Sunday, May 24, 2026

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 24, 2026): A Singer of Human Desire

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 24, 2026): A Singer and Human Desire
Q: Think of a famous female singer (eight and four letters, respectively). The first syllable of her first name, the second syllable of her first name backward and the last name forward again are all verbs associated with human desire. Who is this singer?
Rearrange all the letters in her name to get an instrument and a type of belt.

60 comments:

  1. The second syllable of the singer’s first name, pronounced in normal order, is a homophone of a word also associated with human desire.

    And, for some reason, I’m thinking of another famous female singer, not 8,4 but 4,8.

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    1. Huh -- I'm thinking of a famous singer 4, 6.

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    2. Clearly, Dr. K has the gift of wisdom.

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. They are all nouns associated with human desire too.

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  4. Change a consonant sound within the name, and phonetically you get a literary theme.

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  5. Over 1000 correct entries last week.

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    1. As you and I predicted. This could be another high-volume week.

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  6. Got this one before Ayesha finished talking. Musical hint: Cream

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  7. The first time in years I got an answer before Will repeated it.

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  8. Rearrange the singer’s name to get a shy, can-do, person.

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  9. When discussing this puzzle, please don’t be short with me.

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  10. There's a connection between the singer's (adopted) surname and her band's name.

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    1. The first connection I thought of was NSFW.

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  11. Got the puzzle quickly. Coming up with a non-TMI clue has taken me longer.

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    1. All of the syllables in the singer's name have been spoken (phonetically) on ESPN, possibly within the same broadcast.

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  12. As often is the case, I find myself going down a rabbit hole looking for possible answers

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  13. Got side tracked for a bit by assuming this was a phonetic puzzle…

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  14. Another easy challenge which means more time today (and this week) to start watching the action at Roland Garros. Wishing all a happy Memorial Day weekend!

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  15. Name another famous female singer (8,4)

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    1. There actually was one I came across, but I needed more time to find the right one.

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  16. "all verbs" ... well, mostly verbs

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  17. I prefer chowder to chowdah--but not the cool, sticky kind.

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  18. Nice clue, Blaine. The singer's name also anagrams to two nouns for what you might find occurring in a capitalist system, plus another word highlighting that one comes with the other.

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    1. Or perhaps, one begets the other (rather than "comes with…").

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  19. Why didn’t the cannibal eat the Japanese businessman?

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  20. The answer came quickly. If it's not right so sue me!

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  21. I took me forever going through that extensive list of popular female singers with 8 & 4 letter names in that order.

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  22. Like the NYT Sunday Xword - just too easy.

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  23. I’m thinking of a parody, not of one of the female singer’s songs, but of ___ ____ ________ (3, 4, & 8). Its up to you to fill in the blanks.

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  24. One of the Beatles and one of their songs come to mind.

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    1. Yes! I notied that and was trying to think how to clue it without TMI.

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    2. Lancek, without giving too much away and with the connection Crito and I seem to have in mind, yes, just one song (although I see your point).

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    3. Several notes I'd like to add, but because Beatles songs are so well known it's really not possible without TMI.
      But I will give this super-standard Blainesville Clue: E.
      (This is so obscure that even Lancek won't get why that's relevant here.)

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    4. The universal clue is always relevant, Crito -- but I usually have to find out why on Thursday! Meanwhile, I can connect this week's answer to more than one Beatle song and, in different ways, to more than one Beatle.

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    5. When looking for relevance in lyrics, I often discover it a line at a time.

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  25. Since this is an easy week, enjoy catching up on some running commentary on the development of cursive handwriting. So many methods, so little time.

    https://wordsmarts.com/cursive-handwriting-evolved/?lctg=2492cced-3509-4f6e-a1d8-82689bb3576f

    Where does my dad's chicken scratch fit in there?! ;-)

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  26. Btw, Blaine, your lapel pins came back for a second time because I used too many stamps (!) and the USPS was worried it was something nefarious. All sorts of warning labels on it. Because I used a lot of different old stamps? Weird.

    Will try a small white box and see if mailing time #3 is the charm. And see if labeling it "Innocent lapel pins" helps. Maybe that will get their stamp of approval.

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    1. That is one of the criteria that the USPS uses to identify possible mail bombs: others include no return address (or a false one), a misspelled address, a bad job of wrapping, and odd smells. We don't hear as much about mail bombs since the days of the Unabomber, since psychos with a grudge seem to favor shooting the victim instead, but back in the day a federal judge died when opening a package mailed to him.

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    2. And labeling the package "Innocent lapel pins" will almost certainly trigger closer scrutiny, since restrictive markings are another red flag.

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    3. That was my first thought as I read that. If you want to attract attention to your subterfuge simply state you have nothing to hide. And please do not confuse this with the fact that leather craftsmen to have something to hide. In the meantime all that can be done is to pin your hopes on your lapel. It is a sticky situation, I agree.

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    4. Gaah. Back to the drawing board. Maybe i'll try fed ex or ups.

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  27. I just this moment finished watching the first segment of 60 Minutes, my only TV program. I wish they had had this segment last week, because it would have been appropriate to post the cliche that was mentioned: "The shoe fits all." I say this because I instantly spoonerised it and I will now let you discover for yourselves the outcome that would have worked well last weed.

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