Study Probes Phenomenon of “Sticky Songs”
May 28th, 2010
A fun occurrence for some and an annoying one for others, the experience of having a song stuck in one’s head is common. While this issue has rarely been addressed in psychological research, a team at the University of Montreal has recently uncovered some clues about how the process of an “ear worm” works. Musicians were more likely to get songs stuck in their head for longer periods of time, the study found, and also tended to hum stuck songs in a way that was more attuned to the original. The researchers also collected data on the most frequently experienced “ear worm” songs; a list can be found here.
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Interesting! I noticed before that whatever was playing last on the radio while I was getting ready to go to work would stick in my head for the rest of the day. I guess the morning routine fits with their findings about it occurring during non-intellectual activities.
There are certain songs that should not even be named as they are bound to stick in my head!!
So if there are actually well-defined techniques that determine whether a song can be sticky or not,wouldn’t the artists sue this to their advantage and incorporate the things in their future songs?! :)
ugghh the song that runs over and over in your head, it’s enough to make you want to scream! This should maybe be outlawed if there is proven to be a method behind this that causes this phenomenon like subliminal messaging supposedly is banned
Every time I go into my kitchen to tidy up and do dishes, I start to sing. I can’t get the old Bread song out of my head ”
Baby I’m A Want You” and the Carpenters “Yesterday Once More” when I’m in there especially. My family finds it funny because I don’t even realize I’m doing it until they point it out.
Usually the last song that I hear before I go to bed at night is the one that I end up singing all day the next day. Maybe it is not that there is necessarily somehting sticky about it except that it was the last thing that I was focused on before going to sleep. Same thing goes for the last song I hear when I get out of my care at work in the morning. If it is a particularly catchy one, then truth be told then that’s one that is usually going to stay with me all day as well. What can I say? I love music and I do typically have a song or two running through my head all of the time!
Musicians have a much more refined ear for music than non-musicans. They will pick up on nuances a non-musician wouldn’t notice. No wonder they are more suspectible to this phenomenon and hear the key more accurately in their head.
ear worm is the best term for this that I have ever heard!
I just can’t get over a songs of the late 70s…I don’t know whether it has something to do with me being young back then but they have just been way too ‘sticky’ for me to get over them ;)
I don’t often hum my favorite songs but it so happens that I do that involuntarily when I’m doing certain things like driving in an empty road or when I’m happy and sitting at home doing nothing. I don’t know why this happens but its great when I do realize that I’m singing involuntarily and especially so when my sister joins me and we have great fun dancing and singing :)
I don’t quite agree with this one. If there really was something like a recipe for making/composing a ‘sticky’ song,then wouldn’t all the artists adopt it and never have a song that flops?!
I hate it when there’s a song being played over and over on the radio that gets into my brain and sets up camp for days. I REALLY hate it if I detest the song and find myself humming it unconsciously because of all that airplay! Barbie Girl by Aqua is one.
Altogether now! “I know a song that will get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves…” :)
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