Musical Earworms - Songs You Can't Get Out Of Your Head

Time to Read: 5 minutes

Have you ever spent the day with a song in your head that you simply cannot get rid of?

Worst of all, it’s a catchy little tune which seems to end up on endless repeat in your ears.

That is known as an earworm (or stuck song syndrome) and, according researchers, 98% of us will have one at one time or another.

The term was first used in 1982, borrowed from the German word "ohrwurm", according, to linguist Professor Roly Sussex who also believes that in the 16th century, the term used was earwigs — as in insects.

Scientists have put the topic under the microscope and you might be surprised that you don’t have to have recently heard a song for it to become stuck in your head.

Sometimes it is  a few spoken words which resemble a lyric that triggers memory of a song. Or it could be a completely unrelated musical motif that sparks that memory.

The more your brain fights the earworm, the harder it comes back, so it is no surprise that up to 30% of people find the phenomenon intensely annoying.

So, why are some songs earworms and others not?

Let’s take a look at the song structure itself. Kelly Jakubowski, a musical psychologist at the University of Durham identified three main reasons.

• Tempo: uptempo songs, like pop songs, are prime contenders. Also, songs that get you moving - whether on the dancefloor or doing some exercise - can trigger earworms
• Predictable rhythmic patterns: we’re pretty good at anticipating the melodic direction of a song, even if we’ve never heard the tune before. Predictable musical patterns makes the song easy to recall. Nursery rhymes use this technique effectively. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star…
• A few surprises: As we mentioned above, we’re pretty good at anticipating a change in pitch in a song, but we also love a few surprises, such as a key change. Songs which have these features are memorable - which is why our internal DJ puts the song on repeat.

But what are we to do with these impromptu concerts in our ears?

The good news is our friendly scientists have come up with concrete solutions for dealing with those pesky earworms.

• Sing: Yes, that’s right, sing! Your brain has given you a tune to sing, so belt it out! 
• Chew gum: If you’re concerned about your singing voice or, if you’re in the middle of a crowded street where it wouldn’t be appropriate to sing out loud, then tricking your brain by chewing could help.
• Speak nonsense: Repeating certain sounds such as ‘Ta’ or ‘Ti’. This uses the same principle as the first two suggestions, where you’re trying to break the feedback loop between your ears and your brain.

What are the most commonly experienced earworms?

That may depend on your age, where you grew up and musical interests. According to the study from the University of Durham, the most common earworms are: 

1. “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
2. “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” by Kylie Minogue
3. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
4. “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye
5. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5
6. “California Gurls” by Katy Perry
7. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
8. “Alejandro” by Lady Gaga
9. “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga

So what are your most common earworms? Share in comments below.