Topic

Music

A collection of 58 issues

More Than Clowns: The Militant March Behind the World's Most Famous Circus Tune

The iconic circus melody is actually "Entry of the Gladiators," a military march by Czech composer Julius Fučík from 1897. Intended to evoke Roman gladiators, its frantic tempo was adopted by circuses, forever linking the militant tune to clowns.

Music History Entertainment & Media

The Hit Tina Hated: The Unlikely Journey of 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

Before becoming Tina Turner's signature anthem, 'What's Love Got to Do with It' was rejected by stars like Cliff Richard and Donna Summer. It was even recorded by pop group Bucks Fizz before Turner's world-weary interpretation transformed it into a Grammy-winning classic.

Music History Entertainment & Media

The Voice That Broke a Microphone: Ronnie James Dio's Legendary Tenacious D Cameo

When recording his cameo for Tenacious D's film, Ronnie James Dio faced a high-end vintage microphone. On his first take, his legendary voice was so powerful it blew out the mic's diaphragm. Unfazed, the professional rocker simply used his own personal mic.

Music Entertainment & Media Biography & Personal Stories

Silencing the Loop: Why a Good Puzzle Is the Best Cure for an Earworm

Having a song stuck in your head, or an earworm, can be stopped by engaging in a moderately challenging cognitive task. This solution works by occupying the brain's phonological loop—the short-term memory system replaying the tune—with a new focus like an anagram or Sudoku.

Psychology & Health Science & Nature Music

More Than a Song: The Stalker, Lawsuit, and Tragedy Behind Sarah McLachlan's 'Possession'

Sarah McLachlan's song "Possession" was written from the perspective of her stalkers, using their own words. This artistic choice led to a chilling lawsuit from one obsessed fan who claimed creative credit. The story ended tragically when he died by suicide before the case went to trial.

Music Law, Crime & Justice Biography & Personal Stories

The Secret Sonic Bridge Between a Sega Genesis 'Bad Ending' and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's Grammy-Winning Hit

In the mid-90s, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony dominated the charts with "Tha Crossroads." What most fans never knew was that the song's musical DNA came from a deeply unexpected place: the somber 'bad ending' theme from the 1993 Sega Genesis fighting game, *Eternal Champions*.

Music Sports & Games Entertainment & Media

The Vaudeville Star Who Told The Beatles 'No': The Story Behind an Iconic Album Cover

When asked to appear on the cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album, legendary actress Mae West initially refused. Famous for her wit and confidence, she quipped, “What would I be doing in a Lonely Hearts Club?” She only agreed after receiving a personal letter of admiration from the band.

Music Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design

The Saxophone's Identity Crisis: Why This Brass-Bodied Beauty Is Actually a Woodwind

Despite its metallic shine, the saxophone is a woodwind instrument. Its classification comes not from its body material, but from its sound source: a vibrating wooden reed. This simple fact places it in the same family as the clarinet, not the trumpet, challenging our visual assumptions.

Music Science & Nature History

Before Purple Rain, There Was the Prairie: Prince's Unlikely Role in The Oregon Trail's First Journey

Before he was a music legend, Prince Rogers Nelson was an 8th grader in Minneapolis. In 1971, his history class became the first-ever playtesters for a new teletype computer game designed by his teacher to teach about pioneer life. That game was The Oregon Trail.

Sports & Games History Music

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