Don Effenberger, an inveterate list-maker, is a MinnPost news editor. Every week, in Listing Slightly, he offers a quirky, quick-read list on subjects ranging from pop culture to poetry and from movies to music.
A couple of weeks ago, we jokingly referred to our list of memorable two-word movie lines as “dynamic duos.” This week, I’m taking a look at all sorts of other “dynamic duos” across the whole pop-culture spectrum.
It’s been a long time since the “golden age” of instrumental hits. What you may not remember —or ever have known — is that some of those most memorable songs actually have lyrics — some admittedly far superior to others.
Folks really seemed to like my list of memorable one-word lines of film dialogue so distinctive that you could actually identify the movie.
Here’s hoping Minnesota prevails on the field Sunday. But when it comes to the Super Bowl of hit music, “The Big Easy” is the big winner. Check out these stats.
Related: Vikings vs. Saints NFC title game preview
Whenever the winter weather gets too cold and too depressing, I start looking for some temperature-raising songs to help get through those too-long, too-frequent, shiver-inducing nights. Here are a few that might warm your heart, too.
If you want to make a baby boomer feel real-l-l-ly old, remind him or her that Elvis Presley would have turned 75 today. It will be Elvis everywhere this anniversary year.
No matter your own family’s traditions, there’s one holiday season ritual we all seem to share: waiting. Here are some “waiting” songs to help you pass the time while life is on hold during the coming days.
Some songs’ lyrics are good at the “short sprint,” offering a single great line (or two). But others excel at the long-distance run, managing to carry an evocative theme through an entire song. Here are a few of my favorites.
With the musical version of “Young Frankenstein” coming to town, it seemed an appropriate time to assemble my own musical monster. You’re invited to concoct a creation, too.
With two Twin Cities radio stations already playing Christmas music 24/7 and more of them ramping up, how about a bit more variety? I’m here to help.
Sunday marks the 46th anniversary of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a transitional political figure who captured the imagination of a nation and, in the process, became an iconic pop-culture symbol.
Come along for a stroll down the Street of Lost Lyrics, which is littered, unfortunately, with the abandoned introductory lines of some of the greatest creations in the Great American Songbook. And then test your musical skills.
International Tongue Twister Day is as good an occasion as any to revisit some of the most memorable examples of tongue-tied political remarks. Two of them, by the way, involve Minnesotans.
It’s not quite up there with some of the cosmic controversies of our time — nature vs. nurture? And Betty or Veronica?
There’s nothing like a well-crafted film scene where the central couple meets for the first time to set a movie’s tone, whether it’s a sophisticated thriller, a sexy film noir or a good-old-fashioned romantic comedy. Here are some examples.
Although there are plenty of complaints about misogynistic lyrics in music today, many of the songs that baby boomers grew up with are just as bad in denigrating women. Some of the biggest musical acts are among the worst offenders.
Here are some malady melodies to help you pass the time while you’re waiting in line for that flu shot.
In 1921, thousands flocked to the Orpheum Theater to see the grand-opening festivities — and Groucho Marx and his brothers. Today, on the 119th anniversary of his birth, we celebrate his inimitable humor.
There are some movies that can be instantly identified by just one striking word from their scripts, such as “eugoogolizer,” from “Zoolander.” But there’s a whole other group that can be just as quickly identified by a single one-word line of film d
Welcome to our first weekly offbeat list.