Harvard scientist on why that song is stuck in your head
It’s known as an earworm, and it comes from the German Ohrwurm, meaning a musical itch. It was coined in 1979 by the psychiatrist Cornelius Eckert, and basically, it’s a looped segment of music that’s usually about 20 seconds long and automatically comes into your awareness and keeps playing on repeat.
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Lately I’ve been listening to song mixes while doing my daily walk. Instead of listening to podcasts, I thought I’d change it up and listen to some music to help me step-up my pace, and later, some smoother tunes to cool me down at the end of my exercise.
As a result, there’ve been a couple of songs that have just been playing over and over in my head. Earworms. I wake up to it, I go to sleep to it, it plays in my head during the day, I find myself humming it, and when it comes on in the mix while I’m walking on the beach or at the gym track, it resonates with me, gives me goosebumps. Has that ever happened to you?
This is the song I’ve been inadvertently locked onto for the past couple of days. By El DeBarge, it’s an older tune, but as he sings, “…and every day you’re away it’s driving me crazy.”
It sure is!
Here’s the song, “Love Always.”
Warning. Be very careful. This has the potential to replay over and over in your head too.
“And if by now you haven’t guessed, I’ll add one more P.S.”
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A few days ago, it was this song by George Benson. Earworm!
Yes. Annoying as hell. Sometimes songs are stuck in my head for more than a week.
I wake up every morning with a different song going on in my head. I tell my significant other what the song of the day is upon waking up.
And then do you sing it together? 😀
Heh. Yep, I’ve been inflicted with those damned ear worms many, many times. I suppose it was inevitable since I’ve loved music ever since I can remember. I’ve enjoyed most categories that I consider *music* (thug noise isn’t music — j/s).
You likely don’t have this layin’ around on a 45 or LP so look this up on your fave tunes source … it’s by the Flamingos, “I Only Have Eyes For You”. Listen to it 2-3 times in a row and it’ll guarantee residence in your head for more than a day.
I recommend it to wind down after a brisk walk or workout, “on a walk through the garden on a sunny afternoon …”
It has a permanent residence in my head.
I could probably sing every.single.word. without a miss.
I “hear” you. (And it’s good to have you back in the comment peanut gallery!)
Thank you. I’m guessing the issue was the old computer that’s trying to die on me.
It’s a great song. Very big hit too Shooo bopdobop.
A classic slow dance where you each barely move. Sigh…
This one is my ear worm. I could listen to it all day long:
https://youtu.be/gl4Y4FWWkn0
I can certainly see why. I haven’t heard it in years. The piano intro is beautiful and draws the listener in like magic. Thanks for bringing it to us.
One of my all time favorites, I have the original LP. It’s time again to break out the old Bang Olufson turntable and vinyl and take a journey back to when music was again wonderful.
It will soothe the soul!
Rise Up by Andra Day
Very inspiration and makes me get up & go
https://youtu.be/BrE2JqSQ9_Y
The choir comes in near the end of the video.