| 100% | WATERLOO | 8 | ABBA song and a defeat for Napoleon |
| 59% | WATERLOO | 8 | ABBA song, Napoleon's defeat and London station |
| 55% | WATERLOO | 8 | 1974 ABBA song named for the place where Napoleon was defeated |
| 53% | MAMMA | 5 | "___ Mia," 1975 ABBA song that became the inspiration for a musical and multiple movies |
| 43% | SOS | 3 | Abba song (also an abbreviation for a call for help) |
| 41% | AMERICA | 7 | Land made for you and me, in a Woody Guthrie song |
| 41% | HED | 3 | "I knew a man Bojangles and ___ dance for you ..." (1968 song lyric) |
| 40% | MONEYMONEYMONEY | 15 | 1976 Abba song ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 40% | ONES | 4 | "This ___ For You" (title of a hit album and song by Barry Manilow) |
| 39% | ALL | 3 | ___ Saints, a girl group known for hit songs like "Lady Marmalade" and "Never Ever" |
| 39% | WATERLOO | 8 | ABBA song about Napoleon |
| 39% | SPICEGIRLS | 10 | A hugely popular girl group who were responsible for the hit songs "Wannabe" and "2 Become 1" |
| 39% | STICKS | 6 | "___ and Stones," song by Tracy Lawrence or the essential twiggy additions for a snowman's arms |
| 39% | XTC | 3 | Band known for its hit songs "The Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" |
| 39% | GAL | 3 | "(I've Got a ___ In) Kalamazoo" (#1 hit song for Glenn Miller and His Orchestra) |
| 39% | DAY | 3 | "Today is Gonna Be a Great ___," theme song for the animated show "Phineas and Ferb" |
| 39% | LOSS | 4 | Defeat for a team |
| 39% | TOOTHEXTRACTIONS | 16 | AND A FOR A |
| 38% | REPUTATION | 10 | "And sold my ___ for a Song": FitzGerald |
| 38% | SENORITA | 8 | Hit song by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello that was nominated for a Grammy in 2020 |
| 38% | ATALL | 5 | "When You Say Nothing ___" was a hit song for Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss and Ronan Keating |
| 38% | SMILE | 5 | "Die with a ___," song by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars that is nominated for 2 Grammys |
| 38% | BANG | 4 | When repeated twice, song by Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj that was nominated for a Grammy |
| 38% | LEANONME | 8 | Song that was a #1 hit for Bill Withers in 1972 and for Club Nouveau in 1987: 3 wds. |
| 37% | LIES | 4 | "Love ___," hit song by Khalid and Normani which is a part of the soundtrack for "Love, Simon" |
| 37% | ONLY | 4 | Song by Nicki Minaj featuring Drake and Lil Wayne, which was nominated for a Grammy at the 58th Grammy Awards |
| 37% | BABY | 4 | Famous Justin Bieber song and a term of endearment |
| 37% | LOVELY | 6 | Hit song by Khalid and Billie Eilish which is a part of the soundtrack for "13 Reasons Why" |
| 37% | WEIRDSCIENCE | 12 | Oingo Boingo single that was the theme song for a 1980s film and 1990s TV series (2 wds.) |
| 36% | DIRTCHEAP | 9 | For a song |