Beware the Earworm!

Here's another interesting article, this one about songs getting stuck in your head. (Link via Transterrestrial Musings.) "[N]ew research shows that people most frequently plagued by this phenomenon are those with slightly neurotic tendencies..." it says. Hmm, I feel I should take umbrage at that, because I am very prone to this particular (and often highly annoying) phenomenon. I once had "Runaway Train" by Tom Petty stuck in my head for three days. Which is just too much, no matter how much you might like Tom Petty.

They also say that songs with lyrics are more likely to get stuck in people's heads than songs without, which certainly matches my own experience. I gotta say, though, some of the stickiest songs I've ever encountered have been instrumental ones. Like the theme song for I Dream of Jeannie. I'm serious, I fear this tune. Once it gets into my head, it has such an incredible tendency to stick that I actively try never to so much as think about it. Which, oh god, I've just done. Kill me now.

They do offer some advice for getting an annoying song out of your head, but I don't know how well any of it actually works. The only thing I've ever found that helps is to replace it with a different song. Of course, then you run the risk of having the replacement song stuck in your head, so you'd better be sure and pick something less annoying and hopefully far less catchy.

Whatever you do, though, don't read this comment thread on the article. I mean it. Trust me.