I'm working on a segment for a memory demonstration which entails the audience quizzing me on well-known lists. Some examples are given below. Are there any other well-known lists that you can think of?

Famous lists:

Nyquil: The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing aching stuffy head, fever so you can sleep better to feel better medicine.

Dayquil: The daytime, non-drowsy, congested, stuffy head, sore throat, cough, aching, fever so you can get back your day medicine.

Big Mac: Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

Joseph's Coat of Many colors (According to the Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics):
It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ocher and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ocher and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue.

How about "The 12 Days of Christmas"? Personally I prefer the Bob & Doug MacKenzie version to the original...

How about the Periodic table and all its elements

See here if you need one

Scott, are you talking about any famous list i.e. the periodic table, or ones that someone at least in the audience is likely to know from advertising or song, such as the examples you gave?

If the former, I would agree with wayman about the periodic table (not sure if you would just want to do order or atomic number and symbol as well), plus add a few like state/country capitals, Oscar winners in various categories, presidents and terms in office, maybe more in this vein.

One thing I have always wanted to do was birthdays. My wife has a book with every day listed and famous people born on that day / great events / disasters. I think it would be great for someone to be able to name any day of the year, and you could reply with at least one famous birthday for that date.

-Reg {*}

I'm looking for short, simple lists that people would know from popular culture.

Memorization of the periodic table would be an act in and of itself, and not very interesting to most paying audiences.

Sankey has a funny take on the periodic table...

He rants off about the first ten or so names
and then states "Thats just something I like to do periodicaly!!".



How about the Skull bone is connected to the atlas bone which is connected to the axis bone.....

...blah blah blah bone.....

all the way to the Big toe metatarsal bone?

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or according to the song

Red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue... Can you sing a rainbow?

(I know it is realy Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo and Violet)

How about Carters Little Liver Pills and colored M and Ms.
you could throw this list into the table of knowledge.
vinny

Well, you might feel a little self-conscious if you have to sing this one (I say belt it out!), but it IS a list most of your audience has probably heard at least once:

My Favourite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with string
These are a few of my favourite things!

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and slay bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favourite things!

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes
Silver white winters that melt into spring
These are a few of my favourite things!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember
my favourite things!
and then I don't feel so bad!

-Reg {*}

Perhaps not quite so well known
though lots of fun
the lyrics to
Ian Dury's
Reasons to be cheerful part 3!!