Sunday, May 16, 2021

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 16, 2021): It's not Cher, Sting or Prince

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 16, 2021): It's not Cher, Sting or Prince
Q: Name a popular singer — first and last names. Change one letter to a "P" and read the result backward. You'll get what many people do around this singer. Who is it?
Am I the only one that thought the singer was using a stage name?

Edit: I actually thought her name meant "two lips".
A: DUA LIPA --> APPLAUD

188 comments:

  1. 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.

    You 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.

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  2. It’s not Tiny Tim! I first looked for a P word that you do around performers. The first one I thought of I tried and rejected, because no names seemed to fit. I consulted the internet for names and found the answer, and it does involve that first word I found, but I am 71 years old and I have no idea who this person is.

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    1. I had the identical experience. At 72, the singer's name was totally off my radar as well.

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    2. I solved it also looking for words containing a "p" for things you might do around singers...

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    3. Give the singer a listen. Popular for good reason.

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    4. Got it, but same as Rob and DBC. As a man of a certain age, I can only say, "Who?"

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    5. By the way, Rob, that P word you first thought of was the same P word I first thought of, but it didn't help much.

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    6. I had to consult a list. I never would have guessed it otherwise.

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    7. Okay, some of us are very old, but we all listen to NPR. The singer's been in the news, won major awards. It's 2021: do you still use a dial-up line for your computer?

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    8. Signs of a generation gap. But a lack of awareness does not necessarily signify indifference. Live and learn.

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    9. Thanks ,Ron , I thought it would be impossible to work backwards on this one.

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    10. Listened to a few tracks...not impressed...crossword enthusiasts will know what I mean when I write that this person's name is perfect fill fodder, so I suspect knowing this person will come in handy at some point...

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    11. This reminds me of that article from Mad Magazine back in its glory days titled “How To Be Smart.” It suggested that when you are asked whether you've listened to Eddie Fishie's latest pop record, you should respond with a sneer “Pop' records . . . who listens to (ech) pop' records?” 60+ years later and I find myself saying exactly that. [No clue here]

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    12. Life Goals: "perfect fill fodder."

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    13. So, I guess I'm not the only one who found APPLAUD after first considering a synonym. Coincidentally, the on-air player's first name was Jack.

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    14. jan: I had that same anagram of Dua Lipa, a dial-up, but I wasn't sure how to place it without making it TMI. You handled that very well! 👍

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  3. Lately, the puzzle is up before the segment airs; are there new rules.

    (My husband likes the singer.)

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    1. The new rule -- bragging rights if you can guess the puzzle before Will delivers it.

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    2. Iris, I don't want to be the one to break it to you...

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    3. Can't fully reply right now, it gives away too much.

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    4. So, we learned of Dua Lipa early in the pandemic, when there were TV concerts of artists performing in their homes. We enjoyed what we heard and sought out more of her songs. My husband noticed that she is quite good-looking as well.

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    5. And, yeah, I was referencing the song "New Rules":

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qgadSvNyU

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  4. A couple I know complains about this singer, but I think the singer is talented.

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    1. Indeed. More nuanced than one realizes on first listen.

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  5. Replies
    1. This singer's association with a different saint is much more enjoyable.

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    2. Yes. The singer shares something with Mother Teresa.

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    3. Are you referring to Mother Teresa's White Bottom?

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    4. Are you trying to curry favor with someone?

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    5. Ghee I don't think so. I'd rather flavor curry.

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    6. Be a Dahl and Heeng in there with me.

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    7. Gosht darn, I don't know what to do when things get Murghi.

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    8. With all these bad Indian puns, y'all may be pressing your Lucknow.
      pjbWorriesWeMayAllBeInTooDeepavaliHere

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    9. Major Kong is gonna drop you all out the Bombay doors.

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    10. Hey! I am the Pun Wallah here.

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    11. Don't get too khaki. Soondur or later, Urdu to get yours.
      pjbWorriedAKarmaMightRunOverHisDogma

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    12. You sound Puri Masoor of yourself.

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    13. I vishu you would stop the bad puns or I will Patel on you.

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    14. Don't be Madras it doesn't become you.

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    15. If you don't stop this Chatterjee I don't know Vindaloo.

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  6. I got it! All by myself! I'm so proud I fully expect people to start doing this around me now as well.

    In all seriousness, that was quite satisfying :D

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  7. I had no clue, until I thought of this recent up-and-comer, Shmargo Tuaticilos. 😏

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  8. According to one author, it's a subtle art. That is to not...

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  9. What’s the under/over on correct answers?

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    1. That's in reference to a line in "New Rules": "If your under him, you ain't getting over him."

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qgadSvNyU

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  10. For my generation, we can speculate that Lita Ford had an underappreciated heavy-metal brother named Dica.

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  11. A couple beers solved this one easily enough.

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  12. I'm guessing over 3000 correct responses this week. When I first heard of the singer, I was surprised to learn it's their real name.

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    1. I thought the same thing! Honestly, growing up with a name that cool, how could you NOT become a performing artist?

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    2. My aforementioned husband took a while to get that "Dua Lipa" is her given name.

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  13. I figured it out, but was not familiar with the singer. I also found an alternate answer that is clearly NOT what Will and NPR want, since it involves slang terms, and the act described is clearly not something Will would want to talk about.

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    1. Hmm, I guess that rules out the little-known singer SEITNA DWORHT as well.

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    2. Start with Lana Del Rey. Replace an L with a P. That is all I am going to say.

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  14. Just like all the other old Fa*ts on this blog, I never had heard of this singer. I've both gotten the answer and have become curious about this person.

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    1. Clark, please don't say FART on this blog without encoding it in a Viginere cipher. Thanks.

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    2. Okay, enough of this bickering. I now call this meeting to odor.

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    3. As they say, "A stench in time..."
      pjbAdmitsBeingAFrequentListenerTo"Wait,Wait,Don'tSmellMe!"

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  15. I thought our on-air participant's voice was remarkably similar to Will's.

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  16. With a nod to Nodd, I was thinking about a smart strategy when the line to the bar is long.

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  17. IMHO listening to music that's being created and performed RIGHT NOW benefits brain health. Also promotes fun and dancing for any age. Ask your doctor if Spotify is right for you! Lol

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  18. Add a “p” to the singer's first name and get what singers used to sing.

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    1. I think you just dated yourself, Boomer.

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    2. Add an l and an o to the singer's first name to get a helpful person.

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    4. ^^^ The letter l (ell) and the letter o.

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    5. Add i and o, anagram, and you get a word associated with singers and singing.

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  19. I used to get frustrated that Will Shortz only had puzzles based on “Boomer” cultural personalities. Bravo to him for making the shift to current cultural references in puzzles. It makes me wonder, does someone younger ghost curate these now?

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    1. The puzzles usually come from listeners.

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    2. That’s why I used “curate” instead of “write.” Will is the one who selects them.

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    3. Good observation. I thought the same thing a couple of weeks ago when the answer was Chloé Zhao.

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    4. The best doctor's curate is 100%.

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  20. Jack set a speed record for giving up on #2 and asking for help.
    A ship/card game: I went for hand, but deck works.

    I'm just going to wait for the inevitable giveaway hint for this week's bit of cotton candy.

    I wish Israel wasn't using US bombs. Or anyone's for that matter.

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  21. Did you know Evian is Naive spelled backwards? 3rd week in a row where I solved the puzzle within minutes of reading it. Love it when my brain works in my favor.

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  22. Replies
    1. I'm confident I'll solve it eventually. Right now I am still trying to get through the lists of famous opera singers.

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    2. SDB, Of course not. I was surprised that someone my age got it from a list without having ever heard the singer's name

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  23. As a thirty-something, I did appreciate this one! Nice to see some updated protocols from NPR when it comes to selecting the puzzles.

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  24. I scrolled past this singer’s name in a list a couple times before seeing the word. I’m not familiar with this artist

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  25. I needed a list too, but know the singer's name mainly from crossword puzzles!

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  26. As others have remarked—yes, the puzzles seem to be geared more and more to millennials. I hadn't heard of the singer before, but when I first saw the singer's name, it gave me the answer right away. Thank goodness I am not too old to use Google efficiently.

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  28. Finally got that person's name to work. Kept looking at it on a list. Had to think of alternate names for things audience does.

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  29. I'm listening to the song I used in my clue. Good song.

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    1. "New Rules"

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qgadSvNyU

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  30. Just noticed something very clever about this puzzle.

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  31. Well, I found today's answer in a list as well. But the point of the list was to narrow down the possibilities and to see the name spelled out so that I can wrestle with the letters on the off chance that the puzzle might be minutely challenging. Also, I keep a pad and pencil nearby. As far as names of singers and entertainers, I can rattle those off like a Gatling gun. I mean like a Glock! Or an Uzi! (I'm not that old that I know what a Gatling gun is!). Besides, I solve almost every puzzle by looking at lists, as do most of us, I'm sure. Most of these puzzles ask for world capitals, brand names, celebrities, et. cet., things we all know lots of, but still, a list helps to narrow things down and allows you to see the answer a little more vividly. It's not entirely an age thing. I don't even know what a Gatling gun is!

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  32. Add a 'T' to the name and you can use the letters to write postal abbreviations of a number of states.

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    1. Also, interestingly, the name is related to something that millions of people around the world do every day; probably not around this singer, though!

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  33. Replies
    1. A repeat puzzle is a dual. The first 4 letters of "Dua Lipa" spell "dual".

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  34. Personally not someone who listens to this singer's music, but at least it's someone I have heard of before.

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  35. I like this singer's music but did not know name before.Wonder if singer will hear about this puzzle. The music is Good for exercising.

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    3. Doggone it WW, you went and removed your comment just when I was going to give it a 7.6 on The Crotchety Scale.
      Kudos. anyway.

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  38. Found the name on a list, never heard it before and imagine I'll forget it shortly.
    My granddaughter's age with a Wiki page the length of some Congressmen.
    Not doing what other people supposedly do 30 seconds or so into two vids.

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  39. Whoa, the crotchety level here has been raised a lot.

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  40. WW, What do you guess is the median age of our group? My guess is 65 to 75, and I'm the outlier at the top end.But I don't really know. There are times that we sound like old farts.

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    1. Blaine did a poll awhile back. I believe the poll came down when it started getting a bunch of bot votes. Maybe 55-65?

      And one can be crotchety at any age. . .

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    2. We have barely scratched the surface on crotchety behavior.

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    3. I turned 51 this past April. I don't really think I sound like an old fart unless I actually do(and it happens a lot).
      pjbThinksBeingAnOldFartSoundsLikeARealGas!

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    4. I think it is about time old fart issues get a proper public airing.

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    5. I don't think it is fair to say old farts are not receiving proper attention. If you will recall it was only recently Rudy Giuliani's farts came under judicial scrutiny. Thankfully we live in a country where our grievances may get a public airing. While Barbara Walters may not have been there to interview the speaker, his emanations were well farticulated for the camera with audio in order to be breathtakingly broadcast to the masses. What Rudy was able to amass, we were able thereby to assess. Soon he may be declared to be in arrears.

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  41. Are you watching 60 Minutes now to learn about UFO's? Maybe you should be.

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    1. I’ve watched that particular segment twice, once last night when it was first broadcast and once more this morning on the dvr. In Elizondo’s own words, the whole series of events is compelling and problematic, and the “witnesses” all seemed reliable. If Mellon is correct that the sightings are not us, then who or what? Someone—or something—else?

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    2. I watched it twice too. First online before it aired and then when it did air, but I had seen the military footage before and much, much more than 60 Minutes showed. For me the only surprise is that this is finally coming out, but there is much more the government is keeping secret and I believe there are far more shocking facts yet to be confirmed. I don't understand why people are afraid of our being observed by distant beings. We are doing the same thing, but in a far more primitive way.

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    3. I just watched 60 minutes on the UFO sightings. Interesting. Seems like there is more compelling information but not sure they will share.

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  42. No hints here, just a question. Does the answer spell the word correctly or just phonetically sound like the word. If it’s the later, I think I’ve got it. If it’s the former then I need to keep searching…

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    1. Relax; have a scotch, you solved it.

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    3. That surprised me too. Ah well. C'est la vie.

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    4. Thanks SDB, I think I have it too, now.

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    5. Alex: I think you need to work more on solving this puzzle.

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    6. I'm laughing at myself now that re-read Alex's post again. I misread it the first time and maybe Alex should postpone that scotch.

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    7. SDB: I thought I had the incorrect answer after reading your first reply.

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    8. Natasha, it just to show you can't trust anyone anymore.

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    9. SDB: Yes, first time I learned about that.

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  43. I see a connection to last week’s answer. And I’ve actually seen this singer perform live.

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  44. As with several of the other septuagenarians on this blog, this entertainer was unknown to me.

    But my age and the images of Woodstock (no, I wasn't there) explain why I began working on this puzzle by searching for a singer named Tom Ekoms.

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  45. So we are now finding out that Bill Gates has interests other than giving away his vast wealth. Bill, you horndog, you.

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    1. Yeah, Microsoft Bill seemed a little too perfect to be true. Why am I not surprised that he likes to play slap-n-tickle with the interns?

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  46. As a proud generation Xer AND an actor, I, too, had never heard of this singer. I'm sure that's more a reflection on me than anything. I can barely even post a comment on this blog!

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  47. I am a Gen-Xer, too. I first got on this blog about 10 years ago, but then I "fell off" because I felt a little frustrated with the NPR Sunday Puzzles. That changed during the past year. Perhaps I was just paying more attention again, to get my mind off the pandemic…?

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  48. I want to see that mad new dance "Eel Paws"!

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  49. I get tossed around a lot as far as generations go depending on which dates you go by, but I identify as Gen-X (the best generation if I may say so myself ;-) ) and DO know this singer. I have recently been labeled a "geriatric millennial," though, so maybe I have more in common with the 'old farts' above. Who knows?

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  50. When I hit 50, I was told it was the new 40. When I hit 7o, I was told it was the new 60. When I hit 80, I was told it was the new 70. In each case my response was the same,"I'll take back the old one, thank you very much."

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  51. Replies
    1. That same thought crossed my mind Sunday morning, FG, but I was afraid things were drifting too close to that dangerous island. Kudos on a great Wednesday post!

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  52. Finally got it after looking at a bunch of lists. Did not know this person (even as to their gender) at all, but worked back from the thing people likely do, and remembered the name.

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  53. DUA LIPA, APPLAUD

    "Dinosaur" Lipa's mother's maiden name is REXha as in T. rex.

    Dua + o + l = Doula, a person who supports a woman in labor.

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  54. DUA LIPA—>APPLAUD

    As one of those unfamiliar with her music, I gave it a listen, in particular, “New Rules,” and liked it (and some clues posted here made sense as a result). Her voice reminded me somewhat of Dido’s: similar vocal range, different timbre.

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  55. DUA LIPA -> APPLAUD

    > It's 2021: do you still use a dial-up line for your computer?

    "A dial-up" is an anagram of her name.

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  56. DUA LIPAAPPLAUD

    DUA” means LOVE (want, desire) in Albanian.

    I looked for words containing a “p” for things one does around singers, clap, applaud, praise, approve, lip-sync, etc. et voilà...

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  57. I wrote, “It’s not Tiny Tim!” His most famous song was “Tiptoe through the Tulips,” and “tulips” recalls “two lips” which is sort of “dua lipa.”

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  59. I wrote, "A nod to Sela Ward."

    If you move the space in DUA LIPA you can get DUAL IPA. Nodd hinted a couple beers. SELA WARD (an actor) backwards is DRAW ALES, which was an NPR puzzle some years (decades?) ago.

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  60. Dua Lipa's 2019 Grammys duet with St. Vincent, herself featured on NPR last week, was super-steamy.

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  61. – Singer: Dua Lipa
    – Change i to p
    – Read backward: applaud

    Here's the closest I came to posting a clue:
    I thought of this recent up-and-comer, Shmargo Tuaticilos.
    If you change the m in that (bogus) name to a p, and read the result backward, you get something else people might do, as long as they applaud a singer: solicit autographs.

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    1. My reference, also whimsical, was to a lesser-known heavy-metal brother of Lita Ford named Dica. (Lita was lead guitarist for the Runaways.) Fans in those days might DROP ACID...or so I've heard.

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  62. Dua Lipa

    Change the I to a P and reverse to get "applaud".

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  63. I was hoping it was Yma Sumac--and there is a cellist and Professor of Music named Amy Camus. But, no.

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  64. We are proud to feature this week on Puzzleria! an escape from the mundane – another "Skydiversion" of a puzzle created by our friend skydiveboy. It deals with how card-playing lingo from the past century may have presaged an unfortunate "omenosity" in our present century.
    We upload Puzzleria! early every Friday, Midnight PDT.
    Also on this week's menus:
    * A geographical Schpuzzle of the Week involving two capitals, two colors and one citizen,
    * A puzzle that seeks a zinger/zongwriter zans zithers or zylophones,
    * A Dessert about a "flower" and what it flows through, and
    * A handful or two of NPR Puzzle Riff-offs that may (or may not) deserve your applause.
    Drop on by... skydiveboy did.

    LegoWhoInvitesAllBlainesvilliansToDiveRightInToThesePuzzles

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  66. Dua Lipa --> applaud

    Last Sunday I said, “Add a “p” to the singer’s first name and get what singers used to sing.” Dua + p = Doo-wop phonetically.

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  67. Dua Lipa: applaud

    I have heard of her and heard songs by her, but it's not an artist I (or my children) listen to.

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  68. Mother Teresa and Dua Lippa are both of Albanian descent.

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  69. My clue - “ I see a connection to last week’s answer” - her hit song New Rules can relate to “eligibility”

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    1. I thought it was Billie Eilish with all the "i's". When I couldn't get anything to work, I went back to sudoku.

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    2. Eilish was a puzzle answer about a year ago.

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    3. The Eilish puzzle was on February 20, 2020.

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  70. DUA LIPA

    I wrote that a couple I know complains about this singer, but I think the singer is talented.

    "A couple" because DUO implies DUA and "complains" because that would be giving lip, hence LIPA

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  71. My clue was "A subtle art according to one author." The reference was to Dua Lipa's hit IDGAF and Mark Manson's "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%!."
    I guess I'm old, but I remember when "Giving a Damn" about anything, was a good thing.
    Now it's all "I don't give a fuck."
    Do you give a damn or not give a fuck?

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  72. This week's challenge comes from listener Roger Barkan of Savage, Md. Think of an 8-letter word in which the third and sixth letters are "A." Remove the A's. The remaining six letters start a common series. What is it? And what comes next in that series?

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  73. I wonder which flagrant smartass will give it away this week? (No clue here.)

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  74. More than 1100 correct responses this week.

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  75. This one entertained me for about and hour. Now back to bed.

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  76. My first reaction was being disappointed that neither TOABEAOR, nor DOAREAMI are words.

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For NPR puzzle posts, don't post the answer or any hints that could lead to the answer before the deadline (usually Thursday at 3pm ET). If you know the answer, submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.

You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't assist with solving. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the deadline. Thank you.