# Quick, sing something else: songs that get stuck in your head **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132 "2004-10-02T01:37:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_world\_s\_most\_deadliest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@The\_world\_s\_most\_deadliest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_world_s_most_deadliest)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/1 "2004-10-02T01:37:53Z")
I endured an 8-hour stint of Madonna’s _Borderline_ during work last week. No idea why it popped in my head, but once it was there, I was humming it all day. (Yes, weep for my co-workers, they deserve it.) I also heard _Fernando_ by Abba a few days after that and boom, it was “Can you see the lights, Fernando” for the next 24 hours. Anyone else want to share the songs that end up in almost painful permanent rotation once you hear them? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/2 "2004-10-02T01:41:31Z")
“Oh Mickey, you so fine, you so fine, you blow my mind…” “Yo, V. I. P., let’s kick it.” Ding-da-ding-ding-ding-ding. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/3 "2004-10-02T01:41:46Z")
A hundred bottles of beer on the wall, etc… My god I’ll wake up in the morning with this in my head!! I’ll get you for this! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/4 "2004-10-02T01:51:12Z")
We were doing a siding job, and I didn’t realize it, but I’d been whistling “Vincent” (Starry, starry night) by Don McLean-my helper told me to stop it-he was ready to cut his own throat. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/5 "2004-10-02T01:57:36Z")
A bit OT, but another thing I like to do to drive coworkers nuts is to sing the words of songs that normally are only heard as instrumentals. They go nuts knowing they know what it is, but the words throw them. Example: I’ll walk in singing: “Through early morning fog I see Visions of the things to be (SNIP 'cause I forgot the next couple lines) Suicide is painless, it brings on many changes…” Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/6 "2004-10-02T01:59:12Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > “Yo, V. I. P., let’s kick it.” Ding-da-ding-ding-ding-ding. > > Sir Rhosis Well, he DID admit to killing your brain like a poisonous mushroom. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/7 "2004-10-02T02:10:06Z")
^^^Remeber, his song had an extra “ding” in there, therefore negating any connection it may have had to “Under Pressure.” A musical genius, 'ol Rob was, a lyrical poet who indeed rocked the mic like a vandal. He was from the streets, ya know. YEAH, SESAME STREET! (Kevin Bacon and Chris Rock, iirc). Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/8 "2004-10-02T02:43:16Z")
Now, renegades are people, with their own philosophy… Like Malcom X… Gonna make you cry… cry cry cry… 96 tears… Of course, there’s one person who I can do this to at whim, by simply saying “Superman and Green Lantern” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/9 "2004-10-02T02:52:34Z")
> [@](#): > > (SNIP 'cause I forgot the next couple lines) The pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/10 "2004-10-02T02:53:46Z")
Two recent ones for me are both by [The Dresden Dolls](http://www.dresdendolls.com): _Coin-Operated Boy_, and _Missed Me_. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/11 "2004-10-02T10:06:05Z")
Saw a Northwestern bumper sticker this morning, and have had “Go U Northwestern” in my head all day. There are worse tunes, but still … all day? I have serious problems. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/12 "2004-10-02T12:48:28Z")
Once at work three of us were sitting in total silence and we all spontaneously started singing “We all need somebody to lean on…” It was so weird. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/13 "2004-10-02T15:02:05Z")
All of a sudden _Oh What a Night_ popped in my head. I haven’t heard this song in years, but there it was taking up space in my brain. _Oh what a night Late December back in 63 What a very special time for me Cause I remember what a night_ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/14 "2004-10-02T16:44:09Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Of course, there’s one person who I can do this to at whim, by simply saying “Superman and Green Lantern” Well that’s just great. Of all the sticky songs mentioned so far, I think _Sunshine Superman_ is the one that’s gonna be the stickiest… 😉 > [@JayElle](#): > > All of a sudden **Oh What a Night** popped in my head. [nitpicky and pedantic] The full title is _December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)_. It’s one of my favorite songs of all time. 🙂 [/nitpicky and pedantic] ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/15 "2004-10-02T17:10:27Z")
My choice is now stuck in my head again, thanks to all of you. The Hamster Dance. Duh de doo doo doo de doo doo. Duh de doo de de de dum Dee dee doo duh doo da doo doo Dee ded doo da doo doo dum Come on evereybody and clap your hands Come on everybody do the hamster dance. Oooooh I hate you all 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/16 "2004-10-02T17:10:51Z")
Tie me kangaroo down boys, tie me kangaroo down… God dammit thats ALL of the song I know! ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/17 "2004-10-02T17:23:32Z")
I spent the last week mostly sick in bed, with _Apollo 18_ by They Might Be Giants running through my head constantly. Yes, the whole album. No, it isn’t any less torturous than having a single song stuck in your head. Turn around (round!) Turn around (round!) There’s a human skull on the ground (round!) Human skull (skull!) On the ground (round!) Turn arouuuuuuund! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/18 "2004-10-02T17:40:24Z")
Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved”. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/19 "2004-10-02T17:59:13Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > [nitpicky and pedantic] > > The full title is _December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)_. It’s one of my favorite songs of all time. 🙂 > > [/nitpicky and pedantic] Hey, thanks! I found it on my subscription service and now I’m bebopping in my chair and reading the Dope. Doo doo doo doo doo Oh what a night! ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132/20 "2004-10-02T18:46:23Z")
The most consistent offender has been _1985_. I think the group is Bowling for Soup or something like that. Had it stuck for _days_ last week. _Springsteen, Madonna, way before Nirvana There was U2, and Blondie, And music still on MTV…_ Usually I’ll wake up with a song stuck in my head, and it’ll take hours to go away. This morning it was _Disease_ by Matchbox 20. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sing-something-else-songs-that-get-stuck-in-your-head/267132.md?page=2)