9 Spellbinding Songs About Magic
Image Lady Gaga debuted her madcap video for 'Abracadabra' in a Mastercard commercial during the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
If you've noticed anyone walking around with their paws up, speaking in tongues and raving about the floor being on fire, allow me to explain: In an ad Sunday night during the Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga debuted a new single. It's called 'Abracadabra,' and it's a gloriously nostalgic return to form, reminiscent of the infectious gibberish hook of 'Bad Romance' and the go-for-broke electro-sleaze she perfected on 'The Fame Monster' and 'Born This Way.' Rejoice, ye elder millennials: A star has been reborn.
As I've been strutting around all week with 'abracadabra, abra-cadaaaabra' on an endless loop in my head, I've been thinking about how many great songs throughout pop music reference magic — as a tried-and-true metaphor for the mysteries of love, or just as a thematic excuse to get a little weird. (For Gaga, it's a little bit of both, but always with emphasis on the latter.)
The '60s gave us spellbinding classics like the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Do You Believe in Magic?' and the Drifters' 'This Magic Moment.' But 'Abracadabra' is just the latest proof that pop still has magic on the mind: In the last year or so, there have been not one but two Top 20 hits called 'Houdini.' (Though never forget that Kate Bush beat them both to it.)
Since a definitive playlist of every song ever to conjure magic would be incredibly long and contain quite a few overindulgent duds, this collection reflects my own tastes. Which is to say that it omits Eminem's 'Houdini,' as well as the song it samples, that other 'Abracadabra,' by the Steve Miller Band. Personal preference! But it does feature enchanting tunes from Electric Light Orchestra, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and, of course, Gaga's latest incantation.
Like a poem said by a lady in red,
Lindsay
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
15 New Orleans bars and restaurants that have closed this summer
The doldrums of summer came early to New Orleans, bringing with them a rush of bar and restaurant closures. Why it matters: More hospitality owners are pulling the plug early rather than crossing their fingers and hoping to keep paying their bills through the slowest part of the year. The big picture: With few festivals, high temperatures and little tourism, summer has long been New Orleans' slowest season. So, if a restaurant or bar is going to close, it's more likely to come during the warmest months of the year. On the lighter end, summer might mean limited hours or short-term closures. But the coronavirus pandemic cranked that intensity to the max level, with full-blown summer shutdowns picking up pace in recent years. Yes, but: We're not powerless against it. As Ian McNulty outlined for The Times-Picayune, now's the time to show your favorite bars and restaurants that you're there to help them make it through to fall. You can buy gift cards, arrive earlier, and shop smarter when you're opting for take-out by ordering directly from the restaurant rather than paying fees to third-party apps. Closures since March 2025 so far include: Maypop and Mopho, both from chef Michael Gulotta. Maypop in particular had a tough run after a closure prompted by a building collapse across the street last year. Tracey's Irish Channel Bar. Owners said the cancellation of the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day parade this year was the final straw, WDSU reports. BABs from chef Nina Compton and partner Larry Miller. Justine from Justin and Mia Devillier. Frey Smoked Meat Co., which had been in Mid-City for about a decade. The Franklin, which has already made way for new restaurant Evviva. Zony Mash, the brewery on the edge of Broadmoor. Ugly Dog Saloon, which closed in the CBD. Milan Lounge, a beloved Uptown dive bar. Medium Rare, which was only open for about a year, Eater reports. Tonti's Bistro in Algiers Point. Brocato's Kitchen in Mid-City, though The Times-Picayune reports it may reopen elsewhere. Trilly's Cheesesteak, which cited rising costs as a major factor.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Security Cam Catches Husky's Escape—Owner Can't Believe How He Did It
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Siberian husky named Bond has left viewers on Instagram in stitches after pulling off a Houdini-worthy escape from his fenced enclosure—and his owners did not even know he had done it until they checked their security camera. The security footage, shared to Instagram by @jackiethehusky on November 11, shows Bond shimmying under a metal fence in his yard with a mix of agility and determination. Since being posted, the video has been viewed more than 8 million times and liked by over 160,000 users, leaving viewers both entertained and incredulous. "When someone tells you huskies are escape artists—believe them," the video's overlaid text reads, echoing the sentiments of thousands of them. In a caption accompanying the post, Bond's owners explained that the escape came as a complete surprise: "When we couldn't figure out how Bond ended up on the opposite side of one of the many fences we have in the yard, we checked our camera and found out we have a new Houdini." Speaking to Newsweek, Bond's owner Andra Ellingson confirmed that the canine is living up to the husky reputation. "We are longtime Siberian husky lovers, having gotten our first one in 2001," she said. "We currently have the two—Bond and Jon Snow. "Bond is our escape artist, he slid under the gate between his dog run, which is a large area, and into our backyard, in 10 years, none of our dogs had ever attempted this and we didn't think it was possible!" She described Bond as "small, determined, and very clever." Though the video gives the impression of a modest setup, Ellingson said their yard is equipped with numerous gates specifically designed to contain their energetic dogs. Still, that has not stopped Bond from trying his luck. From left: Siberian huskies Bond and Jon Snow look up at a camera lens; and the viral moment when Bond slid under the gate in their backyard. From left: Siberian huskies Bond and Jon Snow look up at a camera lens; and the viral moment when Bond slid under the gate in their backyard. @jackiethehusky The post's caption explained that Bond's owners have since adapted the fence to try and keep him in, but that they are not optimistic this solution will last for long. Nicknamed "Demon" at home for his constant mischief, Bond is 5 years old and brimming with personality. "He is extremely smart and calculating, but he is also very affectionate," Ellingson said. His sibling Jon Snow, in contrast, is a 7-year-old husky with a gentler demeanor. "He just wants to be petted," Ellingson added. "He will play with Bond but after a while likes his alone time. He is a gentleman, often sitting with paws crossed." The duo's antics—and particularly Bond's recent breakout—have captured the imagination of dog lovers across the platform. "That's pretty impressive," one viewer said, while another added: "What magic trick is [this]?" As Ellingson quipped, the fence may have been reinforced, "until he figures out how to get out from that one too." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lady Gaga Praises Queer Music Pioneer Carl Bean in Docu Clip: ‘Anthems Unify People'
Lady Gaga honors queer music icon Carl Bean and the legacy of his 1977 anthem, 'I Was Born This Way' in an exclusive clip from the upcoming documentary I Was Born This Way. In the film, Gaga, Questlove, and Billy Porter are among those who reflect on the song's powerful impact on the LGBTQ community. 'This song is actually the music equivalent of the Giving Tree,' says Questlove, spinning the track on vinyl. More from Rolling Stone Addison Rae's Pop Queen Dreams Are Massive, and Just Out of Reach Timex's New 'Wednesday' Watch Collab Is Worth a Double Round of Snaps How the Director and Stars of 'Pavements' Brought Many Stephen Malkmuses to Life The clip opens with the chart success the song, released on Motown, had in the United States, climbing to Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and how it became an 'immediate anthem for the gay community,' embraced by house DJs worldwide. Gaga — who titled her sophomore album after her own Bean-influenced LGBTQ-celebrating anthem, 'Born This Way' — reflects on Bean's legacy. 'This was so much more than just a hit song. When that song stopped charting, they didn't stop playing that song in clubs,' she says. 'And the movement didn't stop.' In the clip, Questlove adds that the track was 'beyond a hit' and one that inspired hope and'revolution.' 'It's an anthem,' he says. 'And anthems never die.' 'Anthems unify people. And they help us to celebrate,' adds Gaga. 'It's people coming together to say, 'This is what we believe in. This is what we care about. We are louder. We are stronger. And we can do it together.'' Bean would eventually leave the music industry, founding the Minority AIDS Project to help underserved populations at the height of the AIDS epidemic and eventually, the first LGBTQ+ ministry called the Unity Fellowship Church. I Was Born This Way has been six years in the making and features Questlove, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billy Porter as exec producers. Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard direct the film which will premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 5. 'This sequence in the film shows the enduring legacy of Bean's song, and the film demonstrates his lasting influence in so many other surprising ways,' Junge tells Rolling Stone. 'There are so many celebrity bio-docs these days, which I don't disparage — Sam and I have made them — but I think the real joy of documentary is when you are surprised by things you never realized are an important part of our world… hopefully that's what this film does.' 'Not only was his rendition of the song revelatory, but what he did over the decades with his activism for the LGBTQ+ community was both groundbreaking and heartfelt,' Pollard adds. Gaga has long credited Bean — who died in 2021 at age 77 but gave interviews for the film prior to his death — for inspiring Born This Way. Ahead of Pride Month in 2021, she wrote on Twitter: 'Born This Way, my song and album, were inspired by Carl Bean, a gay black religious activist who preached, sung and wrote about being 'Born This Way.' … Thank you for decades of relentless love, bravery, and a reason to sing. So we can all feel joy, because we deserve joy.' { pmcCnx({ settings: { plugins: { pmcAtlasMG: { iabPlcmt: 1, }, pmcCnx: { singleAutoPlay: 'auto' } } }, playerId: "d762a038-c1a2-4e6c-969e-b2f1c9ec6f8a", mediaId: "0eb6519c-7563-415b-88a9-96e46cac48a4", }).render("connatix_player_0eb6519c-7563-415b-88a9-96e46cac48a4_1"); }); Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
