Jeremy -- congrats on your debut and being able to share one of your passions in a puzzle. Looking forward to more puzzles from you!
There is more music here than meets the eye (or ear). In addition to the theme entries, we have: URIAH Heep (the band, not the fictional villian) ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) New ORDER Here Comes the SUN (doo-di doo doo) HELP (another Beatles entry) Def Leppard’s HYSTERIA ESAU Ortiz Tori AMOS It’s Janet…Ms. Jackson, if you’re NASTY. Pick a tune, cue it up, and dance! (Da ya think I’m SEXY?)
@Heidi there’s also “Maple Leaf RAG” by Scott Joplin, “Like a G SIX” by Far East Movement, “BITE ME” is the name of Renee Rapp’s newest album, “I SAW Her Standing There” by the Beatles, ORSON (a British one-hit-wonder with “No Tomorrow”), AFRObeats (the genre) and EURope (the band).
@JRB81 Merriam-Webster's definition of "song," 5b: "an instrumental composition suggestive of vocal music (as in quality or technique)"
@JRB81 as my symphony conductor would say “songs have words, these are pieces”
@JRB81Absolutely. One of my pet peeves.
@JRB81 Thank you and add me to the list. Every instrumental musician and conductor that I know (I play tuba and piano myself, and have sung in chorus) would say the same. Songs are music that is SUNG.
So far this week, we've learned that • sweet potatoes are not yams, and • Moonlight Sonata is not a song. I can't wait to see what I learn tomorrow!
@Steve L We have also learned that people like to pick nits rather than enjoy an easy puzzle. There is a cruise ship captain that I know who cringes when passengers call his massive ship a boat. And yet The Love Boat aired for 9 seasons, spawned 4 TV movies and 4 TV "specials". Sometimes we dial a phone number with a phone that has no dial. And yet people understand what we mean.
@Steve L We have also learned that many people do not sort the comments by oldest first. Lord, I thank thee that I am not as other commentators......
G-SIX is a reference I was not familiar with. Some digging shows it stems from a 2010 song “Like a G6” that referred to a non-existent Gulfstream jet. Somehow, I missed the memo. Now I know.
@Bill did you listen to song yet? It’s a beautiful song. Gorgeous like Beethovens song from puzzle… callback!!!!
@Bill It would seem that the "non-existent" jet would have been the Gulfstream G650, which existed, as of 2009 (date of public rollout). Another song that mentions "G6" is this one: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrM39m22jH4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrM39m22jH4</a>
A theme so simple and crossword-perfect, and yet in all the major crossword venues, it’s never been done before. Perhaps other constructors have thought of making a “night time song” theme, but just couldn’t land a good revealer. “A Little Night Music”, at 17 letters, is too long. But Jeremy came up with the “Phantom of the Opera” song, and bravo on that! It’s sweet that the grid contains the answer to “When does the music of the night end?”, with AT DAWN. I also liked the triple rhyme of PENS / YENS / DENS, the symmetrical GOO and LOO, and ESAU crossing I SAW. Thank you for starting my day, Jeremy, with some beautiful music, and congratulations on your lovely debut!
Fun puzzle! One of my favorite aspects of puzzling is seeing in black and white that brains work in different ways. This grid had a handful of clues which weren’t “hard” but still took me a while to figure out because I just don’t think in the way this creator does. But since the difficulty was at a Tuesday level, it was fun rather than frustrating.
More than mere MUSICOFTHENIGHT, today in the comments MOONLIGHTSONATA has become the song that never ends. (who am I to disagree)
17 across is not a 66 across. Beethoven wrote many 66 across, but this is not one of them.
@Jonathan Baldwin I came here to say the same and I was planning to use exactly the same words!!! Thank you and YES!!!
@Jonathan Baldwin Agree! I thought 66A really deflated what was otherwise a cute puzzle.
@Jonathan Baldwin Agreed. Thank you for putting it so well. Gosh, NYT.
@Jonathan Baldwin Not to take anything away from your apt observation, Google did offer this: Classical composers like Felix Mendelssohn explicitly wrote piano collections titled Songs Without Words (Lieder ohne Worte) to mimic vocal melodies on instruments.
Given the musical theme and Beethoven answer, I appreciated the “Amadeus” Easter egg in 22+25 across!
Ooh, that was a tad crunchy for Tuesday, in the nicest way. Good theme, though I (and others) might quibble calling Beethoven’s offering a song. Love Annie Lennox, can listen to her voice all day. Went to see Phantom the first year it opened, one of my first experiences of West end musicals. Though I prefer a play to a musical, I did love the over the top theatricality of it all. That chandelier drop was heart stopping. To this day I haven’t seen La La Land, but I have been forced to sit through Hamilton by the offspring. Needed subtitles to have any clue what the heck these chaps were shouting about. At least I understood the King!
I was wracking my brain for the word "Weehawken" before noticing the clue was asking for the "when" of the duel, not the where.
Fun puzzle! I would love a Tap Dancing theme puzzle.
So, a little music history: Beethoven titled his Op. 27 No. 2, published in 1802, "Sonata quasi una fantasia," or "Fantasy-ISH Sonata," which is the same title he used for Op. 27 No.1. The moniker "Moonlight" was coined by the poet Ludwig Rellstab, some 22 years later. But by the 1830's "Moonlight" was already the common nickname in Germany and in England. "Moonlight" really only describes the first movement; the third movement, in particular, may be better nicknamed "Lunar Impact." ("Sonata quasi un'impatto lunare.")
@Bill - As an amateur pianist, I've only played the first movement; that third movement is tough!
Wondering about the column title and photo... Is the crow with food in his mouth refusing to share? Or, are they all sharing refuse?
@Bill in Yokohama-----Also what does "Refuse to Share" have to do with this crossword puzzle that we are all sharing?
Some earworms with this one, but not the kind that drive you nuts. A few sticky boxes, but crosses cleared them up, and it was pretty much smooth sailing all the way. Thank you, Jeremy Venook, for a cheerful Tuesday puzzle. We need all the distractions we can get these days, even when they're only for a modest string of minutes.
I’m a sucker for a music themed puzzle, so this Tuesday gem sang to me. SWEETDREAMS (Are Made Of This) is the song that introduced me to the powerhouse voice of Annie Lennox. Not only is she a great interpreter of the songs of others, Medusa, but she has written some emotionally poignant songs herself. Her album Bare turns heartbreak and loneliness into beauty.
Honorable mention to Debussy’s Clair de Lune! I just started learning it on the piano Title means ‘light from moon’ aka moonlight
@Jane I would ask if you can play any other songs, but the music police would arrest me.
@Jane, I’ve been practicing it for quite some time now. Still not there yet for me. What an utterly beautiful piece. (I started to say “song”, but now I know better) Enjoy!
I really enjoyed this one, and congratulations on the debut. I found out about the 'famous' duel and its participants, I knew nothing about that, and I didn't know the even more famous AMOS. I'm not online enough, I suppose, to know AMA. The revealer could have referenced A Little Night Music instead of songs; I'm not going to get pedantic though.
@Jane Wheelaghan That famous duel was in all the papers. Plus, they made a musical that included it as a major plot point. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW3-3Xy0kCo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW3-3Xy0kCo</a>
@Jane Wheelaghan And duels are usually at that time of day, right?
@Jane Wheelaghan FamousAMOS was a legend. He started a chocolate chip cookie company that, let's say, "went viral." <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Amos" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Amos</a>
This was something I found interesting: There were a few clues today (22A, 39A, 45A, 47A) that would likely be easier for a child of the 80s as opposed to a child of the 60s. There's been discussion pretty much daily about the puzzles getting easier. I haven't seen anyone say that today, but I had a personal best by nearly a minute. It just happened to hit my wheelhouse. But I always wonder if "easening" is subjective and skewed by the data, because the clues were easier for me, but that doesn't necessarily make today's puzzle generally easier for the solvers overall.
@Matt I don’t usually comment about easiness on Monday-Wednesday because that’s sort of a given and I appreciate that these are the days meant to help new solvers improve their skills. Sometimes I comment if they seem more than usually challenging but I would consider that a positive.
@Matt My observations are that people are more likely to complain that M-W puzzles are too hard. For a while I've noticed that T, and now M, have been Toughened Up, a good thing as far as I'm concerned, and that Wednesday has turned tricky some weeks. Most weeks Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays continue to be easier than in the past, but I'm just tired of dwelling on it.
@Matt I'm 71, and the only one in your example that I didn't know right off was DARIA. I've never been a TV watcher, so I have trouble with that type of clue in any timeframe. I've been a long time Eurythmics (and Tourists) fan, and the other two I likely learned from puzzles. As for The Easening in general, in the past few days, I just finished a random month of Saturdays from 2016. With the exception of one, I found them far more difficult than anything I've seen in the NYT in years. If you have time on your hands and feel like doing some extra puzzling, I'd be curious to know how you felt about them.
Congrats Jeremy on your debut, I always like to see a new constructor who gets to show their interest. Sure this is not exactly the tightest theme in the world but a fine Tuesday. Hope to see you again soon.
We are puzzled by BITEME. We were raised to not bite, not crossword puzzle constructors, nobody
@Peaty & Oaty Bite me was big on the show Roseanne. They used it many times to basically say ef off.
poem made from words in today’s puzzle a city of dreams a/ the story of this land whose madness made thin d/ covered now in a cloth a/ of moonlight
Nice Tuesday puzzle. Great musical references. Slowly,gently the puzzle unfurled its splendour and you can listen to the power of the words. Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the words. Sweet words are made of these, who am I to disagree. Some puzzles want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused by you. (I don't think lyricist is in my future).
Nice Tuesday. Bit of a workout for me, but just made it that much more enjoyable. And the reveal was on of the last things I worked out, so that was a nice 'aha' moment when i caught on to the theme. And... puzzle find. A Thursday from March 18, 1999 by Rand H. Burns. Some theme answers: SWAGMAN JUMBUCK TUCKERBAG BILLABONG And the clues for each of those referenced one other answer: WALTZINGMATILDA Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/18/1999&h=37a" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/18/1999&h=37a</a> ....
Just when I had accepted that the answer to that clue was "UNESCO", they did the switcheroo on me...
This is the first music themed puzzle where I got the pieces by knowing them as opposed to solving crosses. It might be generational. I am a classical music loving millennial and had no issues with the Beethoven clue. I enjoyed HYSTERIA, MILIEU, ALGEBRA, and BITEME. Congrats on the debut!
@Erin Well balanced musical theme, with one classical piece, one Hollywood number, a pop song and a show tune.
Hopefully I'm not the only one who jumped at HEE for 49A! 17A and 45A were gimmes for me. 29A and 56A, no clue. BTW, Tori Amos' birthday is later this week!
I knew Beethoven's SONATA, of course, but the other MUSIC had to be dredged up bit by bit...I didn't know the SONGS (or the singer), have zero acquaintance with private jets, never watched MTV, thought that a GURU would have advice, and do not get how "BITE ME" equates with "Oh, buzz off." Jeremy did not create this puzzle with me in mind, it seems; HOWE'ER, I came, I SAW, I solved. On with the day!
@Mean Old Lady In a situation where you may say "Buzz off!", others might say "BITE ME!" (My wife is partial to the latter.)
A cute idea for a theme -- in which I knew two theme answers, MOONLIGHT SONATA and MUSIC OF THE NIGHT and didn't know the other two, CITY OF STARS and SWEET DREAMS. I already had filled in the SWEET by the time I got to the "Are Made of This" clue, so I didn't fall into the oldster's trap that had been set. I didn't write in MEMORIES, which wouldn't have fit the grid in any case. "Memories Are Made of This" is a pop song from my youth, sung by Dean Martin. Did I remember that? Of course not; I looked it up. Then I listened. As pop songs from my youth go, this one's pretty good and very catchy. Now I have an ear worm -- and all of you can have one too. Here's the link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2k43NJycE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2k43NJycE</a>
@Nancy Are those Dapper Dans backing Dean up? Kidding. I'm more familiar with the Everly Brothers version. <a href="https://youtu.be/ta812GHhzBU?si=oG1E91aeptn4UvaT" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ta812GHhzBU?si=oG1E91aeptn4UvaT</a>
@Nancy I remember: "The sweet sweet The memories you gave to me You can't beat The memories you gave to me..." "One girl, one boy....." Go, Dean
Fresh and lively Tuesday puzzle. Thanks, Jeremy!
Got to the puzzle very late last night and bleary eyes sent me to bed before I could comment. It turned out to be a Thai take-out and streaming movie night with friends, uncommon for a Monday and perfect for shaking up routines. I highly recommend "The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare," based on a true story. It's action-packed and made comedic by Guy Ritchie's usual wonderful peppering of British humor. But back to the puzzle, it was the cherry on top of the night. Of course I loved the music theme! Despite all the music already in it, it made me think of Asia's "Midnight Sun"- <a href="https://youtu.be/JJoeMSu2GTk?is=odMoP1-ob6ms_IKs" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/JJoeMSu2GTk?is=odMoP1-ob6ms_IKs</a> Congratulations on a fine debut, Jeremy, and thank you for your commitment to turning passions into puzzles. I hope to see another one soon!
Error in the crossword: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is not a song, as songs are meant to be sung (i.e. with lyrics). Moonlight Sonata is a piece for solo piano.
@Ray I was just about to comment the same thing, thank you!!
ESAU led to me to think about an old favorite joking phrase, and I realized it was 15 letters. And... it was an answer in one puzzle - a Thursday from February 8, 2001 by Manny Nosowsky. That answer, which was straight across the middle of the puzzle, with the clue: "Tongue-twisting phrase hinting at this puzzle's theme." ISAWESAUHESAWME And the other two 15 letter answers: ROGETSTHESAURUS BORDELAISESAUCE Think about it. Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=2/8/2001&h=35a" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=2/8/2001&h=35a</a> .....
I liked it. Wasted a few minutes on DEWDROPS and its crossing words (I had DEWFROST which didn't seem quite right). Good tune-up for tomorrow.
@VN gotta get tune ups when u can right
I remember reading about issues people have had with the puzzle not "ending" when completed. Today, I thought I was done and searched through multiple times looking for a typo or error. I eventually gave up, but when I opened the app back up to surrender and hit the auto check button, the puzzle showed as solved. Honestly, thank goodness, because after DNF'ing a Sunday, I was starting to worry about my brain. 🤪
Congrats on the debut! Seemed like a fine Tuesday puzzle, and the long non-themers HYSTERIA and DEWDROPS were especially interesting entries. Although commonly referred to as "caps", those "berets" adorning ACORNS are actually "little cups" (cupules) botanically. Returning to the puzzle, PRIOR somehow seemed like it was in need of "to", and FORFENDS felt very OLDEN. ;-)
9th Grade English: Required reading: _David Copperfield_....and my introduction to URIAH HEEP...surely the most unattractive, creepy, smarmy, repulsive character Dickens ever created....and the surname was the icing on the cake. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Nice debut, Jeremy. For me, this was a little stickier than the usual Tuesday and that's always a good thing. As mentioned by @Heidi, there were many other entries that evoked songs. Tracy Chapman's "Telling STORIES" was one that jumped out at me. <a href="https://youtu.be/wapCTd5fS2Y?si=H6nH-qxBhrpXfiN8" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/wapCTd5fS2Y?si=H6nH-qxBhrpXfiN8</a>
@Nancy J. For me, 45A reminded me of this one from a long time ago: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0YktY3mL7o" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0YktY3mL7o</a>
I solved GSIX, but figured it was shorthand for Gulfstream Nine. Ha
I liked the puzzle (thought it was a little difficult for a Tuesday) but that is not the constructor’s fault. LOVED the theme! Rating: 9/10
I had to laugh at 52 down. I didn't know that any personal jets had familiar names. I guess I'm guess I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd.
@Sean You didn't choose your parents wisely, like most billionaires did.
Somewhat ambivalent about this one. Good theme and unique clues that didn't always land for me. Overall enjoyable. One of those puzzles that feel like dancing with the construcor.
I'm no crossword expert but can usually manage Monday to Wednesday. Really struggled with this one though and had to resort to revealing a few squares, too many gaps in my knowledge ...URIAH, RIAN, DARIA, ALTA, MSNBC, GSIX, NOAH, CITYOFSTARS.
New PB! I didn’t mind 66A being technically wrong for MOONLIGHT SONATA. As much as I hate when people refer to classical pieces as songs, I also appreciate that the only other accurate term for them all would be “music” and that was already included in 56A.
Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata is not a song, it is for piano solo. The answer to clue 66 across is incorrect. The New York Times should be better than this.
@Deborah Burton Did you fill in the answer correctly?
@Deborah Burton, it's really not that egregious. It's not a definition, it's a clue. You could certainly note the slight inaccuracy without invoking the admonition to do/be better. 🤷🏼♀️
People have been mentioning other songs the puzzle brings to mind, but no one has brought up the Eurythmic's so very 80's song entitled (I'd Love to Listen to) Beethoven. Don't worry, nothing other than vegetables get stabbed in the video. <a href="https://youtu.be/rbuMXyzouJQ?si=7YSSwcQAn7BKGcJJ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/rbuMXyzouJQ?si=7YSSwcQAn7BKGcJJ</a> Very nice debut Tuesday puzzle.