Tunes that Stick in Your Head
These words for tunes-that-get-stuck-in-your-head are from Jane Farrow’s Wanted Words, a sweet little collection of neologisms from a CBC radio show.
aneurhythm
adnausehum
eternatune
glusic
humclinger
inbrained melody
insongnia
malodee
melodhesive
melotinous
mustick
obsessong
songstruck
stuccato
tunejam
Here are some melodies that are notorious for getting stuck (read at your own risk!):
- Monday, Monday—Mamas and Papas
- Stayin’ Alive—Bee Gees
- New York, New York—Frank Sinatra
- Pink Panther Theme—Henry Mancini
- Maggie May—Rod Stewart
- American Pie—Don McLean
- Feelings—Morris Albert
- Both Sides Now—Joni Mitchell
- Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head—B. J. Thomas
And I’m a bit embarrassed to report that I’m Just a Love Machine by the Miracles has been stuck in my head for the past three days.
Cute. I’ve seen this phenomenon described as an “ear worm”, from the German “Ohrwurm”.
Beware Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto is all I can say!
I abbreviated the list of songs–it includes Beethoven’s Fifth, and now the Emperor.
And I also didn’t mention the cure, or “brain rinse.” You just pick one of the following tunes and sing them aloud until the original song gets unstuck: O Canada, Happy Birthday, Camptown Races, Kumbaya, or the Hockey Night in Canada theme.