Speak

Song: Carrie

Artist: Speak

Earworm Elements: repetition, synth, bass, melody, hooks, bridge, high-energy

Genre: synth pop

Sounds Like: Bag Raiders

Link: http://hearspeakhere.com/

Again, I have to credit 101X for the discovery of this song/band. As I was driving into Houston over Christmas break, this came on the radio and I instantly noted that "Carrie" makes for awesome driving music. It definitely made the ride back way more fun and entertaining, if only for just three minutes and fifty-one seconds of my time. 

But after it ended, I needed to hear it again. And again, and again, and again. I couldn't get home soon enough--I had no means of looking it up from my car and I wasn't about to go hunting for a wireless Internet network. 

Because this group is a local Austin band, they were not well-known enough for Shazam to work. Super frustrating. Thankfully, browsing 101X website when I got home led me straight to it, I immediately went into earwormed mode, and before the end of the night I had listened to it at least ten times. And then I listened to it ten(ish) times again the next day, hopelessly addicted and ensnared by its catchiness. 

I had to go see them in concert. I wouldn't be fully taking advantage of my position as an Austinite living close to downtown if I passed up the opportunity. 

Bag Raiders

Song: All of them. Every single one. 

Artist: Bag Raiders

Earworm Elements: repetition, looping, synth, weird sounds, riffs, bass beats

Genre: House

Sounds Like: Daft Punk, Speak, 80s music

Link: http://bagraiders.com/

There is no better group than this to exemplify earworms. This particular band, or duo, rather, hails from Australia and, as far as I can tell, is not scheduled to tour in the U.S. any time soon. Unfortunate. I first encountered their song "Shooting Star" in a club somewhere--I don't remember when specifically, but when I heard it again after looking them up on iTunes, I instantly recognized the addictive, looping beat that cycles through the song just enough to tantalize you and always leave you wanting more. Because of this quality, I have yet to tire of this song, even though I must have listened to it upwards of fifty times in the first month I heard it. 

Another prime earworm example would be "Fun Punch," an instrumental track not included on their album. This song is pure awesome--super high-energy, catchy-as-fuck guitar riff on a loop. Plus, the official music video parodies the early Power Rangers TV show, a nostalgic element that any 90s kid can appreciate. 

The song that got me hooked on them, however, is "Not Over," which I happened to hear on 101X while driving around Austin one day. A little bit of Shazaming and Internet browsing led me right to them. 

Since then, I've purchased their entire first album, plus "Fun Punch," which required a little more digging to find on iTunes. The rest of their songs do not disappoint; catchy bits from almost every song took turns endlessly looping in my head for days after first listening to the complete album. All of their work is fun, undeniably catchy, and totally worth checking out. 

Earwormed? What's that?

You have to hear that song. That really catchy song that you recently discovered somehow. Maybe on the radio, Pandora, a music blog, whatever. You didn't really think much of it, but now you're humming broken pieces. And all you really remember is that one line, that one line that is all you can think about now. It's just playing on a loop over and over and you don't even know the words but it keeps playing anyway and now you really just wish it would stop because it's driving you crazy! Rrrrgh!

You can't stop. It worked its way deep into your brain and now it won't get out of your head. 
You've just been earwormed.

That's what it's called. A song that gets stuck in your head. It happens all the time. To everyone. And we all seem to have a love/hate relationship with this phenomenon. Maybe you really like the song that's earwormed you, maybe you like it less after it won't leave you alone. Maybe you even hated the song to begin with. Unfortunately, disgust for a song will not protect you and may result in earworms of the worst kind.
Case in point:

In this blog, I will examine earworms old and new, taking a closer look at exactly why they're so damn catchy. Certain traits that are generally present in an earworm-type song (or "earworm elements") include, but are not limited to: repetition, high-energy, synth, weird/intriguing sounds and a general catchiness of melody, riffs, hooks, lyrics, bass, and beat.

To start off, here are a few songs that I find appropriate because of their earworm-pun titles. Ironically, but not completely coincidentally, these songs are, themselves, earworms. Try listening without it getting to you. I dare you.

"Please Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna
Okay, I have to admit--I really liked this one.

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" by Kylie Minogue
Never big on this one, but it has some cool elements.
It's definitely earwormed me several times though.

"Over and Over" by Kelly, ft. Tim McGraw
Terrible, terrible, I know. But still counts as an earworm.
The kind you really don't want.