MUSIC

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.

Give into superstitious, narrow-minded flights of paranoia? Lemmy would never.

Hail ... Santa? 10 Songs That That May (Or May Not) Include Hidden Messages

The Beatles helped bring backmasking to the mainstream, but here are a few classic tracks that may (or may not) feature hidden messages, too.

How Jimmy Buffett Turned “Margaritaville” Into a Way of Life

The late singer's beach bum reputation helped him build a billion-dollar empire.

How Phil Collins Accidentally Created the Sound That Defined 1980s Music

You may have never heard the phrase “gated reverb,” but you've most definitely heard the effect. And you can thank Phil Collins for that.

17 Surprising Facts About ‘Empire Records’

The movie was released on September 22, 1995 to barely any fanfare—but somehow, years later, fans discovered it and have helped keep its memory alive.

Tom Hanks' 'That Thing You Do!' produced one of cinema's greatest earworms.

11 Fictional Bands Who Scored Very Real Hit Songs

The Monkees may not have been a "real" band, but their chart-topping legacy speaks for itself.

30 Years Ago: When Alicia Silverstone and Aerosmith Ruled MTV

In 1993, a teenaged Alicia Silverstone changed the rules for video vixens everywhere with Aerosmith's "Cryin'"—and cemented her place in pop culture history.

7 Facts About Polka Dots

The pattern is named after the European dance craze, but what exactly the dots have to do with polka is a bit of a mystery.

The 10 Most Popular Wedding Songs

First dance songs, wedding reception songs … This list has a little of everything.

In 1985, Sting sang that he hoped "the Russians love their children too." James Cameron and Christopher Nolan were listening.

The Curious Link Between 'Oppenheimer,' The Terminator, and a Forgotten '80s Sting Tune

For years, Sting’s 1985 anti-war song “Russians” seemed to be something of an afterthought. But it made a lasting impression on two future filmmakers and a pair of summer blockbusters released more than 30 years apart.

The Doors, The Airborne Toxic Event, Louise Post of Veruca Salt, and Steely Dan.

20 Band Names Inspired by Classic Books and Literature

These 20 bands each took their names from the pages of classic works of literature by the likes of C.S. Lewis, William S. Burroughs, Charles Dickens, and beyond.

A Tale of Two Creeps: Radiohead, Stone Temple Pilots, and the Great 'Creep' Face-Off of 1992

If you wanted to hear your favorite band sing "Creep" in the early '90s, you had a plethora of choices.

A Taylor Swift–Themed Cat Art Show Is Coming to CatCon

Karma is a cat … art show. (No, that’s literally the title of the exhibition.)

From left: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickson, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Buffett, and Gil Scott-Heron.

14 Musicians Who Are Also Novelists

Jimmy Buffett—yeah, the “Margaritaville” guy—is one of just a few authors to have books that topped both the fiction and non-fiction ‘New York Times’ bestsellers lists. Other authors that have that distinction include Hemingway and Steinbeck.

Paris is Burning | ‘Come On, Vogue’ (HD) - Willi Ninja | MIRAMAX

7 Facts About Willi Ninja, the Grandfather of Vogue

Famed choreographer Willi Ninja's pioneering dance moves and gender-fluid style had a lasting influence on music and fashion, which still persists to this day.

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