I just noticed 2 things that — so far — appear to be the case every time that happens. The first is that for some reason it’s never a song I really like — and sometimes even a song I hate. The second — it seems to happen only when I’m really tired.
Now here’s the thing — the last two times it happened — I didn’t hear either of the songs shortly before it happened. And — if I were consciously wanting to sing — I surely wouldn’t pick songs I hate from my memory.
So — with myself being my only subject — I hesitate to run with this — but I’m wondering if that “phenomenom” is an instinctive self preservation response. Getting irritated by a stupid song every 30 seconds or so does keep me more alert.
If you can recall it happening to you — were you tired and was a song that irritated you?
-
That happens to me, too, but at the moment I can only think of times when I’ve heard the song, first. You know, “try not to think of an elephant”? I’m sure it’s happened, but right now the only examples I can think of were when I, for example, flipped off the radio (or television) before going to to work.
The absolute worst time was years ago. I worked at a packing plant for a few days. One day “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” played in my head, all day, because it was the last song I heard on the car radio. Gawd, I wanted to slit my own throat.
Being tired doesn’t seem like something I’d associate with it, but let me come up with a real example before I say that’s for sure. And it’s not usually songs that “I hate” when they seem to come out of nowhere, but it seems to be “odd” songs, like classical music, at least as often as it’s “pop” songs. And, they’re often not vocal songs, but things like “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” or even the music but not the words to Christmas carols in the middle of the Summer. The last DOES irritate me, but not because I don’t like the song, It’s because I can’t seem to come up with the lyrics. Or, maybe it’s a classical song with no lyrics that just SEEMS like it should be a Christmas song.
Interesting question. Lemme give it more thought.
-
I will make note of your theory and see if it is true with my own experience.
My mom, laying five feet from me, says this phenom is called a brain worm.
One day, while driving home to mom’s with my son of three, I was bored stiff with the six hour drive. As i passed thru Lacrosse, I saw a statue of liberty in the park there. Then I began to chant givemeyourtiredyourpoor poem, since I memorized it in the 7th grade. I twisted to sound of the words, altered the normal rhythm, and used strange vocal inflictions while reciting it, to somehow alter my boredom.
Three weeks later, my son was playing in his room, and he was reciting the entire poem without prompting, … Thinking it to be some kind of joke.
He had memorized this poem at three after one episode of his mother trying to alter her boredom while traveling.
-
It happened today. Was driving thru wy. W my mom, sis, niece in the car. Was trying to explain to niece about the poem the lady of shallot. Finally came upon the idea to bring up the band perry. So I started singing “if I die young” to remind her. Then it just stuck there in my head. The only resolution, coming about 15 minutes later, was to play the song. That was the fix, while mom said how much better I could sing, wanted to hear me sing it.
I was extremely happy at that moment. Surrounded by people I love and ones that love me.
Sitting in a deck overlooking Jackson tourist area. Happy. Lizz wright sings to me quietly.
This whole trip I is funded by fracking money and money from a national trend to improve the grid. Mom- funded!
My advise: invest in farmland!!!! Especially in central USA.
-
Gawd, I’m hit with the song bug all the time.
If it’s a good song I don’t mind at all. But more often than not it’s one of those useless songs that I despise.
I ask my girlfriend to suggest another one, and it usually helps
Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
4 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link: http://www.timbuk3.com/discuss/wp-trackback.php?p=8171