Mystery Mix 2023

It’s that time of year again—time for the annual installment of my mystery mix. Last year, in #3, I received more entries than in both of the previous years combined, with several solving the puzzle. I was greatly pleased at that. And now, just in the last two weeks, I’ve been asked by more than one loyal reader if I’ll be doing another one this year. Well, here is my answer.

What follows is a playlist of 11 rather random-appearing songs, however, each conforms to a specific commonality. After listening to the music, studying the lyrics, the titles, and artists, you are invited to submit your answer for the playlist’s mystery theme. Even if you don’t solve it, I hope you enjoy the eclectic mix of songs; there may be a few you haven’t heard before.

But, before you begin, here are my usual instructions and caveats: Your answer must be submitted via the form below, with the first person sending the correct answer being declared the winner. That declaration, however, will not be made until Friday, December 29. If you make a submission and have second thoughts about your answer, no problem, there is no limit to how many times you may submit. The accuracy of any submission will not be divulged before that end date. In the event that no correct entries are received, a hint will be emailed to all who have submitted a guess and the game will continue until a correct answer is received or until it dies a natural death due to lack of participation. Finally, I would ask that you not spoil things for other participants by revealing your guesses or giving hints here in the comments section or on Facebook and other public forums.

MYSTmix #4 PLAYLIST

Submission Form

For your listening convenience, here’s the playlist on Spotify.

You may also wish to view or revisit my previous mystery mixes using the buttons below. The solutions to each of these prior puzzles can be accessed by following the navigation links at the bottom of each page.

A WORD TO PONDER

mix (n.): a mixture or jumble; and assemblage composed of more than one element; the act or result of mixing.

An early meaning of the word was to unite or blend promiscuously into one mass, body, or assemblage, a back-formation from Middle English myxte. Rarely used before Elizabethan times, mix was perhaps avoided out of potential confusion with a group of common Middle English words such as mixen (dung-hill, pile of refuse) and mixed (foul, filthy).
etymonline.com

Russell LottDecember 11, 2023Comment