| 100% | MONSTERMASH | 11 | Novelty song (and #1 hit) with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" ... and an apt description of the puzzle's theme |
| 51% | MONSTERMASH | 11 | Classic song with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" |
| 42% | POP | 3 | With 71-Across, Destiny's Child or the Supremes, and an apt description of this puzzle's longest answers |
| 39% | THATSHALF | 9 | With 42-Across, encouraging words to someone making a good effort, and an apt description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| 39% | THEENDISJUST | 12 | With 43-Across, "When one door closes, another door opens," and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 39% | WHATABOUTISM | 12 | Rhetorical strategy of countering an accusation with another accusation, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 38% | SURROUNDSOUND | 13 | Audiophile's setup, and an apt description of the perimeter of this puzzle |
| 38% | NOEL | 4 | Holiday song, and, phonetically, an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 37% | DOUBLEPARK | 10 | Leave one's vehicle in a traffic lane, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 36% | ALLBROKENUP | 11 | Emotionally crushed, and an apt description of the circled elements in this puzzle? |
| 36% | ALLKIDDINGASIDE | 15 | "But seriously," and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 35% | LETSDANCE | 9 | Classic David Bowie song with the lyric "Put on your red shoes," and an apt title for this puzzle |
| 35% | NOLA | 4 | Mardi Gras city nickname, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 35% | COMEONDOWN | 10 | "The Price Is Right" signature phrase, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| 35% | CARINTERIORS | 12 | Passenger compartments, and an apt description of this puzzle's circles |
| 34% | BROKEN | 6 | With 49-Across, it keeps repeating itself ... and, based on the first and last letters, an apt description of each answer to a starred clue |
| 34% | WHOVILLE | 8 | Town targeted by the Grinch, and an apt description of the ends of the answers to the starred clues? |
| 34% | CVS | 3 | Brief résumés, and an apt description of this puzzle's four longest answers |
| 34% | ALLNIGHTLONG | 12 | 1983 No. 1 song by 44-Across with the lyrics "Well, my friends, the time has come / To raise the roof and have some fun" (3 wds.) |
| 34% | CLOSINGSALE | 11 | Going-out-of-business bargain event, and an apt description of this puzzle's circles |
| 33% | COOLWEATHER | 11 | Feature of early spring and late fall, or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues? |
| 33% | VIBECHECK | 9 | "How's everybody feeling?," e.g., and an apt description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| 33% | HEREWITHME | 10 | 2019 hit song by 17-Down featuring Chvrches with the lyrics "You're saying the words that I want you to say / There's a pain in my heart and it won't go away" (3 wds.) |
| 33% | RISINGEDGES | 11 | Low-to-high transitions in digital signals, and an apt description of the circled letters |
| 32% | BED | 3 | With 66-Across, cover of sorts, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 32% | IBELIEVEICANFLY | 15 | R. Kelly hit whose last title word is aptly rhymed with "sky" in the lyrics ... and a hint to the starts of the other four longest puzzle answers |
| 32% | GRASPING | 8 | With 44-Down, making futile attempts ... and an extra hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 32% | SHOWSUP | 7 | Arrives, and an apt description of the sets of circled letters |
| 32% | CARTALK | 7 | NPR show from 1977 to 2021, and a description of this puzzle's theme |
| 31% | DARK | 4 | With 37-Across, fall of Rome aftermath, and a hint to the puzzle theme |