Mental Floss

MUSIC









The Backstreet Boys—Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson—photographed in 1995.

Although they’ve never been taken too seriously, boy bands have been a force ever since The Beatles took the stage on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and the world witnessed female "hysteria" at its best.

Erika Wolf




The McDonald's Quarter Pounder is turning the big 5-0 in 2021.

If you're celebrating a 50th birthday or anniversary this year, you're in excellent company. From the first e-mail to McDonald's Quarter Pounder, 1971 was a year full of change.

Scott Beggs, mentalfloss .com


Amy Winehouse performs at Lollapalooza on August 5, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois.

Contemporary music has become a constantly expanding repository of classics whose origins sprung up from their most painful and profound experiences, the relationships that dominated portions of the artists’ lives, or just chance encounters that lodged in

Todd Gilchrist








Ella Fitzgerald sings in New York City as Dizzy Gillespie looks on.

Signs of Christmastime are different all over the world, as are Christmas traditions. But, no matter where you are or how you celebrate the holiday, one thing that is universal during the holiday season: Christmas music.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong