Change Your Tune
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Change Your Tune

· By Mikey G

Meta Prompt
[Level 5] The answer to the meta is a 6-letter word.
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Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • oldjudge solved 2023-07-30T17:00:32.848Z
  • merlinnimue solved 2023-07-30T17:54:24.323Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2023-07-30T17:57:17.664Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2023-07-30T18:21:49.654Z
  • Hector solved 2023-07-30T18:38:20.958Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2023-07-30T19:36:50.677Z
  • Meg solved 2023-07-30T19:43:44.996Z
  • boharr solved 2023-07-30T20:14:33.776Z
  • markhr solved 2023-07-30T21:01:01.990Z
  • Abide solved 2023-07-31T00:40:22.333Z
  • KayW solved 2023-07-31T10:34:14.578Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2023-07-31T13:04:48.289Z
  • MatthewL solved 2023-07-31T17:49:14.941Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2023-08-01T00:44:32.910Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2023-08-01T00:50:14.875Z
  • spotter solved 2023-08-01T01:23:51.074Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2023-08-01T02:21:42.782Z
  • andeux solved 2023-08-01T06:18:02.977Z
  • DJB solved 2023-08-01T10:28:27.396Z
  • Berto solved 2023-08-01T10:54:21.051Z
  • benchen71 solved 2023-08-01T11:46:12.543Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2023-08-01T15:20:08.250Z
  • woozy solved 2023-08-01T15:20:20.788Z
  • JM solved 2023-08-01T18:13:55.893Z
  • Joe solved 2023-08-01T18:17:00.903Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2023-08-02T00:01:27.729Z
  • whimsy solved 2023-08-02T02:02:17.012Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2023-08-02T02:21:27.672Z
  • Laura M solved 2023-08-02T03:48:47.331Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2023-08-02T04:14:19.652Z
  • Schmeel solved 2023-08-02T05:59:02.325Z
  • lbray53 solved 2023-08-02T16:52:53.719Z
  • Matt A solved 2023-08-02T23:44:47.883Z
  • ReB solved 2023-08-03T00:44:00.185Z
  • Carolyn solved 2023-08-03T04:37:13.314Z
  • Toast solved 2023-08-03T11:51:36.421Z
  • DrTom solved 2023-08-03T15:02:56.829Z
  • JR solved 2023-08-03T18:50:37.825Z
  • hoover solved 2023-08-03T21:35:52.081Z
  • Dow Jones solved 2023-08-04T06:07:22.798Z
  • Darth solved 2023-08-04T16:16:06.516Z
  • rjy solved 2023-08-04T16:33:53.558Z
  • Tane solved 2023-08-04T19:47:16.240Z
  • Qmark solved 2023-08-05T01:17:41.619Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2023-08-05T05:11:59.836Z
  • Gutman solved 2023-08-05T12:38:03.134Z
  • kurtalert solved 2023-11-07T14:46:11.245Z

Comments

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  • oldjudge 5s · 2023-07-30T17:01:03.634Z
    One of Mikey's best ever!
    • Mikey G constructor · 2023-07-30T17:23:44.748Z
      Answer: PEPPER
      Explanation, Part 1: Four down-clues have a bizarre, and seemingly unnecessary, "in song" appended to them. They are, in order, THEN ISM SILTY TOUR. When a certain letter of each is changed (per the title) with the clue's first character (respectively, W, ', X, F), the iconic Beatles tune "When I'm Sixty-Four" appears. Makes sense with the number of the puzzle as well.
      Explanation, Part 2: Note 67-A, the only clue referencing a "tune" and, along with the "words" in the clue and the fact the entry is LYRIC, that signals we have to go off the grid for this one! The lyrics to the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four" are needed to continue.
      Explanation, Part 3: Seven (I know, not six!) symmetrically placed entries in the grid are words found in the lyrics to "When I'm Sixty-Four" with one letter changed. The entries, from top to bottom: HARDY, BATTLE, STARING, BUMMER, SWEETER, NIGHTS, SPILL. Each of these words is one letter away from a word in the lyrics to the Beatles song: HANDY, BOTTLE, STATING, SUMMER, SWEATER, LIGHTS, STILL. (Two slight inelegances: 1. These are not the only words in the grid for which this applies; however, they are the only ones that also end with a word found in the lyrics as well! The symmetry should help. 2. STILL is found in STILLIRISE; I didn't catch this until the eve of the puzzle, and it was too much to attempt to uproot everything then.
      Explanation, Part 4: The new letters in these words, as gleaned from the lyrics, spell the phrase NOT SALT. That, of course, is not 6 letters - but what on a table isn't salt? PEPPER! This is the answer to the meta and a fitting one, since "When I'm Sixty-Four" appears on "Sgt. PEPPER's Lonely Hearts Club Band." If you missed the center entry, you would've gotten NOTALT, which definitely looks cryptic! Not sure if that will throw anybody or not.
      • merlinnimue 🤓11:04 · 2023-07-30T17:58:36.848Z
        Drat i keep forgetting to time my metas... Anyway, great puzzle as always
        • Philip Chow 14:38 · 2023-07-30T18:00:38.804Z
          puntastic as usual!! phil collins... you see LA!... stereo-types 🤣🤣🤣 are you really from EARTH?
          • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:20:39.500Z
            That's debatable, haha.
          • Philip Chow 14:38 · 2023-07-30T18:14:03.053Z
            i'm STARING back at this and this really is a stroke of genius... discovered the "word, 'tis, etc." easter egg i missed out on earlier
            • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:21:02.640Z
              That Easter egg was added a bit afterward! I figured the ridiculous use of "xerophytic" would also signal something was up!
            • Hector 2s · 2023-07-30T18:39:06.924Z
              Cool! Thanks, Mike.
              • Meg 2s · 2023-07-30T19:44:44.782Z
                Wow! That was quite a feat of construction!
                • boharr 3s · 2023-07-30T21:03:13.635Z
                  Nice one. Thanks
                  • I K Snamhcok 2s · 2023-07-31T13:05:38.894Z
                    Loved it! Agree with oldjudge, below. This is one of your best, Mikey. Thanks!
                    • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:21:23.129Z
                      Glad I could fit in a lot of content in a 15-by-16!! Thank you!
                    • MatthewL 16:59 · 2023-07-31T17:51:29.191Z
                      Great googly moogly. Needed some guidance on this one. Level 5 indeed.
                      • FrankieHeck 🤓51s · 2023-08-01T00:52:20.191Z
                        Dang! Was still tracking down all the words when your hints dropped. Quite a puzzle!
                        • DJB 2s · 2023-08-01T10:28:40.589Z
                          Loved it!
                          • Berto 4:06 · 2023-08-01T11:03:06.480Z
                            I found 5 of the letters, but OTSAL just wasn’t making any sense. Where was that pesky 6th letter?? Oh - there are 2 more letters??? Not so much an Aha moment as an Ahhh (slap head) moment
                            • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:21:46.424Z
                              Yep! HARDY/HANDY and SPILL/STILL get us to NOT SALT = PEPPER!
                            • benchen71 6s · 2023-08-01T11:47:17.385Z
                              Chalk me up for NOTALT! Needed a nudge to take another look at BUMMER!
                              • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:22:21.465Z
                                Yeah, this was something I was afraid of...probably my biggest fear on the 6-letter word would imply 6 pairs of letters. Interesting that NOTALT also doesn't look like much, due to the common letters in the final phrase.
                              • Tom Wilson 🤓19:58 · 2023-08-01T15:28:20.120Z
                                Whew. Finally made it, with a mixture of bewildered perseverance and the guiding light from a trailblazing solver. I originally had eight letters, including the near/dear combo, but was gently nudged toward the grid's symmetry. Funny how the pieces come together if you simply think about nothing else for the first day and a half of the work week! Another brilliant creation of young Mikey, whose talents (and puns) are matched only by his musical taste.
                                • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:22:43.867Z
                                  As inspiration, I probably had "When I'm Sixty-Four" on loop several times when creating this and cluing it!
                                • Joe 15:16 · 2023-08-01T18:20:05.782Z
                                  Wow. I got all of them except STARING/STATING. So I was left with "No Salt" and even then I needed help! This was amazing, Mikey.
                                  • HeadinHome 🤓12:56 · 2023-08-02T02:22:24.041Z
                                    Wow that was a challenge even WITH the nudges! My answer makes sense with the letters I got, but I feel I’ve missed a beat?
                                    • HeadinHome 🤓12:56 · 2023-08-02T02:25:46.074Z
                                      Ah - just read the explanation. My guess was that this hit was the flip side of sgt pepper (45), so I was close!
                                      • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:23:52.425Z
                                        I probably need to listen to the entire album! As much as Lennon rolled his eyes at this song of McCartney's, I actually think it's sweet and endearing. A few years later, Elton John (another fave) would make the more elegiac "Sixty Years On." His lyricist, Bernie Taupin, was/is one of the best.
                                      • whimsy 20:21 · 2023-08-02T02:22:32.808Z
                                        I could have had No Salt but instead I had Not Sal -- (Why not poor Sal?) -- because for a long time I missed SPILL as meaningful. My eye was fooled into thinking that HARDY was symmetric with LYRIC, and, silly me, I stopped at 6 entries, thinking that was enough to jive with the prompt, and also believing LYRIC balanced out the symmetry the way FRUITLESSLY did for last week's WSJ. (So I guess that means I can blame my long, drawn out solve on the other MG!) This was terrific -- Thanks, Mikey!
                                        • Laura M 🤓14:11 · 2023-08-02T04:00:13.490Z
                                          Whew! I don't think I'd have ever gotten it without hints (through #6). Excellent puzzle!
                                          • Tyrpmom 2s · 2023-08-02T04:27:35.854Z
                                            Yikes. School = UCLA + ism anagrams to musical. Yay! Keep going. Great idea. Transition = peal + then is elephant hmm - thought it’d be like musical. Interesting, let’s keep going. Plants (ryes, gourds and algae) nope. Grown in = Earth. Bingo! We get hairstyle. Tour doesn’t seem to have a match, but we’ve come this far - heck just anagram all the entries. Okay. Do it. Well, look at that Santa + tour is astronaut. Hairstyle and astronaut can be buzz. Bummer across the middle. Change that to buzzer. Why? What about musical and elephant. How do I know? I didn’t make this puzzle.
                                            • Abide 4s · 2023-08-02T12:11:23.965Z
                                              You have a beautiful mind.
                                              • Mikey G constructor · 2023-08-03T20:24:26.051Z
                                                Yeah, this is incredible. It's amazing how often I'll see anagrams in other metas as well. It's a blessing and a curse!
                                              • ReB 2:15 · 2023-08-03T00:51:24.437Z
                                                Wow, a three-step meta. I needed that final shrouded "nudgelet" response to my despairing PM ("What a 42A!") to find the seventh and last letter that gave me the final AHA moment! A most exhausting and exhilarating meta. Thanks
                                                • Carolyn 3s · 2023-08-03T04:39:20.383Z
                                                  OK, that was absolutely crazy! Needed all the hints and then found my way. Amazing!
                                                  • Toast 🤓1:12 · 2023-08-03T12:49:29.217Z
                                                    What a fun touch to use apostrophe as a letter. That turned a clue that almost would have rhymed with its solution into something I could only get past with a major nudge, yet it's so weird that it almost gives itself away.
                                                    Rabbit hole parade -- I wonder how many of these others visited, too...
                                                    • Two Xerophytic plants and one Farewells at one-letter edit distance in the grid: AGA[mV]E, ACA[dC]IA, [rB]YES.
                                                    • SANDY (~silty) and [bS]UMMER NIGHTS are both songs from "GREASE" (6).
                                                    • Another word for TOUR? JOURNEY, whose album ESC4P3 (6) includes STILL THEY RIDE, which could be a changed version of STILLIRISE.
                                                    • Wet conditions, in song? "SINGING IN THE RAIN", obviously.
                                                    • Another thing a tune often has: a BRIDGE (6), for example one over troubled (Xerophytic-plant-disliked) water, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers' LA bridge from "Under the Bridge."
                                                    • DrTom 3s · 2023-08-03T15:24:50.014Z
                                                      Well this one perplexed me and I wanted to quit but I just could not Let It Be. For several days I would Twist and Shout at the grid as if it were All I Got To Do, but in the end needed some big hints before I could say Here Comes The Sun and watch everything Come Together. I knew there was Something there, and I invoked my meta powers saying Don't Let me Down, but they did, so Yesterday I had to ask for Help. Thankfully Mike made good on his promise to Get Back to me and then With A Little Help From My Friends I was able to find The Word. I'm not saying this was the hardest meta ever but Oh Darlin it was A Long And Winding Road and I spent A Hard Day's Night or two on it. With talent like this around I may just have to give up meta constructing and become a Paperback Writer. I guess I had better take this opportunity to Drive My Car to the store since much of the rest of my time is spent solving, I mean it seems like we have metas Eight Days A Week!
                                                      GREAT week 5 puzzle Mike, I wish I had been up to it but I Should Have Known Better.
                                                      • rjy 2s · 2023-08-04T16:42:38.016Z
                                                        Wow 🤣 would love to add on to that paragraph, but I think you included every little thing!
                                                        • DrTom 3s · 2023-08-05T19:21:40.315Z
                                                          Why thanks from me to you. It really wasn't much of a chore and if you ask me why I'll tell you it didn't take any time at all.🧑‍🎤🎶
                                                      • Darth 🤓7:41 · 2023-08-04T16:27:35.378Z
                                                        The steps all fell into place until the last step, when I tried to order the 7 words. I started with lyrical order, which produced TON LAST, -- didn't make sense but made me think of other configurations, such as NOT LAST! So that was a bit of a rabbit trail ...until I finally put them in GRID ORDER! Well, of course!
                                                        • Qmark 3s · 2023-08-05T01:20:53.578Z
                                                          Needed all your nudges to get to the answer, but happy to have made it...thanks Mikey!
                                                          1A
                                                          Eschew
                                                          1
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                                                          65
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                                                          68
                                                          69
                                                          70
                                                          71
                                                          72
                                                          73
                                                          Across
                                                          1. 1A
                                                            Eschew
                                                          2. 6A
                                                            Pad follower
                                                          3. 10A
                                                            "I love how that church bell sounds" "Yeah, it has a ___"
                                                          4. 14A
                                                            In robust form
                                                          5. 15A
                                                            One of a matching pair
                                                          6. 16A
                                                            Budget alternative
                                                          7. 17A
                                                            I'd stop eating this, but I can't kelp myself
                                                          8. 18A
                                                            I, O, or U but neither A nor E
                                                          9. 19A
                                                            Peace ___
                                                          10. 20A
                                                            Outdo
                                                          11. 21A
                                                            Console first released in Japan in Nov. 1990 as the Super Famicom
                                                          12. 22A
                                                            Trying to keep Ginger Cat off the table is one I'm losing
                                                          13. 23A
                                                            Many a sq. in Monopoly
                                                          14. 25A
                                                            See 55-Down
                                                          15. 27A
                                                            Bucks, for some
                                                          16. 28A
                                                            Rubbernecking, perhaps, often during a ride
                                                          17. 32A
                                                            Connecticut collegians
                                                          18. 34A
                                                            Its capital is Oranjestad
                                                          19. 35A
                                                            Kayaks, often (But don't try to warm them: You can't have your kayak and heat it too)
                                                          20. 41A
                                                            When I forgot to invite the cryptographer to my party, he gave me the ___ shoulder
                                                          21. 42A
                                                            One might include pesky rabbits (I'm speaking from experience) eating all the sunflowers in your garden
                                                          22. 43A
                                                            2017 film starring Sheila Hancock about an octogenarian's trip to the Scottish highlands
                                                          23. 44A
                                                            1978 poem with line "Does my haughtiness offend you?"
                                                          24. 46A
                                                            Pur alternative
                                                          25. 47A
                                                            Alan or Cheryl
                                                          26. 48A
                                                            White wine, usually, when compared to red wine
                                                          27. 50A
                                                            Nation abbreviated as EEUU in Spanish
                                                          28. 53A
                                                            Parts of a battery
                                                          29. 56A
                                                            Way back when
                                                          30. 57A
                                                            Times I'm actually awake (so, not the mornings)
                                                          31. 59A
                                                            "These rodents first got to America by stowing away on ships" (first-ever Trebek-era "Jeopardy!" clue)
                                                          32. 61A
                                                            Sukiyaki ingredient
                                                          33. 65A
                                                            Upbraid
                                                          34. 66A
                                                            Notable Snorkasaurus
                                                          35. 67A
                                                            A tune often has one (but I won't sing - you have my words)
                                                          36. 68A
                                                            Vapor, in Greece
                                                          37. 69A
                                                            "Are you serious???" but from, like, a couple of millennia ago
                                                          38. 70A
                                                            Carelessly drop
                                                          39. 71A
                                                            Some marbles
                                                          40. 72A
                                                            Close
                                                          41. 73A
                                                            He said, "I don't care that they stole my idea: I care that they don't have any of their own"
                                                          Down
                                                          1. 1D
                                                            Starbuck's superior (wonder if he drank coffee)
                                                          2. 2D
                                                            Sheltered spot
                                                          3. 3D
                                                            AA and AAA, e.g.
                                                          4. 4D
                                                            She wrote "History of the Standard Oil Company" in 1904
                                                          5. 5D
                                                            "But we've already made you a redhead! The ___ is cast"
                                                          6. 6D
                                                            Word to transition, in song
                                                          7. 7D
                                                            Hunt, for one
                                                          8. 8D
                                                            "You ___ busted!" (what I say to someone who hits on 17 at the blackjack table)
                                                          9. 9D
                                                            'Tis a school of thought, in song
                                                          10. 10D
                                                            It may thicken
                                                          11. 11D
                                                            My home planet, surprisingly
                                                          12. 12D
                                                            Capacious
                                                          13. 13D
                                                            Gets a personal high score...in golf (now I'm teed off)
                                                          14. 16D
                                                            US National Park that's first alphabetically
                                                          15. 21D
                                                            One of 100 in DC
                                                          16. 22D
                                                            It makes hay while the sun shines
                                                          17. 24D
                                                            Through
                                                          18. 26D
                                                            Views anew
                                                          19. 28D
                                                            Some bunts, briefly
                                                          20. 29D
                                                            Palomino's pace
                                                          21. 30D
                                                            Company whose name is the German for "Listen!"
                                                          22. 31D
                                                            "Look at all these pumpkins!" "I knew I could count on you to come up with the ___"
                                                          23. 33D
                                                            "But I thought you liked surround sound!" "No, that's such a ___"
                                                          24. 36D
                                                            Abbr. for individuals with two, not three, names
                                                          25. 37D
                                                            Swimming center?
                                                          26. 38D
                                                            Fix a comma splice, perhaps
                                                          27. 39D
                                                            This sacred practice can't be wrong!
                                                          28. 40D
                                                            Scorch
                                                          29. 42D
                                                            Waits patiently
                                                          30. 45D
                                                            What I often order at Starbucks
                                                          31. 46D
                                                            Entreat
                                                          32. 49D
                                                            Is in the past?
                                                          33. 50D
                                                            Open, as a latch (with gate expectations)
                                                          34. 51D
                                                            Xerophytic plants are not grown in these conditions, in song
                                                          35. 52D
                                                            Bring it!
                                                          36. 54D
                                                            Platitudinous
                                                          37. 55D
                                                            He's tracked by 25-Across
                                                          38. 58D
                                                            Relatives to PPOs
                                                          39. 60D
                                                            Farewells may be given on this, in song
                                                          40. 62D
                                                            "...___ it just me?"
                                                          41. 63D
                                                            People who dial the number to a crossword radio show: ___ call-ins (I forget what the genesis of this pun was)
                                                          42. 64D
                                                            When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, ___
                                                          43. 66D
                                                            Cubs play here
                                                          44. 67D
                                                            D-Day craft with a bunch of common letters in it: Abbr.
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