MUSIC

10 Inspiring Facts About Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson, a gifted contralto, was one of the most famous singers of all time, interpreting everything from Black spirituals to Italian opera.

Don’t let your favorite pop star drain your bank account.

The Best Time to Buy Concert Tickets

There is a way to get those elusive tickets without the opening-day frenzy and having to empty your bank account—it all comes down to knowing when to buy concert tickets.

DNA Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair Reveals New Clues About His Death

The composer suffered from hearing loss and a number of mysterious ailments before his death at age 56. His hair is providing some answers.

Put your Southern comfort cooking skills to the test.

Recreate Dollywood Cinnamon Bread, Barbecued Pork, and More With ‘The Unofficial Dollywood Cookbook’

You can now recreate the best food at Dollywood restaurants—cinnamon bread included—in your own kitchen.

Posters from a Jeff Tweedy concert (left) and Lotus concert (right).

Higher Ground—Burlington, Vermont’s Beloved Music Venue—Is Releasing a Book Full of Its Iconic Concert Posters

Burlington, Vermont’s Higher Ground has a long history of producing iconic concert posters in collaboration with local arts organizations.

10 Records You Might Own That Are Now Worth a Fortune

These rare albums are probably worth more than your entire collection. Check out the reasons why here.

Spotify’s New AI DJ Thinks It Knows Which Songs You’ll Love

Spotify DJ provides the personalized touch of a real DJ, right down to the voice commentary.

Duke Ellington with members of his orchestra in New York, 1946.

9 Facts About Duke Ellington

Time to press play on “Take the ‘A’ Train” and find out how Edward Ellington became the Duke.

The Real-Life Murder That Inspired 'The Sopranos' Theme Song

The show's title track was based on a woman who got herself a knife.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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