At a minimum we need a name like BURL IVES, with four letters in each name.Q: Name a famous singer — first and last names. The last four letters of the first name spelled backward plus the first four letters of the last name spelled forward ... read together, in order, name a section of products in a drugstore. What is it?
Edit: Burl Ives was in the musical "Paint Your Wagon" and sang "They Call the Wind Maria". The song was the inspiration for Mariah Carey's name.
A: MARIAH CAREY --> HAIR CARE
Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any hints that could lead directly to the answer (e.g. via a chain of thought, or an internet search) before the deadline of Thursday at 3pm ET. If you know the answer, click the link and submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.
ReplyDeleteYou may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't give the answer away. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the Thursday deadline. Thank you.
Names of singers can't be a particularly rich area for puzzles; there are just to many accessible ways to look up names. By this means, this puzzle was very easy, even for someone like me whose knowledge of famous singers peaked forty years ago. ---Rob
ReplyDeleteClearly easier than last week's challenge.
ReplyDeleteTen seconds reading the comments on last week's thread, and I went from deep puzzlement to knowing the answer. But I can't ascribe any of the blame (if that's what it is) to our host, Blaine.
ReplyDeleteIf this singer would just change his or her name to Duprae Lugstrom, it would at least put us in the appropriate section of the store. -IMO
ReplyDeleteNice rhyme
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect my earlier comment to be a candidate for censure- oh well!
ReplyDeleteCSNY
ReplyDeleteI solved it the hard way: looking at sections in a drug store.
ReplyDeleteI would have solved this sooner if (a) I were a better speller and (b) read the clues more carefully.
ReplyDeleteThere was speculation last week about how PM Shortz would deal with the fact that he first clearly offered the challenge as "...turn one of the letters upside down..."
ReplyDeleteThis morning he made the point that he purposely emphasized "characters" instead.
I guess that was one way of doing it, but I wonder why he thought it would cost him too much to admit his mistake.
Where I come from they have a name for that, but can't elaborate here.
DeleteP.S. I submitted an alternate solution to last week's puzzle that is also "tricky." Start with the show Fosse. Rotate one of the S's upside down -- it will remain an S. Then move it to the other side of the other S. The name remains Fosse -- the famous actor, dancer, choreographer, etc., after whom the show is named.
Ah, that Will ... he's quite a character!
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DeleteI was thrown off at first when WS said letters on the broadcast. He might have corrected to characters at the end of program. Will have to listen again.
DeleteOne time he said letter, and the latter time he said character. the editor should have been more careful (though clearly Will should have, too!) IMHO
DeleteI just now went back and listened to Will's puzzle description to see for sure that I remembered it correctly. I DID! He clearly stated: "...now turn one of the LETTERS upside down..." This week he stated: "...I didn't say turn a LETTER over."
ReplyDeleteHow does he get away with this crap?
Exit, stage right.
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DeleteJust listened to tape. WS says letters and then repeats puzzle and states characters. He should had said he made that error!!!
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DeleteIf youse guyz think I'm gonna subscribe to that(Atom) whatever it is thing just so's I can keep track of what youse wish youse hadn't said, you'se got another think comin' is all I gotta say.
DeleteEthical issue.
DeleteI quickly came up with the asked for section while still lying in bed, but it meant nothing to me. I expected it might be a "famous" singer that I never heard of, and sure enough it is. It does remind me of a FAMOUS movie star of the past though.
ReplyDeleteI'll warrant I know the movie star to whom you refer. And raise you twenty.
DeletePaul:
DeleteI just bet you do, but are remaining silent at the moment.
*__*
DeleteMishima.
DeleteThat's a stretch, SDB.
DeleteSlice of life, GB.
DeleteMore of a spin there maybe, Ripcord.
DeleteI can't name one song by this artist, although I guess if I heard a few of their hits a bell may be rung.
ReplyDeleteOr just a tinkle in a small dinghy.
Delete"Those belong to your Uncle Webb.
DeleteOh, he'll be so delighted."
I checked and I guess when their songs come on the radio, I switch the station, or just zone out. I know the name well, and they won some awards, but not my cup of tea, musically.
DeleteOne sweet day we should be able to solve this one. Then we can end this on a high note.
ReplyDeleteNamed for a song, the artist, when young, shared a name with the governor.
ReplyDelete(I'm late to the game today due to an Internet problem earlier, which I suspect was related to the Verizon strike, since my service, which never had a problem for years, has been out 3 times in the past 2 weeks.)
Even the small amount of time needed to solve this puzzle seems wasted.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Deep even.
DeleteThis puzzle was really easy, and I thank God for that. I also pity anyone else who's trying to solve anything on Puzzleria! this week. Lego may be getting senile, but you didn't hear that from me.
ReplyDeleteI hate to give it away, but it's PRINCE, right?
ReplyDeleteIt seems I have something in common with him, the next king of England, and a gorilla.
DeleteDo you like M & M's?
ReplyDeleteDo you turn them over, so they read "WW"?
DeleteMmmmmm, I actually had a different idea in mind when I posted. . .
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ReplyDeleteThe following has nothing to do with the answer to any puzzle, and is probably going to be long and boring, so you may wish to skip it.
ReplyDeleteFor as long as I have been listening to the puzzle, WNYC-AM in New York has run it at 8:40 AM and re-run it at 10:40 AM, because they run the first hour of Weekend Edition Sunday twice. And I have almost always listened both times, because I wanted to be sure I heard all of it, or just because I was too lazy to change or turn off the radio. (Of course, this all goes back long before one could hear the segment online.)
But last week (4/17), I would swear there were some of the individual on-air items given at 10:40 which had not been used at 8:40. And this week (4/24), I would swear there was some on-air banter which I had heard at 8:40 which had been cut at 10:40. Never before this had I heard anything that sounded like editing of the program as aired.
So is WNYC fine-tuning the program on Sunday mornings, or am I suffering from failing facilities? Did anyone else hear these changes, or did I imagine them?
Thanks.
I have noted similar differences between WNYC's "live
Deleteaudio feed of the puzzle segment and the audio available on the NPR website.
NPR frequently cleans up its live broadcasts when re-airing them, to cut time, to cut coughs or cut cursing or borderline content. Not a fan of the practice.
DeleteI thought this would be easier to solve backwards, looking at the sections listed on the Walgreen's and Rite Aid websites. I ended up solving it using a list of famous singers, specifically a top-100 list. This singer has also appeared in films, including at a notoriously bad one.
ReplyDeleteThe store managers at CVS tried to be very helpful as I walked up and down the aisles reading the signs! I was bashful about telling them what I was doing. I wonder if I was being fined by security cams!
DeleteToo funny! I stayed with the on-line drug stores, in looking for the appropriate section. And yes, I got to the answer this way, rather than going through a list of famous singers. --Margaret G.
DeleteNon-movie clue: War Games.
ReplyDeleteI might add many other stores as well besides drug stores.
ReplyDeleteIf I were going to edit part of this week's show, the subject of año would be first.
ReplyDeleteIt gave Shortz the chance to give a "just because" ("it's convention") answer as well as to instruct us that anus is a naughty word.
Prince George.
ReplyDeleteThe remaining letters in the singer's name may provide a clue.
ReplyDeleteCute.
DeleteSunday, Sunday. . .
DeleteI thought the Mamas and Papas sang, "Monday Monday."
DeleteWas "Sunday, Sunday" an earlier release?
Blaine said: "At a minimum we need a name like BURL IVES, with four letters in each name."
ReplyDeleteNo one loves a name-dropper. No one loves an eavesdropper...
But everybody loves an Ivesdropper!
LegoWhichIsNotToBeConfusedWithAn"Eyedropper"WhichOneCanPurchasedAtDrugstores
I can not name a single song by this artist. But since I recognize the name of the artist I am certain a brush with success was had. What can I say, blame a cd-player in the car and a big stack of Grateful Dead.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, the answer to this week's puzzle puts me in mind of the Chicago Cubs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's kinda whom it reminded skydiveboy of too (see his Sun Apr 24, 11:14:00 AM PDT comment).
DeleteBy the way:
NOTE TO BLAINE:
Thanks immensely for including my Puzzleria! blog in your PUZZLE LINKS at the upper-right margin of your Blainesville blog.
LegoSaysBlaineRules!
Huh?
DeleteRelax. Nothing to commit seppuku over.
DeleteOh come on! There's always something to commit seppuku over.
DeleteA dropcloth, for instance. Keeps the blood off the tatami.
DeleteNow that's straight shooting. Or one could just lean over the well, I guess.
DeleteThat's very thoughtful, jan, but I always keep lots of kitty litter on hand for spills while working on the car, and I suspect it should work well for a run of the mill seppuku.
DeleteThis week's challenge brings to mind a famous sportscaster, along with last week's challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm floored that nobody here can name a single song by this artist. What a shame. You're breaking my heart, people.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this came to me really easily.
Someday you may be able to name a song by this artist. You'll have a vision, and be able to make it happen. It just takes time.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been nice if the singer were one of the recently deceased luminaries, like Prince or David Bowie. But,alas, there is no Ecni Nels or Diva Bowi section of the drugstore.
ReplyDeleteNor is there an "Evra Prescriptions" secton for that product.
DeleteRyan Myers: I still would like to learn what your pedant book says about upside down exclamatiion points.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what he thinks about this singer, but I hear that Arnold Palmer likes to listen to half of the new Beyoncé album and then half of anything by Ice T.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe nobody's thought of this yet.
ReplyDeleteMovie clue: Paint Your Wagon
I can't believe YOU are not working on getting a JOB, a ROOM MATE, and stuff on Ebay and please get your PHONE back on and answer your E-MAILS!
DeleteBelieve.
DeleteActually, it was the first thing I thought of, but I dismissed it as Too Blinkin' Obvious, assumed Blaine would ewrase it.
DeleteI'm pretty sure the singer never appeared on Whose Line is it Anyway?
ReplyDeleteSince there is a singer in the challenge, it is a good time to give my first ever musical hint.
ReplyDeleteIt is meant to be as obscure as all the others which have never helped me.
James Michener
I got it.
DeleteMARIAH CAREY > HAIR CARE
ReplyDeleteMy hints:
“It does remind me of a FAMOUS movie star of the past though.” Harry Carey.
“Mishima.” Famous Japanese author/extremist who committed seppuku, or as Westerners tend to call it, Hari Kari.
The exchanges gave opportunity for several oblique, yet, neat, references: "stretch" a reference to Harry Caray's singing at the Seventh Inning; The Well and Straight Shooting" references to Harry Carey movies; seppuku, of course; and my personal favorite, putting a "spin" referring to a personal Disney childhood favorite, "Spin and Marty" starring Harey Carey, Jr. All in all, a relatively easy Puzzle, but some fun klews, Sports Fans.
DeleteMARIAH CAREY -> HAIR CARE
ReplyDelete> Named for a song, the artist, when young, shared a name with the governor.
"They Call the Wind Maria," from Paint Your Wagon. Hugh Carey, governor of NY, where she live, from 1975 - 1982.
> Non-movie clue: War Games.
She appears in ads for the video game, Game of War.
> The remaining letters in the singer's name may provide a clue.
>> I hate to give it away, but it's PRINCE, right?
> It seems I have something in common with him, the next king of England, and a gorilla.
We have, respectively: no hair apparent, no heir (apparently), the heir apparent, and a hairy parent. (Nothing to do with the puzzle.)
Mariah Carey – haircare
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “I would have solved this sooner if (a) I were a better speller and (b) read the clues more carefully.” First I was misspelling MARIAH. Then I was looking at the first four letters and not the last four letters. Needless to say I didn’t get too far until those errors were corrected :)
My comment, " . . . I can't ascribe any of the blame (if that's what it is) to our host, Blaine."
ReplyDeleteKey word "host," or emcee, MC, initials of Mariah Carey.
Mariah Carey --- Hair Care
ReplyDeleteAs one who is, "follicly challenged," I was being totally truthful when I posted, at the end of last week's blog, that the answer is, "Not an area of the drug store where I spend a lot of time, or money.
Famous sportscaster I referenced: Harry Carey, the legendary Cubs, White Sox, and Cardinals annou9ncer
ReplyDeleteLinks to last week's challenge: while thinking of departments of a drug store, I thought of toothpaste and oral care, which was the "profession" of Dr. Christian Szell in "The Marathon Man"....NOT
Ditto for hair care. When I submitted "Sweeney Todd" as the name of one musical that could not be the answer, I just picked the title at random. However, Mr. Todd's "occupation" is linked to this week's puzzle the same way Dr. Szell's is, as he is engaged in the business of Hair care....NOT.
Hey Mendo Jim, Can you explain you James Michener reference? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt refers to the song, "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair."
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzu8ZxBHMWk
Ah Yes of course! Thanks SDB!
DeleteDid this puzzle remind anyone (else)of Hebal Pert? [3:04]
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember it!!
ReplyDeleteCSMY
ReplyDeletealmost cut my HAIR/CAR(E)ry on
This puzzle was a breeze. Maria(h)
ReplyDeleteMARIAH CAREY >>> HAIR CARE
ReplyDelete"Do you like M & M's?" referred to Mariah Carey's children, Monroe & Moroccan, but apparently there's also some brouhaha about Ms. Carey and the candy in her dressing room so I thought that might be too pointed a clue. . .
Home in time to hunker in for another snowstorm tonight!
David Lee Roth always had a requirement of NO BROWN M&M'S in his concert contract riders. For a good reason.
DeleteMARIAH CAREY
ReplyDeleteHAIR CARE !¡!
My clue: “clearly” drop 2 l's and rearrange to yield “carey.”
Best clue SEPPUKU = hara-kiri>>> "hairy carey." Drop the y's and you have "hair care."
MARIAH CAREY, HAIR CARE
ReplyDelete"One Sweet Day", "Someday", "Vision of Love", "Make It Happen", and "Love Takes Time" are all her hits.
My censured post said that this week's puzzle trumps last week's. I guess Blaine thought that was a giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMy retort was that I didn't realize that post would be a candidate for censure.
I said, "Names of singers can't be a particularly rich area for puzzles." An anagram of "rich area" is "hair care." ---Rob
ReplyDeleteWhen I mentioned Whose Line, I alluded to Drew Carey.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me if there is a cryptic clue in Blaine's Burl Ives hint?
ReplyDeleteBurl Ives recorded a cover of "They Call the Wind Maria".
DeleteThanks Jan!
DeleteHe also recorded "Blue Tail Fly". As in "Jimmy crack corn and I don't CARE".
DeleteI said you all were breaking my heart because Mariah Carey hit the top of the charts in 1999 with "Heartbreaker."
ReplyDeleteWe feature 6 puzzles on Puzzleria! this week, including three that rip off Will's "Hair Carey" challenge. Of the three others, one is a political pictorial "match game," another is "Singer puzzle" of a different color, and the third is a "puzzle from hell!"
ReplyDeleteJust click on "Joseph Young's Puzzleria!" under Blaine's "Puzzle Links." Thanks.
LegoSingingASongOfSixPuzzles,PocketFullOfHamminessOnWry
Next week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Timothy Gotwald of Chambersburg, Pa. Think of a word that means "entrance." Interchange the second and fourth letters, and you'll get a new word that means "exit." What words are these?
ReplyDeleteHow did he think of that?
DeleteProbably found it in an old trunk or suitcase in his attic.
DeleteHe didn't need to use a computer.
DeleteWill is really slipping. I remembered this puzzle instantly.
DeleteGreat to be back from NM; glad we didn't have to go to SD.
Delete