AT&T Stadium during her 'Reputation' tour in 2018.

Chicago’s Newest Pop-Up Is a Taylor Swift–Themed Break-Up Bar

Calling all anti-heroes, heartbreak princes, and new romantics: This bar is for you (and every other Swiftie).

Footloose Warehouse Dance with Realistic Audio - (No Music)

‘Footloose’ Without Music Is As Awkward As You’d Expect

The warehouse dance scene from ‘Footloose’ takes on a different tone with realistic audio.

Alfred Hitchcock is among the artists whose work is entering the public domain this year.

Works by Hitchcock and Arthur Conan Doyle—and an Early Inspiration for Star Wars—Are Now Part of the Public Domain

And Mickey Mouse could be next.

Dolly Parton Recorded a Song Sealed in a Time Capsule, and You Won’t Hear It Until 2046

The iconic singer is worried her tune might rot before it’s heard by anyone.

Our 40 Favorite Stories of 2022

Mental Floss's writers and editors share their favorite stories from 2022.

Illustration to Robert Burns' poem "Auld Lang Syne" by J.M. Wright and Edward Scriven.

A Brief History of "Auld Lang Syne"

On New Year’s Eve, after the ball has dropped, revelers queue up "Auld Lang Syne"—that song that makes you cry, even though you don’t understand it and know almost none of the words.

This partridge has no idea where the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” came from.

12 Things You Might Not Know About "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

Pipers piping? Geese-a-laying? Five goool-den rings? What is this song all about?

7 Christmas Songs Banned in the Past

The debate about banning “Baby It’s Cold Outside” rages on, but it’s not the only problematic Christmas carol to land on the do-not-play list.

Paul McCartney is simply having a "Wonderful Christmastime" ... but are you?

Why People Hate Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime," According to a Musicologist

Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is both a song people love to hate and a song people love to love. Musicologist Nate Sloan has some ideas as to why the song is so polarizing.

Protestors or carol singers? The answer's not so simple.

Carol of the Bells: How a Ukrainian Protest Song Became a Christmas Staple

"Carol of the Bells" was adapted from the Ukrainian composition “Shchedryk,” a New Year’s ballad that doubled as a cry for independence in the aftermath of World War I.

Bob Geldof (L) and Midge Ure (R) outside a London recording studio while working on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on November 25, 1984.

Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of “Do They Know It's Christmas?”

Band Aid's charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" enlisted everyone from Sting to Bananarama, but its efforts to help the Ethiopian famine didn't go exactly as planned.

A Rare Recording of Stephen Sondheim’s 1948 Musical Satire ‘Phinney’s Rainbow’ Was Just Unearthed

When he was an 18-year-old sophomore at Williams College, Stephen Sondheim satirized college life with a musical about a fraternity that tries to swap out philanthropy for more parties.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, photographed in 1980.

The Final Days of John Lennon

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 1980, John Lennon was gunned down in front of his New York City apartment building by an obsessed fan. This is the story of the days leading up to that tragedy.

Taylor Swift, BTS, and The Roots are among the artists who have made literary references in their songs.

11 Hit Songs That Reference Great Works of Literature

Everyone from Lana Del Rey to BTS to The Cure has slipped literary references into their songs.

The Complicated, Controversial History of "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

Each December, "Baby, It’s Cold Outside"—a ’40s-era American standard that some modern listeners hear as a depiction of sexual misconduct—invites a barrage of controversies, radio bans, and think pieces.

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.

Help your loved ones celebrate their favorite music icon with these cute gifts.

Shopping 9 to 5: 10 of the Best Gifts for Dolly Parton Super Fans

From Doggy Parton pet apparel to perfumes, hit records, and more, the best gifts for Dolly Parton fans are as sweet as they are fun.

Haruki Murakami's love of music is evident throughout his body of work.

7 Haruki Murakami Novels and Short Stories Named for Songs

Music plays a big role in his books, but the references are not always as obvious as they may appear.

Unraveling the Many Mysteries of New Order's "Blue Monday"

Equal parts happy accident and technological triumph, “Blue Monday” is a supremely weird and brilliant song that continues to pack dance floors and transfix listeners 40 years after its original release.

Swedish rockers Rednex perform in Hamburg, Germany.

The Murky Origins and Controversial History Behind the Song “Cotton Eye Joe”

Rednex's fiddle-fueled '90s hit “Cotton Eye Joe” was a reworking of an old American folk song that do-si-doed all the way to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The DeLorean will hit the road once again.

A ‘Back to the Future’ Musical Arrives on Broadway Next Summer

The show, which has drawn rave reviews in London, will have previews beginning June 30.

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