No Cure for Songs Stuck in Your Head

[Rose Siding]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Unexpected and insidious, the earworm slinks its way into the brain and refuses to leave. Symptoms vary, although high levels of annoyance and frustration are common. There are numerous potential treatments, but no cure.

"Earworm" is the term coined by University of Cincinnati marketing professor James Kellaris for the usually unwelcome songs that get stuck in people's heads. Since beginning his research in 2000, Kellaris has heard from people all over the world requesting help, sharing anecdotes and offering solutions.
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Last year, he surveyed about 500 students, faculty and staff on campus asking about the type, frequency and duration of earworms, and possible causes and cures. Among the songs respondents picked as most likely to become stuck were: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," the Chili's restaurant "baby back ribs" jingle and "Who Let the Dogs Out."

Newsweek

[Boudicea]

1. On the road again .... [ad nauseum]

[imax2268]

3. I heard an

ABBA song this morning on tv and it's been in my head all day...someone help me...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Hey I like 'The Cure'

lots of good songs.

[mbartko]

16. Thanks, now I have "Just Like Heaven"

stuck in my head. But, hey, that's not bad.

[bamademo]

4. Thanks a lot

I am now afflicted with "I am Women, Hear me Roar".

:puke:

[rooboy]

5. Hmmmm....

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/badgers.php

[catzies]

24. I actually love that damn tune! Cheers me right up.

Ahhhh...... badger badger badger badger badger badger badger badger mushroom mushroom...there's a snake!

Good times.

[Seneca]

6. my co-workers listen to Top 40

So I suffer daily with this affliction.

Share my misery - I don't know the name of the song, but it goes "BABY BABY BABY" and this guy mentions "private eyes" and "big city" etc etc :nuke:

That isn't much help, but if you know the songs, good luck!

[Philostopher]

8. Sounds like Hall and Oates

"Private Eyes." That's almost 25 years old, though -- it was playing in the car I totaled when I was a junior in high school, back in 1981. Okay, I admit -- I was trying to change the station when I lost control of the car, and the first thing I did when the car stopped moving (upside down in a culvert) was turn the ignition off so the song would stop playing.

Maybe somebody's sampled it, I don't know.

(edited to add):

One of the NPR guys did a story on this back in the '80s. At the time, the ultimate 'earworm' was 'The Candyman," at least for the commentator.

[Seneca]

11. no no

I know that song, and this one isn't even close.

[RebelOne]

7. The ultimate earworm is frorm that Disneyland ride.

"It's a Small World." Couldn't get it out of my head for the rest of the day.

[ironflange]

10. Scariest ride on earth

bar none

[ironflange]

9. I don't have that problem

I'm able to flush annoying songs out of my brain quilte easily. My wife, however, is very susceptible to this, so if I'm feeling mean I'll come up to her and sing something like, "Here's the story / Of a lovely lady. . ."

[TXlib]

17. I do that to KCDem, too

Usually right before she falls asleep.

I'm evil.

[Friar]

26. lol

you are evil. That's gotta be grounds for divorce.

In "Demolition Man" Sandra Bullock sings the "Armour Hot Dogs" jingle. Grrr. Everytime I see that movie that stupid thing gets stuck in my head.

[On the Road]

12. If You Have a Vulnerability to Earworms

do not EVER listen to They Might be Giants. Not only are their songs impossible to get out of your head, they all sound like demented advertising jingles. Very embarrassing if you're ever discovered singing out loud.

[soothsayer]

13. there was a good sci-fi story (nebula award winner) on this

a guy was studying what it is that makes a song get stuck in your head,figuring that if he cracked the code he'd make the best selling song ever. Of course, they found him in a coma---the 'perfect song' running thru his head....FOREVER!

[pansypoo53219]

14. NOOOOOOOoooooooOO!

my kitty cat craves chicken, my kitty cat craves beef.....

[speckledgator]

15. This is an evil EVIL thread

*whistling Bridge over the River Kwai*

[CanuckAmok]

18. The "Meow Mix" theme will displace any earworm you're trying to get rid of

try it!

[ex_jew]

19. Try humming some OTHER song quietly

Works for me.

[kayell]

20. An old Dave Barry column recommended

passing the earworm on to someone else by humming it near them, mentioning the title, or quoting the lyrics. The technique works for me. Yesterday's evil thread on worst songs of the '60s left me with a possibly lethal earworm infestation of "Honey" playing in my brain. I cured it just in time by pasting the lyrics into the thread. My apologies to the poor DUer that caught that earworm. Sometimes you have to go with self-preservation

[CBHagman]

21. Anyone with small children at home experiences special problems.

Parents out there will know EXACTLY what I mean. There's nothing like being unable to get "Roly Poly, the Polar Bear" or Barney's theme song out of your brain...

[geniph]

22. Lollipop, lollipop

oh lolly lolly lolly...

[mlawson]

23. WE ARE NOT MEN, WE ARE DEVO! WE ARE NOT MEN,

WE ARE DEVO!!!! D-E-V-O!!! D-E-V-O!!!! Dum dum dum dum-dum.... Dum dum dum dum-dum....

:evilgrin:

[VOX]

25. Stones' "Start Me Up"

Uh, it's been in my noggin for *far* too long now. If a lobotomy is necessary, I'm willing to entertain the idea!

:bounce:

[woofless]

27. I don't know who did it but

that song "Kyrie Eleison" is total mind numbing drivel. There, now try to stop it running in your head!

Woof

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

28. A tungston carbide drill just above the left ear works great!

5/16" bit, set on high speed. Usually, a one inch penetration will get rid of all those nasty earworms (image of Cmdr. Chekov screaming?).

Works great when all those annoying voices get too persistent, too!