NEWS.com.au | No cure for songs stuck in your head (October 21, 2003)
There is actually a name for those songs that get stuck in your head. (like a meat cleaver) They are called "earworms," and someone (brave or stupid) actually researched this problem. The term "earworm" was coined by University of Cincinnati marketing professor James Kellaris, who has been reaseaching the phenomena since 2000. He has heard from people all over the world who are looking for help or offering advice for "earworms."
Songs 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." But most songs fit into the "Other" category, because they vary greatly from person to person.
He said one theory is that stuck songs are "the brain's attempt to resolve missing information," and that retrieving the forgotten lyrics of a song will provide closure that "unsticks" an earworm.
Interesting... This is a topic that interests me, because I get these really bad, and so does the rest of my family. I'm going to survey my family today, and I'll post the results here:
(links are to lyrics---some even have midis! ;) This is if you want to test the theory of retrieving the missing lyrics)
Michelle: McArthur Park, Genius In France (2 months with this one, ARRRGGGHHH), I Love Paris, Barney Song (I Love You...), Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang (Help Me!)
Jason (17): It's All About the Pentiums, Jurassic Park, Cotton-Eyed Joe, My Heart Will Go On, Barney Song (I Love You...), Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang
Cassandra (who called this afternoon, and was SO glad I asked, LOL)(16): One Way Or Another, Barney Song (I Love You...)
Charity (13): A Spoonful of Sugar, I Love Paris, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Hakuna Matata, Colors of the Wind (Pocahantas)
Ian (11): I Will Survive (because of MIB II), Fox Channel jingle ("Fox 5, the Home of Comedy...")
Christopher (9): Hakuna Matata, Orinoco Flow, Men In Black
If you have any "earworms" you want to share, add them in the comments section.
Update:
People who write kids songs for movies and TV shows are evil. My kids have brought back to my memory some of the most vile and pervasive songs ever written. I think Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang was about the worst. We stopped watching most children's TV programming in about 1994 when my brain turned to oatmeal.