| 100% | LEADEROFTHEPACK | 15 | 1964 #1 hit by the Shangri-Las ... or this puzzle's theme |
| 59% | BIGGIRLSDONTCRY | 15 | 1962 #1 hit by the group hinted at in this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | TURNTURNTURN | 12 | #1 hit by the Byrds ... or directions for reading the answers to this puzzle's starred clues (always clockwise as indicated) |
| 47% | SEPTEMBER | 9 | 1978 hit by the band represented in this puzzle's circles |
| 41% | FRESHSTART | 10 | New beginning, as spelled by the new beginnings in this puzzle's theme answers |
| 41% | PARTINGSHOT | 11 | Zinger ... or this puzzle's theme |
| 40% | RAMP | 4 | What each circled model in this puzzle ascends or descends, and what's spelled by the letters where the models cross |
| 40% | SHE | 3 | "There ___ Goes" (1988 hit by the La's) |
| 39% | THESTARSPANGLEDBANNER | 21 | This puzzle's theme, whose first notes are indicated by shaded squares |
| 39% | DOUBLEK | 7 | Certain ranch name ... or this puzzle's theme |
| 38% | CURLINGSTONES | 13 | Items guided by brooms in the Winter Olympics ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 38% | KINDOFADRAG | 11 | 1967 No. 1 hit by the Buckinghams |
| 37% | RAT | 3 | Chinese calendar animal ... or the key to this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | ACTIONPACKED | 12 | Like exciting comic books ... or this puzzle's theme answers? |
| 37% | AQUATIC | 7 | Like the five animals in this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | NORTH | 5 | Direction suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | MIXEDDOUBLES | 12 | Game suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | AUSTRALIA | 9 | Locale suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | THOMASNAST | 10 | Cartoonist suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | COCONUT | 7 | Palm fruit ... or what the creator of this puzzle's theme apparently is? |
| 36% | CHEMICALBONDING | 15 | Attraction suggested by this puzzle's theme answers |
| 36% | THERESNOIINTEAM | 15 | Axiom contradicted by this puzzle's theme answers |
| 36% | EARLOFCHESTER | 13 | One title for this puzzle's subject, spelled in order by the circled letters |
| 35% | WICHITALINEMAN | 14 | Glen Campbell hit, the last word of which is this puzzle's theme |
| 35% | THIRDEYEBLIND | 13 | Band with the 1997 hit "Semi-Charmed Life" … or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 35% | THINKQUICKLY | 12 | To understand this puzzle's theme, read the ends of the answers to the starred clues and ... |
| 35% | MAANDPA | 7 | Kettles ... or the theme of this puzzle |
| 35% | PRIVATELY | 9 | "Between us"... or the word hidden between U and S in this puzzle's theme entries |
| 34% | TACOTUESDAY | 11 | What this puzzle is celebrating, judging by what's been "eaten" by the starred answers |
| 34% | HESAREBEL | 9 | #1 hit by the Crystals |