Earworms on the trail?

imported
#1

Not to be confused with earwhigs, have you ever been plagued by an “earworm” for more than a few miles while hiking? An earworm is a song or snippet of music that runs through your head continuously and is difficult to consciously eliminate.

Personally, the rhythm of an uphill climb seems to trigger them. On the first day of my hike earlier this month, I kept having the sickly sweet strains of “The Christmas Song” from “The Grinch” running through my brain. However, after a few days I move from popular music earworms to surprisingly grandiose and inspiring self compositions that I only wish I could replicate when I get back home to my piano.

What earworms have you been plagued with?

Gasoline

#2

In GA my husband could not get Follow Me by uncle kracker out of his head. He was so annoyed by the song, but it had such a walking beat to it that it kept him moving too. :girl

Lizz

#3

bad 80’s songs are the easiest for me to get stuck in my head. but it happens everyday. for instance today is the rocky horror picture shows time warp. uggghhh

wise owl

#4

I whistle ‘Green Dolphin Street’. I figure if I make enough noise, I’ll scare the bears away. Never, and I mean NEVER, try try walking or hiking with Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics playing. It’ll kill ya.

Harry Dolphin

#5

I used to get bad commercial jingles stuck in my head. The worst was one day I got the Mennen deodorant jingle stuck which consists of only “buy Mennen”. Frank Zappa lyrics would also end up in my head alot.

Big B

#6

Sure glad to hear I’m not alone at this.Whistling,Numbers or the spelling of words do it to me when I hike.My wife thinks I’ve lost it, when I start to whistle a song I haven’t heard in years such as Oh!Where have you been Billy Boy.HaHa.
One of the good things about being 67 years young,you have a larger repertoire to choose from.Thanks Gasoline,Now I don’t have to lay on that couch anymore.:cheers

Bill Harris

#7

went around and around during a hike last weekend. Only remember part of the words but the tune just would not let up.

Its a centrifical motion

this kiss THIS KISS

Tater

#8

Plagued by them am I.

Theme from Beverly hillbillies
American Women, (70’s) version)who did that?
Me and you and a dog named boo - Lobo

Make it stop!!!

moonman

#9

Oxygen deprived brains keep up with simple songs.

Tater: Faith Hill. Called, surprisingly enough “This kiss”

Dog Tag (aka Ken Woods)

#10

I get them all the time…found the best ‘cure’ is to find the song and listen to it a few times…

I really miss Kazaa (and Napster for some) because I could either download a single song for that purpose, or, if I didn’t know the song, do searches of possible names and or the band itself and eventually find it.

xtn

airferret

#11

Had a mix of rolling stones songs. Apparantely got a little too excited in the grayson highland/atkins area listening to “sweet virginia”. Had that damn song in my head for the next 500 miles! And virginia wasn’t so sweet after weeks of rain anyway :slight_smile:

A-Train

#12

every day. Made a conscious effort to do so.
Usually Beatles, Doors or Eagles, or some one-hit wonder from
the '60s.

Scamp

Scamp

#13

I had a full day of the Beach Boys once.

Then a full week of Jenny from the Block.

There was also 50 cent day, Just a Friend (Bizmarke), and Mrs. Robinson.

There were plenty more, but those are the outshining examples I can remember.

bearbait

#14

H Dolphin I bet you’re right, if you get Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics stuck in your head you’re cooked. May as well pack it up and go hiking another day.

Tater

#15

You guys need to listen to Manson’s version of sweet dreams and rock on. I am actually sold on RUSH, so i look forward to Xanadu and Jacob’s Ladder and The Trees. After all aren’t we all seeking Xanadu!

burnfucious

#16

Whenever I start hiking, I think of a song by Greg Brown that just seems made for thru-hikers. It begins:

Two little feet to get me 'cross the mountain

Two little feet to carry me away into the woods…

http://www.gregbrown.org/gbfurth1.html#twolittl

Eric Lehman

#17

A-TRAIN HAVE YOU NOT STARTED CLASSES YET. POSTING AT 1.49PM I GUESS NOT

poppie58

#18

oh i started classes 2 months ago. Thanks to modern day technology i can procrastinate and post in the school library as well! They usually tell me my times up hours later with a dazed look on my face, drool hanging down and the comment “more journals please” emenating from me.

That John Mayer ‘your body is a wonderland’ was in my head for the first month. Made lots of friends singing that one :slight_smile:

A-Train

#19

Thanks for introducing an interesting and humorous topic…I also never knew there was a name for having a tune stuck in your head. Glad to increase my vocabulary. When I hike, I often think of military-style cadence stuff, like " Left, left, left right left," or sometimes the little ditty “Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.” Maddening, and I was never even in the service.

Jonna

#20

Shows how much attention I pay to popular music. I thought Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics was the one that goes

Sweet Dreams of rythym and dancing

sweet dreams of passion throught the night

feel the rythym and motion

i cause a commotion

But I agree that other Sweet Dreams is just as bad, just more sadomasachist and less hyper. Guess neither is a bad as getting rap drums stuck in your head, though.

Tater