There are such things as earworms. Those songs that stay in one’s head on repeat. I get those a lot. I mean, a lot. I will play a song on repeat, ad nauseam, on my iPod. Then I tire of it after about 200 plays and move on to the next song. It does amuse me when I still have songs I can listen to after such marathons. I suppose those are the true songs I like with the rest being earworms. Just in case you were wondering, the top 5 earworm songs according to a psychology study (Jakubowski, 2016 et al,) at one point in time were:
- “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
- “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” by Kylie Minogue
- “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
- “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye
- “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5
I can see that. I believe I myself have played each of those at least 50 times. Interestingly, some research hints that those more susceptible to earworms have thicker sections of the brain; and those tend to be smarter people. Just saying.
Anyway, I love the topic of earworms. For some reason it fascinates me. Now, lately, I have not only had songs on repeat in my head but also certain words. Specifically, I have had the french phrase “sacré bleu” running over and over again in my head. Why that is so is beyond me. It really is not a phrase I use. I find it silly when used in movies. Yet, it’s been on my mind.
I do have an idea. I think when I was younger, I would hear such a phrase in cartoons. And, lately life has felt a bit silly and whimsical, as well as surprisingly dumb. Well, not my life. But some people have been doing some things that just don’t make sense. And instead of doing a Homer Simpson “d’oh” imitation I have been shaking my head allowing the phrase sacré bleu to run on repeat. It is as good a phrase as any. But I am looking forward to my next phrase earworm. If only these things came with a roadmap.
Categories: Culture, mental health, music, Pop Culture, Psychology, research
Earworms are funny how they just come to you and repeat over and over. My latest are by the Bangles – Hazy Shade of Winter, and Eternal Flame. haha! They just have to play out until the next one comes along. 🙂
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I love the Bangles! -well, except for Walk like an Egyptian..that’s a hard earworm to get through. At least for me…lol
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I had to laugh at your comment about listening to a tune 200 times before moving on. What? you stop at 200? Do you have ADD, (he says sarcastically)? good observation on ear worms. you’re not alone in it.
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Hehe!!! Now I need to check and see if i do stop at 200.
Cheers
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Earworms can be good and bad – and fun list of songs – I know most of them
oh and what is an ipod?/
(Kidding)
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Life As A Song
Dancing Done..:)
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Yh I’d only they really do come with a roadmap 😀😁
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Indeed 🙂
Who knows? Maybe one 😉
Cheers
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Earworms oyè- Fleetwood Mac, Big Love, Billy Idol, White Wedding, David Bowie, Queen Bitch. Muse, Resistance, or Uprising, most of Siuoxsie and the Banshees, Tori Amos, precious things silent, all these years. Simon and Garfunkel Bridge over troubled waters, George Ezra, ABBA, James Arthur. Rita Ora Anywhere. Joan Jet, bad Reputation, cherry bomb, Pat Benatar, Love is a battlefield,
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Hehe. Yes! Nice list
For a while I had love is a battlefield as an earworm. I’ve even sung it at karaoke
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You’re lucky. My earworms are all bad church music.
I have learned to play La-la-la over it; I used the sound from Simon and Garfunkle’s ‘The Boxer’ in between verses, over and over until the original earworm is gone. This happens a lot when I’m trying to get to sleep.
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Oh wow. Interesting methods for halting the earworms. Love it!
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My favourite earworms.
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I have been told that singing God Save the Queen or the American anthem with the same tune will dispel an earworm. I have tried it and it does seem to be effective.
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Oh wow. That takes talent. Don’t know whether i could do that. Hehe
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“Big in Japan”, “Cake by the ocean”, “Algo de mi”, “Amos del pianobar”…..they are in my head, always…I think these(among others) earworms live in me. I´m my own radio frecuence!. Un saludo!
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Haha. Me encanta! Love it. Being your own radio frequency is cool.
Gracias y que tenga un buen fin de semana
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Muchas Gracias! Igualmente! 😉
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I have found that the only way to quickly dislodge an earworm is to replace it with something else that isn’t as sticky.
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