You know how it is - you hear a song on the radio, in an elevator, while waiting on hold, someone whistling as they walk by, whatever - and it sticks in your head! You cannot get rid of it. It's like the playlist of your mind is stuck on endless repeat (or your mind is a broken record). What songs tend to get stuck in your head? Does it happen often (getting a song stuck in your head)? Can you get rid of them?
I tend to almost always have music going in the back of my mind. The songs I get endlessly looping are usually songs that I think are obnoxious (Roxanne, Who Let the Dogs Out, It's a Small World, etc.). Usually trying to get rid of it just makes it work for me - the harder I try, the more it sticks, so I just have to pretend it's not there and do something else.
[Edit: I can't believe they termed this phenomenon earworm! Star Trek II anyone?]
[ October 29, 2003, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Once, I had "I Will Survive" stuck in my head for three weeks.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
A girl at the wedding in Hawaii did a hula to it, and I've been singing it for four days. Sadly, I don't speak Hawaiian and I don't know the words, so I'm making it up. For me, it has the same words as most of Andre Bocceli's songs.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Susan Vega's "Tom's Diner" is the most addictive song in the world. Not the lyrics, but the beat. And I don't like the song.
The only good thing about it is, if you let your mind slip as you hum the beat, you can fade into the "I Dream of Jeanie" theme song.
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
I think this is a very dangerous thread to read. I think there's an extreme possibility of catching other people's earworms!
I have enough problems with the ones that periodically stalk me down. Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
The most bizarre thing for me is to wake up in the morning humming something and not remember when I last heard it or why it is in my head. Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
When I saw this thread's title I remember thinking it sure was a disgusting sickness. I'm relieved it is not. And it happenned to me too, of course. Just before my "soutenance de maîtrise" (that means that four years after your baccalaureat you have to write something about 100 pages long and then explain it in front of a few professors) I had "I will survive" stuck in my head. Quite embarassing.
Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :
Currently "Yakety Sax" the theme from The Benny Hill Show
The song that gets stuck in my head most forcefully is "Kiss Him Goodbye" .. "Na na na na, na na na na, Hey, hey hey, Good-bye"
It's a good song, but not after the tenth hour of humming to myself.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
It is "We All Live in a Yellow Submarine" that always gets me. Everywhere.
Although the other day -- in that OTHER thread -- it got me started on that stupid "song that nevers ends" from Lambchop
Farmgirl
Posted by ae (Member # 3291) on :
I'm lucky. I get Tom Waits's "Tango Till They're Sore".
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Once I had this song called "Mamboleo" stuck in my head for three or four days straight... I wrote the lyrics all over my homework because I couldn't get it out of my head.
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
I got "Whenever, Wherever" by Shakira stuck in my head for a few days thanks to Annie. [edit to fix my random capitalization] Another edit, ha. I just looked at website, and it reminded me that "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has been stuck in my head off and on for YEARS. aweemaway aweemaway
[ October 29, 2003, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: Rappin' Ronnie Reagan ]
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
No Way, Annie! I had that same song stuck in my head for three weeks, too!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Were you both picturing a one-eyed alien singing it?
Posted by Pixie (Member # 4043) on :
::now has snipets of three different aforementioned song running through her head::
I spent an entire physics class last week singing (silently) Tim McGRaw's "Something Like That". Catchy song, that is. Today it was Rascal Flats' "Melt". New day, new song. Yesterday I spent "listening" to a song I dreampt I'd written. Really beautiful but I have no idea how to write music anymore so it's stuck as a dream I'm afraid and it's complex enough that even if I could write the music for one instrument there'd just me more and more after that.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
quote: Were you both picturing a one-eyed alien singing it?
I love that video, do you know where I can find it?
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Lately my earworm has been "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1" by The Flaming Lips and "Mighty Little Man" by Steve Burns (Yes, the guy who used to be on Blues Clues). These don't bother me much though as I love the songs.
I tend to get songs in my head a lot, but usually they are ones I like and I just need to listen to the whole song to get rid of it.
I can't remember the last time I had a song I really hated in my head, but it wasn't too long ago. My wife was singing one line of it and that got it stuck in my head. I can't think of what it was now though.
Mostly the stuff that bothers me is stuff normally heard on top 40 radio, boy bands, britney & clones, and other stuff like that. I usually just have to listen to some other music to get rid of those.
Posted by pepperuda (Member # 1573) on :
"You Are Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime.
Posted by Starla* (Member # 5835) on :
Last song I had stuck in my head was "Stitches" by Orgy. It's been stuck in there for 3 days now....
I usually get songs I haven't heard in a long time stuck in my head.
Like, in the last few weeks these are some of them: "Down in the Park" Foo Fighters "Stars" Hum "Starla" (haha) Smashing Pumpkins "Pristina" Sleater-Kinney
The list goes on
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Gershwin. Presently at school I am the musical Crazy For You and in the school band we are playing a compilation of Gershwin songs. This is proving to be a deadly combination.
I once had "You're My World" by Cilla Black stuck in my head for a week. It drove everyone around me crazy, because I only knew the chorus, and I didn't even know that very well.
Posted by JaneX (Member # 2026) on :
Lately, it's been Gundam Seed music. I don't particularly mind, though, because it's good.
~Jane~
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Sigh.
The fricking "T" is for "Tigger" song since last Sunday.
HELLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
I get songs in my head the worst when I'm just learning the lyrics. Ben Folds Five's "Boxing" has been in my head all day, and it's driving me nuts.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I was learning the words to Suerte by Shakira (Whenever, Wherever en español) for a talent show, and I sang them walking around the house so many times that my roommate, who doesn't speak a word of Spanish, was singing along with my singing along after a couple weeks.
She never did forgive me, but I did win the talent show.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
It was the same for me when my sister came to a choral group and she came home singing things in spanish or italian, and about two days after I knew it (phoneticaly) by heart. I din't blame her, however. Better than stupid jingles anyway.
Posted by Starla* (Member # 5835) on :
quote: I get songs in my head the worst when I'm just learning the lyrics. Ben Folds Five's "Boxing" has been in my head all day, and it's driving me nuts.
Thanks, now it's in MY head.
I should have really stayed away from this thread.....
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
I've had everything from "Joxer the Mighty" and "Link, he come to town!" stuck in my head to, more recently, music from 'Chicago'
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
I have songs running in my head almost constantly. It's rare that there isn't one. But it's not a problem unless it gets stuck for an extended time, or if it starts coming out my mouth, where it can bother my wife.
One that seems to pop up more than its share is Me and My Shadow, and I don't even know most of the words to that.
UofUlawguy
Posted by Sarcasm (Member # 4653) on :
I've had a few songs from Nada Surf's album Let Go, namely "Là pour Ça," "Fruit Fly," and "High-Speed Soul," cycling through my head for a few days now. I go through phases like this as I discover new songs that I like.
[ October 30, 2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Sarcasm ]
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
Currently, The Girl From Ipanema.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Thanks to ladyday's AIM name, Angel of Harlem.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Today, I have dueling earworms (but these are songs that I like fighting each other in my head): Seven - Revis, Numb - Linkin Park
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I have crazy classical earworms. It's not as fun as the pop/rock ones. It all depends on what piece of music we're learning in my choir or what piece I'm trying to memorize at the moment. This summer in my opera program I was learning a Mozart role in German and 3 big difficult french pieces by Ravel...at the same time. I had CD recordings of everything and listened to them nonstop to get the pronunciations right and remember the rhythms. It was insane. During those two weeks, those pieces (especially the french ones) were constantly in my head. It didn't even stop when I was asleep. They were in my head in my dreams, they WERE my dreams and I woke up and they just kept on. I had never experienced anything like that. There was a particular song that I have in my head at least once a week to this day, and it's been 4 months. Crazy!!
oh, and ludosti, I thought of Star Trek II as well. EWWWW! I hate that scene!!
Posted by slacker (Member # 2559) on :
It sounds really bad but I once had Frosty the Snowman stuck in my head while chopping wood. No idea really, but I remember laughing at the situation at the time.
Posted by Megachirops (Member # 4325) on :
"Joxer the Mighty" is sticky, neh?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Hey, Annie (or Anna, or any other francophone), can you help me translate a song? It drives me nuts not quite knowing what I'm singing along to. (I apologize for the lack of accent marks.)
La Pour Ca
pense a moi la prochaine fois que tu entendra la rumeur des vagues et si elles te disent que tu m’as fait que du mal, t’en fais pas j’suis la pour ca la mer connait pas le fil du temps qui nous rapproche et nous separe vive la maree haute et vive la basse mais surtout vive la difference j’suis la pour ca laisse couler le bateau oublie tes moeurs laisse-toi aller et n’ai pas peur les mecs c’est des salauds mais peut-etre pas tous remplis ton verre et a nos amours j’suis la pour ca
[ October 30, 2003, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: Jon Boy ]
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
"star trekkin" and "the monkeys won't do" by the animaniacs
there's klingons on the starboard bow
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
I don't think that that was actually on the Animaniacs...
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I remember I listened to Pink Floyd The Wall almost constantly for a week while I studied intensely for my first big biochem test in college. During the two hour test I heard the phrase about worms eating into his brain, and the actual SOUND of the worms, over and over and over. Boy, was it hard to concentrate!
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
hmmm...okay, so "star trekkin'" is by The Firm. But "the monkeys won't do" was on the animaniacs and is apparently called just "the monkey song."
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Narnia - I think I was scarred by that scene as a young child. My family had gone to a drive-in double feature (I was no older than 6). I fell asleep after the first movie (I don't even remember what it was, but Star Trek II was the second movie) and woke up during that scene. Talk about a good way to freak out a little kid!
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I miss AIM.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I miss YOU, katharina.
Christy, what's even funnier is when you wake up with a song in your head just before your radio alarm clock goes off AND THE SAME SONG IS PLAYING. That's just freaky.
That said, "How Great Thou Art" was in my head almost constantly throughout college. My roommate played it on the piano and a bunch of us sang along the first week of my freshman year. I hummed and sang it at odd moments for THREE YEARS.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I was driving with some friends one day a year or so ago, and I kept singing the newest Dave Matthews song, Everyday. They finally told me to stick a sock in it and turn on the radio. I said "You know, if I turn on the radio, they'll only be playing that same song." Saying this, I turned it on to the opening line "Pick me up love..."
It gets eerier- The next day at work, they asked me to turn on the radio. So as I was walking across the room to do so, I told the previous day's story. And of course, as soon as I turned the radio on....
Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
Dude! I had "How Great Thou Art" stuck in my head about a month ago! That's just bizarre!
Lately it's been "A Wild Pack of Family Dogs" from Modest Mouse, and "You will you? will" from Bright Eyes, both from a compilation cd my niece made for me of her favorite songs from her favorite bands.
I have music playing constantly in my head too. Before these two it was Sam Cooke's "Touch the Hem of his Garment", "Woman at the Well", and "Change is Gonna Come".
I can't stand classic rock or oldies stations, mainly because they will get something dreadful like "Play that Funky Music White Boy" stuck in my head for hours. I sometimes bolt from stores in panic if the music is bad. <laughs> I just can't take it.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
I am listening to "Dangerous" by Depeche Mode right now, and I know that I'll have it stuck in my head for at least 24 hours. But that's okay with me, I love this song.
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
"Heaven" by Rusted Root has been in my head for about a week. I don't mind so much because I love the song but I think it's starting to bug the people around me. I don't really have the voice to pull off the high Ohh...ohh...ohh..ohh
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
quote: I sometimes bolt from stores in panic if the music is bad.
That was YOU? Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
I have now had this stuck in my head for about three days. (I made it up )
You are My Preciousss My only Preciousss You make me happy When skies are gray You are the One Ring And I adore you Please don't take My Preciousss away...
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Oh, you evil, evil person you!
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
It gets old.....very fast...
Posted by ae (Member # 3291) on :
ak, I love Modest Mouse and "Wild Packs of Family Dogs", but I can't imagine getting that song stuck in my head. I can't get a grasp of it unless I try, and I don't.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
quote:I have now had this stuck in my head for about three days. (I made it up )
You are My Preciousss My only Preciousss You make me happy When skies are gray You are the One Ring And I adore you Please don't take My Preciousss away...
seven days and counting...
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
"full circle" by no doubt. but it's pretty much completely my fault because i've been listening to it nonstop for two days.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
eight days and counting.....
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
Ever since friday night when I saw Matrix Revolutions I've had that song from the very end (Navras by Don Davis and Juno Reactor) stuck in my head. If you want it stuck in yours too, go to thematrix.com and find the soundtrack section for Revoulutions, you can listen to all the songs from the soundtrack there.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
I just saw the Matrix today. I loved the music! It was so cool! Some of it was like a cross between opera and rock.
(thirteen days and counting...)
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
I wouldn't say opera and rock, more of opera and techno, and just in case you're wondering (you guys all want to know what's goin' on with me, 'cause I'm so cool ), it is still in my head.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I have bits of the "Once upon a December" song from Anastasia. I guess that's what I get for watching it with my friend's kids on Friday night. Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
it's from the other day, but it's classic earworm experience. i was driving to work, which is barely a two-song journey, and 'she's like the wind' from dirty dancing came on. i didn't get to hear the end, so it was in my head all during my shift and the rest of the day until i could watch the dvd. as much as i like the movie, i'm not sure having that song in my head was particularly uplifting. oh well. all better now.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I've had the beginning of "Yellow Submarine" in my head for over two weeks now. Only it's not really in my head so much as every time I feel like singing that's what comes out. Quite strange. Especially as I haven't heard the song in over a year.
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Talk about a good way to freak out a little kid!
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I miss AIM.
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