Got a song stuck in your head again? Let us tell you why

According to a 2001 study, this happens to 98% of people.

So, apologies, but you’re not that special.

The so-called earworms (also known as “musical worms”) get stuck in people’s heads, usually in 15-30 second snippets (often the chorus), not entire songs. This can happen weekly or even daily; some people almost always have a song running through their minds.

Maybe it’s because you heard it recently, or because you heard a sound, read a word, or did something your brain has linked to that song.

For example, you might have seen a news headline about Rihanna, then it started raining, and suddenly, ‘Umbrella-ela-ela-e’ got stuck in your head.

But most of the time, it’s hard to pinpoint where the song came from. And scientists aren’t sure why it’s so difficult to shake off.

Oh, yes.

Research shows that songs with a fast tempo, like Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out,” or those with long, drawn-out notes, like Whitney Houston’s “And Iiiiiiiii Will Aaaaalways Love Youuuu,” are more likely to stick.

Additionally, songs you’ve heard repeatedly are more likely to get stuck in your head.

It’s also worth noting that songs with lyrics make up 73.7% of the tunes that get stuck.

In a small study, scientists had 16 undergraduate students listen to a popular song. The next day, they asked whether and when the song resurfaced in their minds.

The songs were more likely to come back when:

• the students were doing activities that didn’t require much concentration (e.g., walking, showering, washing dishes) or
• they were having difficulty focusing (e.g., studying for school).

If you’re concerned about an annoying song getting stuck in your head, try chewing some gum.

A small study of 18 people found that those who chewed gum while listening to a song were less likely to remember it later.

One possible explanation is that chewing gum might activate the same brain areas that cause songs to get stuck. However, more research is needed to confirm this, so we’ll update you when there’s new information.

The options are limited here, too.

1. You could put yourself in a mildly stressful social situation. Talk to a stranger, and you’ll quickly find that anxiety replaces the song stuck in your head.
2. You could also swap the annoying song for a less irritating one so it’s easier to tolerate.

Don’t give up—you’ve got this. We believe in you!

ΝΥΤ