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Loyal readers of this blog will recall my post on default songs, a term I coined that refers to the song you default to when either there’s no song in your head, or you want to get a lousy song OUT of your head. Default songs can change as you change, and since my original default song post was a year ago, I’m sure many of you have new default songs by now – tunes you’re just itching to share with us.
For instance, when last I posted on the subject, my default song was AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” (apologies to those who now have it stuck in your head). Thankfully, sometime around Thanksgiving, my default song changed over to the wonderfully benign folk tune, “Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” This is because I sing a variation of it every night to my son Jack when it’s time for his bath.
As I wrote before, most of the time a default song isn’t something you have much control over. It’s just there, sawing away in the background.
You hear it? Stop. Be quiet. Listen. What song is playing in your head right now? Whatever it is, it may be your default song. It might also be the last song you heard at the local supermarket while standing in line to buy groceries as you thumbed mindlessly through People magazine.
So I ask you again: What’s your default song these days and, just as importantly: are you happy about it or annoyed?
Check out past On Music posts here >>
Comments (161)
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I have Paul Simon’s “Born at the Right Time” on an endless loop right now. I am not annoyed by it all as I find it to be a lovely song and we are waiting on a new niece/nephew so it makes me very happy to hear it.
posted by frida on 3-12-2008 at 4:38 am
Rolling Stone’s, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
I find it bitter-sweetly annoying.
posted by c.a. Marks on 3-12-2008 at 5:12 am
My default song for the past month is the “tune” my dryer plays when it finishes up. I love the dryer and until a month ago I thought the happy tune was cute. I gotta get out more.
posted by Helen on 3-12-2008 at 5:15 am
1. what a wonderful world (eva cassidy version) – i know, a bit lame! doncha’ think?
2. don’t stop me now – queen
posted by cinthya on 3-12-2008 at 5:21 am
“Build me up, buttercup”
I admit that there could be better ones, and I know that I’ve had worse. In college George Michael’s “Faith” and the Spanish soccer chant (ole, ole ole ole) used to battle it out for space in my brain.
Surely, I would have gotten a 4.0 were it not for those songs.
posted by augusta on 3-12-2008 at 5:44 am
My default song is Todd Rundgren’s “Honest Work” from his A CAPELLA LP (and CD).
That and Loudon Wainwright III’s “Unhappy Anniversary”.
Hope this helps.
posted by Mark Patterson on 3-12-2008 at 5:54 am
Currently Guns and Roses’ “November Rain.” Why, I don’t know, but it did replace the theme from Gilligan’s Island which bounced around in my head for way too long.
posted by Tonia on 3-12-2008 at 6:38 am
“In the Mood” by Glenn Miller. Good lord, it’s catchy.
posted by Aemi on 3-12-2008 at 6:49 am
Right now it’s “Jane” by Starship.
posted by Average Jane on 3-12-2008 at 6:49 am
Lately it’s been “Wicked Games” by Chris Isaak. Another old standby is “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt.
posted by Li on 3-12-2008 at 6:54 am
Same one for years and years and years. Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown”….used to like it, find it annoying now. Think I’ll steal cinthya’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”, I LOVE that song!
posted by Richard on 3-12-2008 at 7:00 am
For some reason I don’t really have a default song, although right now “Alcohol” by Gogol Bordello is running through. Catchy tune.
posted by Sarah on 3-12-2008 at 7:10 am
The songs of the moment are either “Special” by Garbage, which I don’t find offensive. However, the other song is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Michael McDonald… I find it moderately torturous… (and it doesn’t help that there’s a commercial for his cd every 5 minutes)
posted by Sarah on 3-12-2008 at 7:15 am
This should be a field of scientific study. In order to get the incipid music out of my head, I have to select a similar song that cancels the other out (much along the same principle as noise-cancelling headphones). For example, I despise the original versions of “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”. My designated anti-song for those two is Chuck Berry’s “Run, Run Rudolph”. Chcuk’s guitar riffs perfectly negate the incipid saxophone solos, and my brain is back to square one. With a blank slate, I replace it with Bowie/Crosby’s “Drumer Boy/Peace on Earth”. I use Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” a lot for others that defy classification.
posted by JohnL on 3-12-2008 at 7:19 am
well right now I’m listening to Faithfully by Journey- which has in the past been my default song.
But these days the Irish Rover’s awesome ‘absolutely lilting’ tune ‘The Black Velvet Band’ is what I tune in to when I need a change
Either that or Toby Keith’s ‘Beer for my Horses’
mine change daily sometimes
posted by ann on 3-12-2008 at 7:36 am
oh yes, and I’m perfectly happy with them!
Stevie Nicks’ Stop Dragging My Heart Around comes and goes, too
posted by ann on 3-12-2008 at 7:37 am
“Ain’t No Sunshine” By Bill Withers. Always. I used to love it. Used to.
posted by mark(e) on 3-12-2008 at 7:42 am
Right now it is “Dignity” by Bob Dylan, but it changes all the time.
posted by Katie on 3-12-2008 at 7:49 am
My default song never seems to be the same one; sometimes it’ll be one song for a string of days in a row, then something else. What really annoys me is if I get some song stuck in my head where the lyrics aren’t very clear; I’ll always try and puzzle my way through that when I get to the ambiguous part.
Have you ever woke up with a song in your head, then heard that same song when you first turn on a radio later in the morning? That happens to me regularly; talk about your Twilight Zone moments…
posted by Dave on 3-12-2008 at 7:49 am
My default song has, for many, many years, been Radiohead’s “Lucky.” I’m incredibly pleased with it. Not only is it still one of my favorite songs in the history of human music, but it’s incredibly effective musical teflon (a term my brother coined for the song you sing to schlep away any other dreck you get stuck in your head. His is CCR’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”) Additionally, there’s a live recording of Lucky featuring Michael Stipe. Best ever.
posted by s michael c on 3-12-2008 at 7:57 am
I can relate to every one of these great posts. I’ve got “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan in my head right now (it’s my ringtone.) So everytime my phone rings I’m singing that little song until my mom starts in singing some song from the 40’s, then I’m off on that. I didn’t realize this was so common.
posted by Mary on 3-12-2008 at 8:17 am
The Indiana Jones theme by John L. Williams. Is there anything more perfect to have in your head to keep you motivated? It’s been such a large part of my life that I had a friend of mine use it as his entrance song at his wedding reception.
posted by Lucas on 3-12-2008 at 8:18 am
Lately, the clucking song of Robot Chicken’s credits has been cycling through. If I have something that I don’t like, Menomana will replace it (to EVERYONE’s horroe) or a tune by the Red Elvises. They are guaranteed to knock the invaders out.
posted by gina on 3-12-2008 at 8:19 am
When I get an earworm, I tune it out by thinking of JAMES BROWN’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” I love that groovy funk.
posted by TomH on 3-12-2008 at 8:22 am
A few years ago I began to notice that when I wake up in the morning the song “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid almost invariably begins playing in my head. It usually takes me a little while to notice it, and sometimes I don’t notice it at all, but it’s far too regular to be coincidence.
I do have other “default” songs that change periodically, but this one is always lurking somewhere deep in my subconscious. Perhaps the hundreds of times I watched the movie during my formative years just ingrained the song in my head. Kind of a scary thought.
posted by Kelsey on 3-12-2008 at 8:23 am
It’s almost always something with a classic guitar riff. Today it’s Scorpions’ “Wind of Change.”
The other big one is “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”
posted by Andrea on 3-12-2008 at 8:32 am
unluckily for me, i tend to have the latest round of commercial jingles become my default. Right now it’s a 33/33/34 split between Amos Lee’s Sweet Pea (Cingular commercial), Joe Purdy’s Can’t Get it Right Today (Kia commercial), and that “I’m not going to write you a love song” song that is in the tivo/rhapsody commercial.
The sad part about it is that whichever commercial i happen to hear last seems to get stuck the rest of that day… or until one of the other commercials comes on. Also, i don’t know the rest of any of these songs, so the loop in my head is just about 30 seconds as opposed to a full song… QQ
posted by Jeff on 3-12-2008 at 8:35 am
bad brains “pay to cum”
LOVE IT
posted by meta on 3-12-2008 at 8:35 am
My default song for the last 15 years (!) has been Vivaldi’s Spring. When I worked at Waldenbooks back in the day, is was the background song on the “Preferred Reader Card” promo video that played over and over and over and over and over in the store. It’s been in my head ever since, and I have to admit that I like it better than some of the other options out there. Every once in awhile it will be replaced temporarily by something like “The Humpty Dance.”
posted by Eric on 3-12-2008 at 8:39 am
I actually have two that have been popping in and out lately:
• Cruel
• Nobody loves me
Both by Bryan Ferry from his Frantic album.
posted by It's good to be the King on 3-12-2008 at 8:40 am
For the last month or so, it’s been “License to Kill”, written by Bob Dylan but I’ve got the cover version by Cowboy Junkies stuck in my head. Margo Timmins sings it, and she’s got a smokey, silky smooth blues voice. If you like Dylan, you should check out this version….
posted by Bill on 3-12-2008 at 8:41 am
bad brains
“pay to cum”
makes me want to thrash all the time which can be annoying
posted by meta on 3-12-2008 at 8:43 am
I’ve got to mention my idiot brother. He is obsessed with “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
Every time he goes to the bar (which is nearly every night) he pumps money into the jukebox to play it. What’s just as bad is half the joint sings along.
I hate to admit, it is a catchy tune.
posted by It's good to be the King on 3-12-2008 at 8:45 am
I can’t really figure out how it started, but every time I get a song stuck in my brain, out comes “Yellow Submarine,” and all is well again.
And my back-up, just in case John and the boys don’t work, is “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra.
posted by Kat on 3-12-2008 at 8:47 am
Lately, I have two my brain likes…Elektro Kardiogramm by Kraftwerk & Reise, Reise by Rammstein.
posted by Bob Jones, Esq. on 3-12-2008 at 8:56 am
“Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief” by Betty Hutton pops into my head often enough.
“Abraham De Lacey, etc” from Aristocats, thanks to my three year old.
I like those songs enough.
Two years ago, at any given moment, I’d be singing to myself that obnoxious Sesame Street song, “What’s the Name of That Song?”
How appropriate. Fair warning: if you’ve never heard it, DON’T! :D
posted by mrs.djs on 3-12-2008 at 9:04 am
I have three tunes that actually have a priority depending on the time of day. The least favorite is a default tune that my brain seems to lock on in the morning when I’m not yet fully conscious–”The Girl from Ipanema.”When more awake and really motivated it’s”Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” But my favorite is by far the afternoon-close-to-quitting-time tune “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck. I just never get tired of listening to that one!
posted by Amy on 3-12-2008 at 9:13 am
My default song used to be the my cell phone ringtone (Ride of the Valkryie) because I would get tech calls in the middle of the night. Got so bad that I’d wake up dreaming that I heard my cell go off and would have to verify it didn’t.
Right now it might actually be Fly Me to the Moon by Sinatra…
posted by Scott on 3-12-2008 at 9:15 am
“Pique” by HUMANWINE
Battling it out periodically with
“Swordfishtrombones” by Tom Waits
And I would have to say that my head has a pretty sweet soundtrack of late.
posted by EMStoveken on 3-12-2008 at 9:15 am
By the way, one of my coworkers alternates between the theme song from Dallas to the Ms Pacman startup sound. Poor guy…
posted by Scott on 3-12-2008 at 9:16 am
I usually make up melodies. Some I like more than others and hang onto. I’ve tried to record some, but I can’t play or sing.
posted by Doug Nelson on 3-12-2008 at 9:19 am
“Miss You” by the Rolling Stones.
posted by Fruppi on 3-12-2008 at 9:20 am
“Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin. I LOVE that song. Not only does the song go through my head, but I also picture those Viking Kittens.
posted by kan on 3-12-2008 at 9:23 am
Tom Petty’s Free-fallin’
It’s actually bizarre, because the other day I was leaving work and couldn’t get the song out of my head. We don’t listen to the radio or any music in our office and I had not heard the song in a couple of days, but there it was, stuck in my brain. I walked to my car, got in, cranked the engine and turned on the radio. The song on the radio station was Free-fallin’ at the exact point in the song that I had just been mentally humming.
posted by Jennifer on 3-12-2008 at 9:25 am
My co-worker’s default song is Jefferson Starship’s “We Built This City.” It drives both of us crazy.
posted by kris on 3-12-2008 at 9:34 am
Right now I have “Old Friends” by Simon and Garfunkel strolling though my neural pathways. Not too bad. Over the past several months, whenever I need to purge some top 40 drek picked up from some co-workers radio or some consumerist shite from the mall, I’ve turned to Frank Zappa’s “Zombie Woof”. It strikes fear in the heart of Abba redundancy coursing through my mind.
posted by Wolf on 3-12-2008 at 9:52 am
“I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”
Unfortunately, we just bought a house and the previous owner’s doorbell chimes this song everytime you ring it. He was a preacher, so I’m not sure what the railroad connection is.
posted by kt on 3-12-2008 at 10:01 am
Currently: “One Thing” by Finger Eleven, “Abstraction” by Sara Groves
Formerly: “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” the Nancy Sinatra version, “Patience” by Guns N Roses
posted by Lindsay on 3-12-2008 at 10:12 am
They Might Be Giants – She’s an Angel to get a song out of my head.
She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain or Severance by Dead Can Dance when I just need something to sing.
posted by Adam on 3-12-2008 at 10:17 am
beatles– in my life
posted by Shelly on 3-12-2008 at 10:23 am
Led Zeppelin’s Going to California always does the trick.
posted by Christopher on 3-12-2008 at 11:01 am
Cutting Crew – (I Just) died in your arms tonight
posted by Allison on 3-12-2008 at 11:06 am
I am one of those people who gets commercial jingles in my head. Lately it has been all of the free credit report dot com commercials. Those tunes are waaayyy too catchy!
posted by Leslie on 3-12-2008 at 11:09 am
the locomotion :(:(
posted by weeble warble on 3-12-2008 at 11:42 am
I had “(It’s a long way to) Tipperary” in my head. If that’s not bad enough, not knowing the song past the first verse, I immediately went from there to the chorus of “Henry the VIII” by Herman’s Hermits. “Stuck” is an understatement…
posted by ;im on 3-12-2008 at 11:45 am
Either Otis Redding’s “Sittin’on the Dock of the Bay” or CCR’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
posted by bobthewalrus on 3-12-2008 at 11:57 am
Either Otis Redding’s “Sittin’on the Dock of the Bay” or CCR’s “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
posted by bobthewalrus on 3-12-2008 at 11:57 am
my “eraser” song, which will erase all annoying songs stuck in my head, but luckily won’t get stuck itself, is Mellow Yellow, by Donavan. horrible song.
My default song, which is usually roaming around in my head at any given moment is an odd one: Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto, which I played in an orchestra in High School.
posted by Jenny on 3-12-2008 at 12:11 pm
“Day by Day” by Doug and the Slugs
posted by Mike on 3-12-2008 at 12:20 pm
“Chocolate raaaaaaaaaaaaaaain…”
posted by Mike on 3-12-2008 at 12:24 pm
The song to trump any looped song is Monthy Python’s “I’ve got a lov-e-ly bunch of coconuts”
works every time
until today, when for the first time in years, the coconuts are stuck in a loop in my head.
my default song changes too often, but is usually something off the country channel or from a hymnbook back in the school days
posted by J&B in Boston on 3-12-2008 at 12:32 pm
“September” by Earth Wind and Fire
“Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels Band
posted by Missy on 3-12-2008 at 12:38 pm
The Sky is Crying – Stevie Ray Vaughan
posted by Ian on 3-12-2008 at 12:46 pm
Dilemma- Nelly (Feat. Kelly Rowland)
I’ve pretty much accepted its nearly 6-year strangle hold on my mind. It’s pretty much become the national anthem of myself.
posted by Stu on 3-12-2008 at 1:00 pm
Well, I just watched “Across the Universe” so I am totally looping on Strawberry Fields Forever mostly cuz the lyrics are really wierd grammar and I’m having trouble memorizing them. I also find that at work I loop on Indiana Jones. I sing all day long and make up songs for my kids too, and that’s also a little strange, because one of them is profoundly deaf, and gets this worried look at certain songs.
posted by Marion on 3-12-2008 at 1:43 pm
HaH! “Famous Blue Raincoat” – the Jennifer Warnes version but with a scottish accent – yeer femus bloo rayncote ’s torn a’ the shulder…
Way back it was “The Dark End of the Street” – the instrumental version by Ry Cooder – I riffed on that thing for years!
And when I’m standing at the urinal in my local pub I invariably find myself whistling ” Together Again”
posted by future landfill on 3-12-2008 at 1:43 pm
Every morning I wake up with a song stuck in my head, and it’s almost always something I had listened to the day before. Most often it either ‘I Want You Back’ by KT Tunstall or something by Pink.
For about a week after I’d seen ‘Chicago’, I had ‘Cell Block Tango’ Stuck in my head. The worst part of that was I didn’t know all of the lyrics.
posted by heather on 3-12-2008 at 2:14 pm
Showing my age here but it’s been “Pretty In Pink” by the Psychedelic Furs for years now; Otherwise it’s some obscure Gary Numan tune unless it’s around Christmas time, then I get “Oh, Holy Night” (the gawd-awful version) stuck in there, google ‘oh holy night funny’ if you want this haunting you too :-)
posted by Flip on 3-12-2008 at 2:33 pm
Right now, mine are “Hey Jude” and “Blackbird” by The Beatles. I sing them to my nephew sometimes, so that’s probably why.
posted by Melodye on 3-12-2008 at 2:39 pm
I have a list of past songs for you but that would take too much time.
Ever since I started playing with the symphony again my default song is what ever we are currently practicing. Before xmas it was portions of Handels Messiah. Earlier today (like 10 minutes ago) it was “Everything I do, I do it for you”. I have a feeling it will be changing to Carmina Burana as that is what we are currently practicing.
I’m also good for making up tunes with bits and pieces of songs.
and I’m that annoying person who has to hum the song out loud. People at work think i’m weird
posted by Beth on 3-12-2008 at 2:48 pm
been caught stealing by janes addiction. the beat gets stuck and the “she did it just like that” part
posted by heather on 3-12-2008 at 2:49 pm
The Andy Griffith Show theme song.
I love it.
posted by Abby T on 3-12-2008 at 2:51 pm
Holey moley…and I thought that I was the only one with the Ms. PacMan startup sound stuck in my head as a default. Then I enjoy walking along thinking “wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-bloop!-wah-wah-wah…..” as I eat my pellets. Now I know there are others. But I alternate with my other more invigorating theme–the A-Team theme song.
posted by Jess on 3-12-2008 at 3:10 pm
lately ive been listening to athlete: wires. gorgeous song. but when it comes down to it i think ive probably played radiohead’s How To Disappear Completely a lot more.
posted by henrie on 3-12-2008 at 3:11 pm
Always always always it is “Blister in the Sun” by the Violent Femmes.
posted by Heidi on 3-12-2008 at 3:14 pm
I don’t think this is my ‘default song’ in the sense that you mean it … maybe, buy maybe not… i think it’s a little different, but it’s involuntary, so it’s related to what you’re talkin about…
Any time a particularly unpleasant thought or worry or memory pops in my head, it almost feels like a defense mechanism as The Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ suddenly pops in my head, as if it’s job is to cover up or push out the bad thought. This often happens in the shower, or while driving alone.. really, any time i’m alone and have time to think.
For instance, i’m in the shower, washing and thinking, and I recall an unpleasant memory from childhood that might have been embarrassing.. say, a parent discovering a nudey magazine .. all of a sudden “Hey Jude” blares in my head, and I’m like, wtf was that?
posted by Jude on 3-12-2008 at 3:19 pm
Slide It In – Whitesnake. Accompanied by mental images of high kicks in spandex. Please make it stop!
posted by Dan G on 3-12-2008 at 3:20 pm
Meshuggah’s “Combustion”
posted by Alex on 3-12-2008 at 3:35 pm
“The Passenger” – either the Iggy Pop or Siouxsie & the Banshees version – is my ubiquitanthem.
posted by AMcF on 3-12-2008 at 3:38 pm
I *always* have music playing in my head. Usually it’s a song I like and it’s OK, but often it’s a song I detest. Recently I had Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love Of All” stuck in my head for 3 weeks straight. Just about drove me insane… I call it “my demon DJ”.
Often (but, alas, not always) I can purge an unwanted song by thinking of “Popcorn”, that old MOOG synth song.
Great. Now that one’s stuck in my head…
posted by PJ in SF on 3-12-2008 at 4:10 pm
I’m a believer
posted by Reggie on 3-12-2008 at 4:19 pm
“Entrance of the Gladiators” that quintessential carousel tune and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” They are the first songs that pop in my head at any time! So…bombastic.
posted by Nat X on 3-12-2008 at 4:25 pm
“I Should Have Known Better” by the Beatles. However, it’s in my head because of a cover of it I heard the wonderful Zooey Deschanel sing on her new CD. Actually it’s a collaboration between her and M. Ward and it seems wonderful (at least from the clips I’ve heard). It’s called “She and Him: Volume 1.
posted by harold on 3-12-2008 at 4:35 pm
Varies constantly – although I do seem to have the theme from the Dick Van Dyke show in my head a lot. That and for a few days last week I had Henry Kissinger singing old Beck songs in my head.
Dammit.
posted by jasmith on 3-12-2008 at 4:45 pm
Que Sera Sera (The Sly and the Family Stone version), for like 11 years now!!!
posted by summer on 3-12-2008 at 5:03 pm
“Mana Mana” by the Muppets
posted by Kirk on 3-12-2008 at 6:17 pm
Usually it’s whatever I’ve been listening to a lot (which makes sense). Right now it’s “Thriller” due to the all-MJ channel on XM. Before that it was the White Stripes’ “Rag and Bone”.
posted by Sara on 3-12-2008 at 6:45 pm
Thanks everyone. After reading all the comments I have a tiny bit of most of these songs stuck in my head now.
Metallica’s Master of Puppets is a recurring theme…. “Masterrrrrrrrrr!!”
posted by Lynne on 3-12-2008 at 6:46 pm
I apologize in advance, but the theme song to Green Acres has been mine for the last couple of weeks (and I’d love to change it to something else).
posted by Ssquach on 3-12-2008 at 7:48 pm
“Jokerman” or “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan
“I Saw the Light” by Dash Rip Rock
posted by Sue on 3-12-2008 at 7:51 pm
I just usually have one of the last songs I heard stuck in my head, whether I actually like it or not. Unfortunately right now it’s Matchbox Twenty’s These Hard Times.
I had “You have AIDS” song from Family Guy running through my head for almost a week recently. It drove me nuts! Their songs are such earworms.
Oh great, now it’s back…
posted by denara on 3-12-2008 at 8:00 pm
Mine is: Annie Lennox-No More “I Love You’s”
And I FREAKING hate it!!!
posted by Brandon on 3-12-2008 at 8:06 pm
“Needles and Pins” by The Searchers.
It just keeps going and going and going…
posted by Kris on 3-12-2008 at 8:35 pm
Since I’ve been watching the videos of The Band’s Last Waltz concert a lot lately, I’ve had Dr. John’s “Such A Night” wandering around my brain a lot lately. Luckily, I like that song, so it’s not too annoying yet… Unfortunately, before the song starts on the video someone comes on stage and reads the intro to Canterbury Tales in Middle English. Therefore, my brain also likes to introduce the song with a little snippet of Middle English verse. Ugh…
posted by Nicole on 3-12-2008 at 8:37 pm
Deck the Halls has been my default song for years, and it drives me crazy. I get a lot of strange looks singing Christmas songs in July.
posted by Louisa on 3-12-2008 at 8:42 pm
I have a jukebox in my head, and nearly everything anyone says puts a new song on. Sometimes I can trace the path, sometimes I cannot. But that’s why I nearly always have the radio going or something, it drowns it out and is simultaneously ignorable.
posted by peacefulvalley on 3-12-2008 at 9:40 pm
The opening bars of The Muppet Show theme song!!!
Also, Joy to the World by Three Dog Night, but just the “Jeremiah was a bull-frog,” and “Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me” parts.
posted by Amy on 3-12-2008 at 9:54 pm
you say goodbye, i say hello. hello, hello! i don’t know why you say goodbye, i say hello. hello, hello! i don’t know why you say goodbye, i say hello. hello, hello! etc.
over…and over..and over…and over. for the last 20 years. somehow, i’m not upset about it.
posted by steverino on 3-12-2008 at 10:42 pm
I call it the jukebox from hell when a song gets stuck in my head. Fortunately, I have a neutralizer song that I use. I was standing in line for 2 1/2 hours at Disneyland years ago listening to “It’s a Small World.” All I have to do is start singing that and the other song stuck in my head disappears. Then I stop singing and appreciate the silence.
posted by Adrienne on 3-12-2008 at 11:38 pm
I am a Radio DJ by profession so the songs in my head tend to change about every 3 minutes – though for some or other reason that I am still desperate to understand I tend to default back to the hymn ‘Give me Oil in My Lamp’
posted by Deacon on 3-13-2008 at 12:06 am
It is also known as Last Song Syndrome (LSS). Mine is Talk Shows on Mute by Incubus. It watched their concert here in Manila last March 9 and they played the song.
posted by Leizl on 3-13-2008 at 1:51 am
currently it’s “all kinds of time” by rufus wainright
that recently replaced sweet caroline-thank God.
posted by EmilyCleone on 3-13-2008 at 9:02 am
It was Monty Pythons Eric The Half-a-Bee
but now its bits of yours
so thanks
posted by Allen on 3-13-2008 at 9:52 am
When I was in middle school it was a song by Trixter, I thankfully don’t remember how it went or what it was called (thank you, forgetting function of brain).
By high school it was that terrible song by the Stone Temple Pilots where “the dogs come to smell her.” I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.
For the last ten years of so, it has been When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again (Usually just the tune, but when it has words, they are from the Billy Bragg song Marching Song of the Covert Battalions, which borrows the tune). I’m fairly happy with this default song, although I do get some odd looks and comments if I begin to whistle it. Once someone asked me if I was whistling “the ants go marching two by two song.” That took away a little bit of my enthusiasm.
posted by erin on 3-13-2008 at 9:54 am
i love how big Radiohead is on the brain
posted by Allen on 3-13-2008 at 9:54 am
“When The Saints Go Marching In.”
I have no idea why.
posted by Angela on 3-13-2008 at 11:49 am
“The World I Know” by Collective Soul. For years. And I only know one verse. Please make it stop.
posted by Iris on 3-13-2008 at 1:09 pm
“Peter and the Wolf,” has been for years. I have no idea why. At least it has variety — sometimes I hear the bird part, sometimes the duck.
posted by M on 3-13-2008 at 5:23 pm
I’ve been listening to The Hives constantly, so it’s not really surprising to me to think that their song “Hate To Say I Told You So” is playing on endless loop in my mind.
Several of their songs have been duking it out in my head, however. (”You Got It All…Wrong” and “Well All Right!”, if anyone cares.)
posted by Aya on 3-13-2008 at 6:17 pm
Dead Puppies
I will never forget the day I accidently blurted out the lyrics to this song while I was in a pet store. It’s haunted me ever since.
posted by Kay on 3-13-2008 at 8:03 pm
In awkward silences I have “Loving You” By Minne Riperton looping something about those high notes resonates with me.
And when I am in the Car for some reason “Cant stop me now” plays over and over actually gives me a bit of road rage I need a new car default.
posted by Susie-Q on 3-14-2008 at 12:31 pm
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
i don’t know why. its usually christmas music. and now “old macdonald” thanks to my son :-p
posted by sarakenobi on 3-14-2008 at 3:14 pm
‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexy’s Mindnight Runners is my alpha song. It can bump out any other song.
Like Heidi, ‘Blister in the Sun’ by Violent Femmes is another longtime earworm, but that is the one I always think of first when someone says “sing a song”.
posted by amy on 12-11-2008 at 1:26 pm
Wonderwall – Oasis
posted by edwardo on 12-11-2008 at 1:43 pm
“Girl from Ipanema.” Sooooo embarrassing!!!
posted by Kathy H. on 12-12-2008 at 1:50 am
Panic at the Disco’s “That Green Gentlemen”
posted by scott on 12-30-2008 at 8:43 am
At the moment it’s “All The Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople (although I always feel the need to point out that David Bowie wrote the song. My default song probably changes once a week though. Depends on what I’ve been listening to.
posted by Kaitie on 12-30-2008 at 9:14 am
My default song is “Nothing Better” by The Postal Service. I’m not really sure why, but it is a welcome change from “Benny and the Jets,” which my mother so graciously got stuck in my head for months.
posted by Danny on 12-30-2008 at 9:26 am
I always default to “Turkey In The Straw”.
posted by ArtF on 12-30-2008 at 9:39 am
I’m very eclectic in my ways but my default song falls back to “Sympathetic Noose” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It is the best way to get Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover” out of my head — don’t ask. I blame guitar hero and Zero Punctuation.
posted by Christopher on 12-30-2008 at 9:58 am
My default song lately has been “Wonderful” by Annie Lennox. It’s got the right amount of variety to it.
posted by gokarm on 12-30-2008 at 10:08 am
I feel kind of pathetic.
My default song is Jingle Bells
I’ve had it stuck in my head going on almost 3 years. I’ve been told that at night I hum it sometimes in my sleep.
posted by Patrick B on 12-30-2008 at 10:49 am
“Moondance” – Van Morrison
It has been for years. I read somewhere that they (they being those crazy awesome science people) can somehow map brainwaves, & create a musical composition that would be the perfect song for that person.
If they did that to me, I think it would sound something like “Moondance.”
posted by kathryn on 12-30-2008 at 10:51 am
Pretty much anything by Ingrid Michaelson. But that’s ok as I have a girl crush on her and love her music. The current of her songs that I’m earworming is “Be Ok,” but for the longest time it was “Faraway.”
posted by nutmeag on 12-30-2008 at 10:55 am
For years and years and years, it’s been Sade’s “Smoother Operator” for me. Specifically the saxophone part.
posted by Steve on 12-30-2008 at 10:55 am
Great big globs of greasy grimy gopher guts; mutilated monkey meat; chopped up little piggies’ feet; french fried eyeballs swimming in a pool of blood, and me without a spoon.
I’m not sure why or how, but this has been my default for about 6 months now.
posted by Heather Dawn on 12-30-2008 at 10:58 am
Santa Maria by Gotan Project. You don’t recognize the name but you probably know the song. Tango song, well used, you might remember it from Shall We Dance with Gere and J Lo, the one with the heavy beat. It sticks to the brain.
posted by Bob on 12-30-2008 at 11:12 am
currently mine is Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult. It’s getting a bit annoying actually.
posted by Forest on 12-30-2008 at 11:22 am
Daffy Duck singing “I’m a cowboy, yes sir I am, yes sir I’m a cowboy, yes sir I am…” will erase just about anything from my brain.
posted by Stuart on 12-30-2008 at 11:24 am
Sweet Lord – George Harrison
posted by d hue on 12-30-2008 at 11:32 am
“American Pie” by Don McLean
The entire song, start to finish. You know, you can’t just start in the middle of that song! Love the song, and don’t mind it being in my head, but if it comes on the radio or jukebox, it annoys the crap out of me.
posted by Peter W on 12-30-2008 at 11:48 am
“Lawyers, Guns and Money”, by Warren Zevon, it always helps a shitty day to be a lot less shitty….
posted by Bobsen on 12-30-2008 at 11:50 am
A change will do you good by Sheryl Crow. Always my go to song when times get rough–job change, move, etc. But gotta love the Indiana Jones theme for motivation!
posted by TC on 12-30-2008 at 12:25 pm
“Across the Universe” -The Beatles
I good humming song for introspection and chagrinned denial.
posted by Jesse on 12-30-2008 at 12:32 pm
Feelin’ Kinda Sunday – Sinatra
Five Dollar Foot Long
OK, I watch too much tv.
posted by RDavis on 12-30-2008 at 12:32 pm
I usually wake up with various songs stuck in my head. But I always switch to “Brushin my Teeth” on Sesame Street while brushing the in the morning. “Brushing my teeth and having so much fun, but I never let the water run. No, no, no. I never let the water run.” I have sung that in my head while brushing my teeth for like 20-25 years… I’m 28 now. Maybe when I get dentures it will stop!
rechaptch word: assured peninsula – like there ever was any doubt?
posted by Jaime on 12-30-2008 at 1:26 pm
“Chelsea Dagger”, by the Fratellis. It’s just so damn cheery!!
posted by amdela80 on 12-30-2008 at 1:27 pm
Led Z’s stairway to heaven.
And Smells like teen spirt.
They’re ok. Stairway only scares me a little when I’m alone..
posted by Isabella on 12-30-2008 at 1:48 pm
I was recently looking for a song from my childhood, ‘biff the friendly purple bear’ by mac davis. well i found it, but in the process found ‘all the love in the world’, and now that has been with me for about a week non-stop. and yes, it is most annoying. otherwise my inhead tune is almost always the do-be-do-be-do tune that the penguin sang in the old bud commercials. i cannot begin to explain it.
posted by wiggy on 12-30-2008 at 2:33 pm
Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” or “Enter the Gladiator” (the calliope song.) Seriously, all the time.
posted by Shasta on 12-30-2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey Jude
but i usualy change it to “Hey Vinny” because i sing it to my dog daily.
posted by Danielle on 12-30-2008 at 3:14 pm
My girlfriend’s is the theme to Nickelodean. It has been for about 15 years. I catch her tapping it out on tabletops at restaurants and on the dashboard during road trips.
posted by auslander on 12-30-2008 at 3:29 pm
Dear God- XTC
at first it was good- now it’s getting old…
posted by Ftssoad on 12-30-2008 at 3:30 pm
Lately, the chorus melody from the SNL “J— in My Pants” song has been front and center, but the Muppets’ Mahnamahna is my normal one. Sometimes the bass line from “Another Bites the Dust” by Queen can make a 3-day appearance, which might’ve started right now. :(
posted by Dave on 12-30-2008 at 4:20 pm
blut im auge – equilibrium
posted by greg on 12-30-2008 at 5:53 pm
well, the next time I get a song stuck in my head, I’ll just come to this post …
posted by Sarah on 12-30-2008 at 6:40 pm
Normally mine is also ‘Free Fallin’ by Petty. Actually, I sing it to my youngest daughter a lot. Except I usually change the lyrics after ‘loves Jesus, and America, too’ to something silly. Now however, I have a mish-mash of bits of most of the songs mentioned here.
posted by Vickey on 12-30-2008 at 6:58 pm
My default song is the tune to Dambusters. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the film in its entirety but I hum it, unknowingly, whenever I’m solving a difficult problem.
I have fewer problems to solve now, but it comes out now and again, as it has for the last 15 years. I guess I’m stuck with it!
Recaptcha: Pre- cessation
posted by Grrrrrr on 12-30-2008 at 7:55 pm
Rocket Man…
Elton John makes my life SPECTACULAR!
posted by Kameron on 12-30-2008 at 8:38 pm
actually, it’s “Jingle Bell Rock”.
Strange.
posted by twinda on 12-30-2008 at 8:43 pm
my default loop is Kim Wilde’s “you keep me hanging on”. Long story….but it sure helps release alot of frustration sung at very high volume and always alone!!!
posted by Sandie on 12-30-2008 at 9:32 pm
“Thunder and Blazes” The circus music is slowly driving me insane.
posted by Lara on 12-30-2008 at 9:43 pm
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles
“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey
“Else” by Built to Spill
“Dreaming” by Blondie
I can always get all the way through those songs and knock a crappy one out of my head.
recaptcha: revenge verse
posted by nikki on 12-30-2008 at 9:55 pm
Slow Show by the National. Great song
posted by kamila on 12-30-2008 at 10:35 pm
1- The Andy Griffith Theme Song
2- a few bars 3rd Movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Concerto. Really irritated about that.
posted by Kristen on 12-31-2008 at 2:19 am
for me right now (& the past few years)there has been 2 that always get stuck on repeat in my brain:
1 – nickelback – if everyone cared
2 – lacuna coil – enjoy the silence
posted by Scott T. on 12-31-2008 at 7:25 am
I have a few default songs, and they vary depending on what’s stuck in my head and how hard it is for me to get rid of it. They are:
1. “Run To the Hills” by Iron Maiden
2. The theme song from “That 70’s Show”
3. “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand
posted by MN on 12-31-2008 at 8:46 am
Anything featuring Nate Ruess (of the band The Format and now Fun), particularly “She Doesn’t Get It” and “The Gambler” (original song by Fun, not the Kenny Rogers one). The problem with the latter is that I only know part of the song, because the only clip that I can seem to find on YouTube has only a partial version.
posted by Jamie on 12-31-2008 at 10:24 am
When a song gets stuck in my head at night and I can’t sleep, most recently “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks, I use the hymn “Amazing Grace”. It is like a hammer to smash all other songs and the tune will not ever stay when you turn it off. Works like a charm. Try it on your annoying defaults.
posted by Slick on 12-31-2008 at 11:11 am
I don’t have one default song, it seems mine are situational. I used to hum the same tune every time I got undressed, until I figured out that it was the theme to “Leave it to Beaver.”
The funny thing about this is I can’t tell you how that tune goes if I try to because it always gets drowned out by the “I Dream of Jeanie” theme.
Also, we have a bridge at work that connects the two halves of the office. It’s elevated and reminds me of a catwalk. Every time I go over it I fight the urge to sing “Supermodel” by RuPaul…but it always plays in my head and I giggle like an idiot.
posted by Cheryl on 12-31-2008 at 3:34 pm
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
posted by Phil on 1-2-2009 at 11:43 am