May 19, 2026

Title: TOP TEN LIST

Constructor: Leo Tsai

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• TENNESSEE TITANS (3D: NFL team with a raccoon mascot)
• TENOR SAXOPHONES (10D: Jazz ensemble instruments)
• TENURE TRACK (16D: Path for a professor)

TOP TEN LIST: The word TEN is found at the TOP of each vertical theme answer: TENNESSEE TITANS, TENOR SAXOPHONES, and TENURE TRACK.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• TAKE ON ME (16A: A-ha song with an E5 in the chorus) "TAKE ON ME," a song by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, was released in 1984. The significance of E5 is that it is a rather high note for a-ha's lead vocalist, Morten Harket, to hit. If you read music, E5 is the note written in the top space of the treble clef. Although E5 is the highest note in "TAKE ON ME," it's not the only high note. This led Rolling Stone to note that "TAKE ON ME" has "one of the hardest-to-sing choruses in pop history." I was familiar with this song, but couldn't have told you what its highest note is.
• IVAN (28A: "The One and Only ___" (Katherine Applegate book)) Katherine Applegate's 2012 novel, The One and Only IVAN, is based on the true story of a silverback gorilla named IVAN. When IVAN was an infant, he was captured in the Democratic Republic of Congo and brought to the United States. For about 27 years he lived in a small enclosure in a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington, where he was used as a commercial attraction. As a result of campaigning by animal rights activists, IVAN was eventually transferred to a zoo where he lived with other gorillas. Although the book is a fictionalized telling of IVAN's life (it's narrated by IVAN), it's based on facts. The One and Only IVAN was adapted into a 2020 movie of the same name. I did not know about this book or movie, and I'm happy to learn a bit about IVAN's story.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CANNON (15A: Unusual "1812 Overture" instrument) The 1812 Overture was written in 1880 by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to commemorate Russia's successful defense against a French invasion in 1812. The 1812 Overture is written for an orchestra with the following elements: woodwinds, brass, brass band ("extra brass instruments" that only play during the finale), percussion, strings, and artillery (one battery of CANNONs or ceremonial field artillery). The piece ends with a volley of CANNON fire, ringing chimes, and a brass fanfare.
• SWEDE (18A: Fred the ___ ("Taskmaster" recurring character)) Taskmaster is a British comedy game show in which a panel of celebrities (mostly comedians) attempt to complete a series of challenges. The challenges are often absurd, resulting in hilarity. Our son introduced my husband and I to Taskmaster, and we've watched several seasons. I am, therefore, familiar with Fred the SWEDE, a recurring character on the show who occasionally showed up in tasks in Series 1 through 4 and Series 13. Two of the tasks involving Fred the SWEDE were "Make this Swedish person blush" and "Find out the following information from this Swedish person" (date of birth, father's occupation, etc.).
• ONE (23A: 0.05 + 0.95) Math in the word puzzle!
• I'M SERIOUS (26A: "This isn't a joke!") and REAL TALK (58A: "This isn't a joke!") and HONEST (64A: "This isn't a joke!") We've got a little bonus mini-theme with this repeated clue.
• DOS (32A: UNO sequel where you can play two cards at once) I haven't played DOS, but I've played quite a bit of UNO, and the answer here was pretty easy to infer.
• FOMO (55A: Anxiety about exclusion (Abbr.)) FOMO = fear of missing out
• TENNESSEE TITANS (3D: NFL team with a raccoon mascot) The raccoon is the state animal of TENNESSEE. It seems fitting then, that the mascot of NFL's TENNESSEE TITANS is a raccoon. The mascot's name is T-Rac.
• EVA (24D: "Hadestown" performer Noblezada) The musical Hadestown tells a version of the Greek myth of Orpheus going to the underworld to rescue his fiancée, Eurydice. EVA Noblezada played the role of Eurydice in London and continued in the role on Broadway. She won a Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Leading Actress in a Musical for this role.
• ARLO (51D: Singer Guthrie) ARLO Guthrie is a folk singer-songwriter. In 1981, the state of Massachusetts adopted ARLO Guthrie's song, "Massachusetts," as the state's official folk song.
• CAPE (53D: Fit for a queen?) The question mark at the end of the clue alerts solvers to expect trickiness and wordplay. The word "fit" in the clue is not used as a synonym of "apt," but rather in its colloquial meaning of "outfit." Therefore, a fit for a queen is a CAPE.
• LEI (59D: ___ Day (celebration of the aloha spirit)) LEI Day is a statewide celebration in Hawaii on May 1. LEI Day is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and is commonly celebrated by people giving one another gifts of LEIs (of course!). In Hawaiian culture, the LEI represents aloha, an expression that can be interpreted in various ways – including love, affection, peace, farewell, hope, or joy – depending on the occasion.
• HOE (62D: Gardening tool used in Stardew Valley to dig up artifact spots) Stardew Valley is a role-playing video game first released in 2016. Players assume the role of a character taking over their grandfather's farm in the titular Stardew Valley. 
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• CROP TOPS (46A: Shirts that may have been modified with scissors)
• LIKE (7D: Filler word that might be used, ___, a lot)
• OH FINE (47D: "Ugh, you win")

Today's title let me know exactly what to expect theme-wise. It always makes me feel smart to be able to accurately guess the theme from the title. I enjoyed the I'M SERIOUS / REAL TALK / HONEST mini-theme. Thank you, Leo, for this excellent puzzle.

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