Mental Floss

MUSIC

Warner Home Video

Though much has been written about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the most entertaining look at the master composer's life might very well be Amadeus, Milos Forman's 1984 film about the artist's life (and rivalries).

Erika Berlin


iStock/Orbon Alija

The urge to pretend you're the lead singer of Journey while bathing is no accident. Showers are ideal places to optimize your vocal range.

Jake Rossen






American singer Aretha Franklin, circa 1968.

The documentary of Queen of Soul's legendary gospel album, 'Amazing Grace,' has finally been released—nearly 50 years after it was recorded.

Garin Pirnia






Pius Utomi Expei, AFP/Getty Images

As a 17-year-old boy in South Africa, Hugh Masekela received a trumpet that had been donated by a jazz musician in America. That musician was Louis Armstrong.

Emily Petsko


Illustration by Mental Floss. Image: Rischgitz, Getty Images

Haunted houses wouldn't be as scary without the Baroque master's 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.' But that's not all we have to thank him for.

Lucas Reilly






Hulton Archive/Getty Images

On February 24, 1969, Johnny Cash performed "A Boy Named Sue" for the first time at California's San Quentin State Prison. The words, however, were written by Shel Silverstein.

Stacy Conradt


MGM

The Oscar-nominated musical is also a history lesson about Hollywood in the late 1920s, when silent pictures were giving way to talkies.

Eric D Snider