How do you pick just 5 earworms? There must be hundreds of songs that float up from the subconscious to wrap themselves around your brain during a moment of silence. It seems best to pick the ones that create an irrepressible internal soundtrack the moment you read the name, or someone mentions them… Of course thinking about earworms has brought to mind that playground tune ‘I know a song that will get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves…’
1. Kylie – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
I was a massive Kylie fan. When I was 8. And then I didn’t notice/pay attention to her for over a decade (it’s ok, I know she did a lot during that time, I accidentally married a massive fan whose interest did not diminish when he hit puberty). Then all of a sudden, this song was EVERYWHERE. The name is very apt because as soon as someone mentions it you will have the “na-na-na” (It’s La-la-la! - Squeamish Kate) refrain stuck in your head. If you say you don’t, I don’t believe you. I can’t even tell you whether or not I like this song, I just can’t get it out of my head.
Squeamish Louise
2. Andy Williams – Wives and Lovers
When I am alone and I have managed to quiet my mind Andy Williams will usually take this cue to strike up the band and sing: “Heeeeey little girl! Comb your hair, fix your make-up…” Considering I am more familiar with other tracks from the back catalogue of Andy Williams (House of Bamboo anyone?) and this song has an incredibly annoying instructional vibe about never waving your husband off to work in your curlers (it’s more important your bouffant has a curl than his – besides, the office is starting to make fun) I don’t know why this is the one forever in the centre of my brain. My subconscious is evidently telling me to get ready for love. And to brush my hair. Squeamish Kate
3. Guns’n’Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
I think this is fairly unusual in that when I get it stuck in my head, I get the whole thing stuck. Usually it’s just a phrase or a refrain that lodges itself but everything from the vocals to the guitar is sublime. Someone I used to know claimed that you could get rid of any annoying earworm by thinking of this song, instead. It works – it’s how I got rid of the “na-na-na”s (it’s LA LA LA! I don’t believe you get that song stuck in your head at all! Why do you think Kylie has a book called LA LA LA – Squeamish Kate) after thinking about Kylie. And I don’t mind so much.
Squeamish Louise
4. Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin
I’ll level with you. I love lists, love listing things, but I don’t love this feature. Every time I post a Friday 5 I get this song in my head because the idea of a top 5 puts me in mind of Top of the Pops. It’s probably the only song I don’t like on Led Zeppelin II, I don’t think the production of that track is all that. So let’s be clear, I like Led Zeppelin, I like the Friday whale, I like lists and I liked Top of the Pops. I don’t like posting Friday 5s because it puts Whole Lotta Love in my head. It’s going round and round right now.
Squeamish Kate
Mahna Mahna – The Muppets
How to reliably tell if someone watched The Muppet Show as a child: shout “phenomenon!” at them and see if they respond by humming this tune back at you (disclaimer: do not just shout random words at people. Especially if it’s dark and you don’t know them. This is likely to get you into trouble). I actually believed this song was called “Phenomena” my whole life, until I saw the new Muppet movie and learned it’s actually called Mahna Mahna. And promptly spent the next three weeks annoying everyone by singing it nonstop. It’s fun, try it!
Squeamish Louise
Help us get these songs out of our head by sharing your earworms!
I was a massive Kylie fan. When I was 8. And then I didn’t notice/pay attention to her for over a decade (it’s ok, I know she did a lot during that time, I accidentally married a massive fan whose interest did not diminish when he hit puberty). Then all of a sudden, this song was EVERYWHERE. The name is very apt because as soon as someone mentions it you will have the “na-na-na” (It’s La-la-la! - Squeamish Kate) refrain stuck in your head. If you say you don’t, I don’t believe you. I can’t even tell you whether or not I like this song, I just can’t get it out of my head.
Squeamish Louise
2. Andy Williams – Wives and Lovers
When I am alone and I have managed to quiet my mind Andy Williams will usually take this cue to strike up the band and sing: “Heeeeey little girl! Comb your hair, fix your make-up…” Considering I am more familiar with other tracks from the back catalogue of Andy Williams (House of Bamboo anyone?) and this song has an incredibly annoying instructional vibe about never waving your husband off to work in your curlers (it’s more important your bouffant has a curl than his – besides, the office is starting to make fun) I don’t know why this is the one forever in the centre of my brain. My subconscious is evidently telling me to get ready for love. And to brush my hair. Squeamish Kate
3. Guns’n’Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
I think this is fairly unusual in that when I get it stuck in my head, I get the whole thing stuck. Usually it’s just a phrase or a refrain that lodges itself but everything from the vocals to the guitar is sublime. Someone I used to know claimed that you could get rid of any annoying earworm by thinking of this song, instead. It works – it’s how I got rid of the “na-na-na”s (it’s LA LA LA! I don’t believe you get that song stuck in your head at all! Why do you think Kylie has a book called LA LA LA – Squeamish Kate) after thinking about Kylie. And I don’t mind so much.
Squeamish Louise
4. Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin
I’ll level with you. I love lists, love listing things, but I don’t love this feature. Every time I post a Friday 5 I get this song in my head because the idea of a top 5 puts me in mind of Top of the Pops. It’s probably the only song I don’t like on Led Zeppelin II, I don’t think the production of that track is all that. So let’s be clear, I like Led Zeppelin, I like the Friday whale, I like lists and I liked Top of the Pops. I don’t like posting Friday 5s because it puts Whole Lotta Love in my head. It’s going round and round right now.
Squeamish Kate
Mahna Mahna – The Muppets
How to reliably tell if someone watched The Muppet Show as a child: shout “phenomenon!” at them and see if they respond by humming this tune back at you (disclaimer: do not just shout random words at people. Especially if it’s dark and you don’t know them. This is likely to get you into trouble). I actually believed this song was called “Phenomena” my whole life, until I saw the new Muppet movie and learned it’s actually called Mahna Mahna. And promptly spent the next three weeks annoying everyone by singing it nonstop. It’s fun, try it!
Squeamish Louise
Help us get these songs out of our head by sharing your earworms!
RSS Feed
