Today’s The New York Crossword presents you with three songs whose melodies will soothe your ears. Keep in mind that it is a puzzle and like every other similar one, there must be wordplay within the clues. Fortunately, NYT Crossword of Jan 19, 2026 takes its wordplay to the realm of my favorite music genre, Rock. Let me take you to on a journey of music; however, there is a subtle hint in the musical clues which I will talk about later.
Section 17-Across is our first question about music: 1972 song by Elton John. It was the opening track of John’s album “Madman Across the Water” and its theme is about an encounter with the atmosphere of California. The name of this song is TINYDANCER (Tiny Dancer).
29-Across question is: 1985 song by John Cougar Mellencamp. SMALLTOWN (Small Town) recounts the Mellencamp’s experiences growing up in a small town. This 1985 hit is more than just a catchy tune; it is a tribute to Mellencamp’s Indiana roots. He even filmed the music video in his own hometown using his real family and friends, giving this song a truly authentic heart.
Section 50-Across gives us a clue about Rock song: 1987 song by Billy Joel and Ray Charles. This song is about the relationship between a baby grand piano and its players. While you are listening to BABYGRAND (Baby Grand), pay close attention to its text; it shines like a diamond. Ever since this gig began / My baby grand’s / Been good to me…
Ok, Enough with the music and melody. Let’s get back to crossword and its theme. Did you notice any similarity between the three songs’ name? No? I will help you then.
Section 66-Across asks you about Capital of Arkansas … or a description of 17-, 29- and 50-Across? The answer is LITTLEROCK (Little Rock). Wait a minute, there is a link between this and the songs (imagine a lamp above my head). Each song starts with a synonym for ‘Little’ (TINY, SMALL, BABY) and belongs to the ROCK genre, making them all LITTLE ROCK songs! Now you can see the theme of NYT Crossword of Jan 19. To me, it was really amusing; a mixture of Rock songs, wordplay and crossword is like a Christmas gift for me.
Today’s puzzle felt like a classic rock playlist! Between Tiny Dancer, Small Town and Baby Grand, which of these songs is your favorite? Let me know in the comments and tell me how fast you solved today’s grid!
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