Why do songs get stuck in your head?

The Straight Dope ^ | October 16, 2009 | Cecil Adams

[Dysart]

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

[headsonpikes]

“There is nothing unusual about having instrumental music playing in your head if you listen to classical a lot.”

This is the solution to low-brow earworms, fer sher. ;^)

Actually, I consider this feature a dividend of listening to the classical composers; one can call up movements and solos, and vary the orchestrations - it’s never boring.

Otoh, Bobby Goldsboro singing something in your head can be a near-death experience! But, merely summon the shades of Vivaldi, Bach, and Beethoven, and the screeching hyenas vanish.

It works for me.

[BunnySlippers]

I was reading about Nat King Cole recently. Apparently he used to smoke a couple of cigarettes before recording a song. It gave his voice his signature smooth gravely affect.

Sadly, he died young of lung cancer.

[paulycy]

We called them "sticky songs."

Like this one:

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano
y Felicidad

[proxy_user]

In popular music, I am more likely to hear Paul Simon, Graham Parker, or the Byrds.

[kaylar]

Current ear worm : Through Glass, by Stone Sour. :-( Oh, how I loathe ear worms. Thank God I’ve never had one for 27 years-can’t begin to imagine-!

[Loud Mime]

That was post-campaign. It is a hymn to the new embodiment of the violation of the First Commandment.

[netmilsmom]

>>It is a hymn to the new embodiment of the violation of the First Commandment.<<

LOLOLOL!

Spot on!

[capt. norm]

What really bothers me is when I get a commercial jingle stuck in my head...especially if the commercial is for something I don’t like.

[Fiji Hill]

The film is Rome Adventure (1962) and the song is "Aldilà" by Emilio Pericoli. This great love song is my second favorite tune of the 1960's, after Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road," from 1963.

[Ronin]

If I even hear the opening bars to “Daydream Believer” I will run out the door. SCREAMING...

In fact, I must immediately get involved in another thread to forget this one.... or....

OH NOOOOOOOooo.........

To late....

[Slings and Arrows]

Huh, haven’t heard that one in years. Catchy, you bet.

[KarlInOhio]

Perfect. I have never seen that before. It sums up Obama perfectly, even including the Soviet Union's national anthem.

I'll have to figure out how to save it and maybe play it at the next Tea Party.

Now does anyone have a version of the Chinese national anthem worshiping Oba-mao?

[KarlInOhio]

Pretenders, “My City Was Gone”?

The annoying thing about that is when you hear it get past the initial bass line and you realize that Rush isn't coming on.

[Fiji Hill]

I know that Mambo number 5 used to play every morning on my transit to work

"Mambo No. 5" was originally a hit for Perez Prado & His Orchestra in 1950. When it was revived in 1999, I was teaching in a high school and noticed that it was especially popular among girls whose names were mentioned in the lyrics.

[Celerity]

I understand that Meat Loaf clears the pallet. If you get an ear-worm, but think of any Meat Loaf song, and both will be gone.

So far, I find it to be true.

[Fiji Hill]

The only problem is... *nothing* gets the theme song to “Flipper” out of your head.

Try "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" or "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport."

[Buddygirl]

I sympathize!

[Allegra]

OK, I clicked on this thread with some trepidation, because I usually get something really awful stuck in my head when I read these.

I am not clicking on any links! ;-)

[ThomasThomas]

Think cow bells.