# Do you have words or phrases that trigger songs in your head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867 "2016-08-05T19:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/21 "2016-08-06T19:41:58Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Hearing helpless makes me think of the Niel Young song, which is also my all time least favourite NY tune. This, combined with the other geographical examples given, reminded me that every time I hear about Ontario, my inner jukebox plays “There is a town in North Ontario…”, just like with Alberta, which triggers “Think I’ll go out to Alberta, weather’s good there in the fall.” And these are just my Canadian/Neil Young examples…Really, I have that all the time. There are even words that trigger two songs alternately, like “mobile/Mobile”, which either let’s me sing “Going Mobile” by the Who or Dylan’s “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again”. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/22 "2016-08-07T00:04:51Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > “mobile/Mobile” For me, it’s Deep Purple’s “to make records with a mo-bile” Whenever I exclaimed “hey” when I was a kid, for some completely unacceptable reason I’d think of that dreary dose of pedestrian, surgically excised slop by Anne Murray that went “hey, hey-hey hey, hey hey hey, what about me”, and so I’d just end up going, “hey, hey hey hey, hey-hey hey, hey-hey-hey, hey”, much to everyone’s confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/23 "2016-08-08T01:14:30Z")
If someone is thanking me and says “You’re the best”, I flash back to Karate Kid: _You’re the best, the best Nothin’s ever gonna get you down…_ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/24 "2016-08-08T01:39:47Z")
Whenever I hear the word “gluten”, my brain responds, “Gluten Gleiben Glauchen Globen”. And, yes, I know that’s not really how the song starts. And I hate Def Leppard. But that stupid thing pops into my head every…single…time. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/25 "2016-08-08T01:44:46Z")
Whenever Rachel Maddow says, “Watch this space,” then “Six Underground” starts playing in my head. Watch this space I’m open…to falling from grace Also, when I think of the order of the seasons I just think of the part of “You’ve Got a Friend” sung by James Taylor where he names them in order. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/26 "2016-08-08T02:40:48Z")
I can’t hear the word “sabotage” without “Listen up y’all it’s a sabotage!” running through my mind. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/27 "2016-08-08T02:54:46Z")
Whenever I consider making myself a Smoothie on a hot summer day,. I think of “Już nigdy” by the Polish singer Sława Przybylska. When she sings the title, it sounds like “You Smoothie”. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PwxRvmhzulA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLA34046A4B9425E66 There’s also an old American song “You’re an Old Smoothie” which follows in my mind. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-82j6slx2go/maxresdefault.jpg "You're an Old Smoothie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-82j6slx2go) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/28 "2016-08-08T12:06:27Z")
I have a gym membership at a place with an indoor running track, so I can run in pleasant conditions when it’s blazing hot, snowing, or raining outside. When I am heading out I always tell my family “I’m going to the…” “Y…M…C…A” Complete with the hand motions. Every time. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/29 "2016-08-08T13:05:05Z")
[Hace calor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDC8D_lgwHU) (it’s hot). Judging by how often someone starts humming it when someone says those words, it seems to be an instant earworm for a lot of people, some of whom are younger than the song. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/30 "2016-08-08T13:53:03Z")
Whenever someone says “She’s buying a stairway to heaven,” I immediately think of the Led Zeppelin song D’yer Mak’er… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/31 "2016-08-08T16:29:22Z")
Whenever someone says “gotta try”, I’m always reminded [but what would you be if you didn’t even try…you have to try](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvDPezXTzlI). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/32 "2016-08-08T17:06:44Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Whenever someone says “She’s buying a stairway to heaven,” I immediately think of the Led Zeppelin song D’yer Mak’er… When I hear “Stairway to Heaven,” I automatically think of (a) the movie with David Niven, and (b) the parody of the song with the lyrics from _ **Gilligan’s Island** _. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/33 "2016-08-08T18:29:49Z")
When somebody says “Seems to me”, I hear Joe Walsh and the James Gang singing **Walk Away.**. When somebody says “Oh, well”, I hear “Don’t ask me bout the shape I’m in. Can’t sing. Ain’t pretty, and my legs are thin” (Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/34 "2016-08-08T18:42:08Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > When somebody says “Oh, well”, I hear “Don’t ask me bout the shape I’m in. Can’t sing. Ain’t pretty, and my legs are thin” (Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well) Me too :D. It plays in my head right now. Complete with guitar riff. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/35 "2016-08-08T20:27:08Z")
Shattered. Shadoobie. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/36 "2016-08-09T00:27:10Z")
Whenever I drive past the Livorna exit on 680 (~Walnut Creek) I sing, out loud, _Passionate, wild, and in love in Livorno, Singing with Guido all night on the phone LOOOOONNNGGG AGOOOOOOOOO_ ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/37 "2016-08-09T18:46:33Z")
I tend to go with the “almost, but not quite” thing. Once a co-worker remarked on it being a crappy day. I said: “Oh, Crappy Day”. Another time a different co-worker said: “I’m so mad.” Pause. “I’m so mad.” Another office joker and I both chimed in with “I’m mad, I’m mad, I’m mad.” She was too young to get the reference but a few others within earshot started laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/38 "2016-08-09T22:48:03Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I tend to go with the “almost, but not quite” thing. Once a co-worker remarked on it being a crappy day. I said: “Oh, Crappy Day”. > > Another time a different co-worker said: “I’m so mad.” Pause. “I’m so mad.” > Another office joker and I both chimed in with “I’m mad, I’m mad, I’m mad.” > > She was too young to get the reference but a few others within earshot started laughing. I’m 43 and I don’t get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/39 "2016-08-09T22:54:13Z")
Whenever I hear the name Jose Canseco, I think of the national anthem. “Ho-say Can-say-co, by the dawn’s early light…” ---
**Author:** ![Neverending\_Elbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e274bd/32.png) [@Neverending\_Elbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neverending_Elbow)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867/40 "2016-08-09T23:04:51Z")
Every time a recipe calls for frying or baking something until golden brown, I get an [ear-worm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWAsI3U2EaE). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-words-or-phrases-that-trigger-songs-in-your-head/761867.md?page=3)