As time has progressed, we’ve seen music become much more sleeker and refined, designed for mass appeal from the get-go. Songs have become polished products like trinkets you can fit in your breast pocket and admire from the palm of your hand. It used to be that music had splinters and rough edges and a spirit that could hardly be contained. As the values of yesteryear fade away, the modern times have made it so that positive reception is no longer a choice, but rather a primal impulse that’s been hacked into by a very careful science. While Motown and the Brill Building marked the apparent starting point of this mentality, the last decade alone has birthed a whole new breed of catchy-craftsmen, penetrating your private headspace much more quickly than Phil Spector could’ve ever even thought possible.
Here are the top ten songs that get stuck in your head:
Note: This isn’t a list of the ten most popular songs by any means, and genres known for their inherent repetitiveness (i.e. hip-hop and rap) will not be mentioned as they are a dime a dozen. What follows are some more recent samplings (from the last decade or so) of catchy songs that upon hearing, try as you might, simply cannot be pried from your thought-space.
10. Cruel by St. Vincent
It may be a lesser-known example on the list, but this track is incredibly infectious in the most positive way possible. Merging fairy-tale like orchestral swells and some hacksaw guitar work, this song blends beauty and repulsion and creates a palatable paradox that you cannot resist. The real draw is the uniquely textured chorus and cathartic lyrical refrain which make pure pleasure of cruelty. It gets harder and harder not to sing along with every subsequent listen. It may linger in your head, but the feeling is not intrusive.
9. Robot Rock by Daft Punk
The lyrics are this: “Rock, robot rock” (repeat). The song, in spite of its self-proclaimed genre, being rock for robots, is very much the most repetitive kind of dance tune imaginable. The rock element comes in the form of an affected-sounding guitar chord and robotically-monotone vocals, which play more like percussion. Around the riff dances little electronic fairy dust and artificial textures that work up an infectious groove that is hard to shake. Although, your feet may try.
8. Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes
Jack White is best known for reinventing the blues for a generation that thrives on simplicity and catchiness. And if a White Stripes tune is anything, it’s both of those. Any song of theirs can quickly be picked up on the guitar or piano, and “Seven Nation Army” from 2003’s Elephant takes simple song structure to all new depths: the whole song, aside from a two-chord bridge, is based entirely upon a seven root-note army (played as bass notes in the verse, as power chords in the chorus, and at a higher octave with a slider for an uber-simple guitar solo). It’s no wonder then that this song took off beyond its modest, lo-fi roots and blasted into a rare kind of mainstream, giving White all sorts of attention he’d rather not have. As a do-it-yourself success story with two other bands in his pocket, Jack White has remained dedicated to his self-created Third Man record label, taking in stray musicians and offering them guidance like a blues-punk Yoda.
7. Do You Want To by Franz Ferdinand
With their debut, Franz Ferdinand proved their irresistibility and catchy dance-rock sensibilities. In their second album, 2005’s You Could Have It So Much Better, the same spirit is carried on, if not all over the album, in the single track “Do You Want To” which is catchy and incessant in the most cloistering way possible. The beat is more like a stomp, and the simple chorus refrain is sometimes replaced with brain-tickling “Doot-Doos” that doot-doo will not very soon escape the confines of your skull. Here is a band that has a hard time penning a forgettable tune.
6. Teenage Dream by Katie Perry
If “Teenage Dream” is one thing, it’s not very intricate. It inhabits a very familiar (i.e. very accessible) pop structure that resembles every other vocal-centric Katy Perry song: there’s a verse, a pre-chorus whereinwhich Perry builds tension, followed by an obnoxiously simple, synthetic three-chord chorus. The one gimmick is a little straight-into-the-mixer guitar riffing (which underscores the entire song) to simulate “rock music.” Otherwise, it’s your average garner-a-hundred-million-Youtube-views pop song that high school girls will sing a capella-style in any given situation their infection happens to act up. If it weren’t music, it’d be Tourette’s.
5. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Back in 2006, you couldn’t avoid this song from Gnarls Barkley’s St. Elsewhere. Everyone was covering it at music festivals, and everyone was singing it everywhere. From a collaboration between producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton and rapper-turned-dramatic-singer Cee Lo Green, this song is the pinnacle of their seemingly jarring vision, mixing elements both classically beautiful, and modernly hip-hop. The way its simple bass line and bare-sounding drumbeat evolve into a crescendoing orchestral arrangement is incredibly affective. A song from the guy who saw how Jay-Z and the Beatles make sense together (via the “Gray Album”), this one makes left-field sound too interesting to get over quickly.
4. Kids by MGMT
Nine notes on a squirmy-sounding keyboard is apparently all it takes to blast a psychedelic electro-pop duo into overblown mainstream status. Ignoring their virtuosic, experimental song structures and musical erudition, their ironically simple tunes are what truly resonate with the masses, and this song is proof (and so is the lukewarm commercial reception of their follow-up, which contained notedly less songs like “Kids” and “Time to Pretend”).
3. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
People like a good non-word hook. That is because they like to sing along without having to know the words, or what words even are for that matter. The “Ga-Ga-Ra-Ah-Ah” parts of this song are completely infectious, and are guaranteed to get trapped in your head, even in passing. While the chorus may be as swollen as necessary, and the empty-calorie synths may give the song a certain disaffected shimmer, those hooks are very carefully placed. Perhaps that is why the Youtube video has managed to rack up almost a half a billion views.
2. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People
This song is very simple; just a few notes of a bass, and a repetitive chorus that is completely easy to sing along with. In a single listen, the melody has already been pounded into your head, enough to keep it spinning around your head until the next time it comes on the radio (i.e. roughly every five minutes). It should come as no surprise that the songwriter and mastermind behind Foster the People was formerly a jingle-writer, a job which is all about adhesive melodies. As for the the rest of the album, the amount of radio airplay virtually every other track has received is a testament to catchy-consistency.
1. Paradise by Coldplay
Coldplay never fail to deliver, or get more potent from album to album. While their latest offering is a little more in the way of electro, and self-consciously mainstream (Rihanna guests on a track), “Paradise” seems to have been crafted 100% with radio play in mind. The piano hooks, swollen synths, and chant-friendly chorus, and flawless pop song structure reveal musicians who know how to get in your heart and brain. And stay there.
What’s Song Gets Stuck In Your Head? Tell us in the comments and we might add it to our
44 Comments
Too hard to make a list of just 10. Everyone listens to different music.
Mr. Saxobeat
Try listening to anything by Europe without it getting stuck in your head especially “The Final Countdown”!
Dang. Thanks for nothing. 😉
HA ! i very proudly have NEVER heard ANY of these songs , and have barely even heard of ANY of the so-called artists… i didn’t bother to press any of the vids to play either , so i still can claim honestly that “Nope , never heard ANY of these”….
The Final Countdown…. now that you’ve read that it’s going thru your head and is stuck better than any of the so-called on this list is what i am betting…. oh , Van Halens “Jump” too….. repressive low-talented irritating minimalist keyboards getchya everytime…..
Whistle by F lo Rida and Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astey are always stuck in my head
Never gonna let you up, never gonna let you down,,,,
couldn’t agree more. That song gets stuck in . my head too
Seven Nation Army is a decent song. i know everyone’s got their own taste of music, but puhleez … if these songs get ‘stuck’ in your head, probably you need a replacement! try listening to somethin like ‘Hotel California’ or the lead from ‘The Nomad’ or ‘Be Yourself’ and you wouldn’t waste your time coming up with lists..
P.S: DID i see justin bieber’s name there?? uggggh…. he is like that unattended poop that flies flock to!
Hearts A Mess- Gotye
Coldplay?
um… baby by justin bieber!????
How about:
1) Who let the dogs out?
2)We will rock you?
3)Put the lime in the coconut
4)500 miles
I know they are older…they have been around awhile. Why? You cant get rid of them…they stay stuck in everyone’s head!
Kids by MGMT cited the “whoever fights monsters” quote incorrectly. It wasn’t Mark Twain, but Friedrich Nietzsche who wrote that. White Stripes and Lady GaGa are definite earworm songs from this list.
what about the strokes, oasis even selena gomez
i dont know about this list, the st vincent tune def doesnt get stuck in anyones head…
Over and Over by Nelly and Tim Mcgraw. Just think of that silly song gets it in my head and it will be there for days now
GRRR
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers needs to be on this list.
THAT DAMN GYPSIES TRAMPS AND THIEVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh great, now that is truly stuck in my head. Oh, Cher!
Barbie girl, how i hate that song
Nya Cat
what about Wonderwall??!!! how could they leave that out?
i thin the top of the list is “we are the champion” by queen.
i’ve always been seduced by the song Low Rider…every time i hear the first few notes of the bass intro..i’m already singing the song after it’s turned off..something about the beat and the voice behind the words…really catchy
Really, Really??? No mention of the Journey epic “Don’t Stop Believin'”…you hum two lines from the song and suddenly people around you start singing it…Start singing it yourself out of nowhere, and suddenly people hate you for getting the song stuck in their head…
I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody that doesn’t know that song…yet the majority of people probably haven’t even heard of this bands/artists you list….
And what about the chicken dance??
None of these stuck in my head after listening. Most sounded awful.
Had to play the video to see if I had ever heard most of these, but having a kid changes, well, everything. Never been a fan of so-called “pop music.” That being said, and I almost hate to do this, but “We Built This City (On Rock and Roll)” is not only awful, it is infectious and highly contagious.
NAILED IT. The worst song ever penned. Now get it out of my head!!!!!
ok what about the witchdoctor by david seville. ooo eeee ooo ahh ahhh ting tang wallah wallah bing bang .
The theme from the movie “Chariots Of Fire”
I honestly can’t say that I’ve ever had any of these songs stuck in my head, even after hearing some of them. I listen to mostly Classic Rock, ’90s and ’00s Metal and Hard Rock. New bands I like are Seether, Disturbed, favorite bands; Led Zep, Black Sabbath, KISS, Metallica, in that order. There is absolutely zero chance that any of these songs will ever get stuck in my head. I have to deal with Barry Mannilow’s ‘Mandy’ getting stuck in my head! Guess I’m telling my age now aren’t I?
Come On Eileen! And I don’t even know the words to it…
Now you do – http://www.lyrics007.com/Dexy%27s%20Midnight%20Runners%20Lyrics/Come%20On%20Eileen%20Lyrics.html
This surprised me:
Come on Eileen well I swear (what he means)
Ah come on lets take off everything
That pretty red dress, oh Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah come on lets, ah come on Eileen
so “Come on Eileen” is a catchier version of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light?” Crazy.
I have only heard 2 of these songs, and neither gets stuck in my head.
What about The Show by Lenka?
Sorry, this list should be called” Top 10 songs from the past 8 years that you may or may not have heard and don’t really fit the “get stuck in your head” billing.”
Sorry, none of these songs have any infectious grooves that repeat themselves in your head. A list of summer hits might better fit the criteria of song that gets stuck in your head.
Yeah me too, it should be titled “Top 10 Songs That Get Stuck In MY Head” 🙂
Children do love repetition, so if i should take an example with my 4 year old son, here are the songs that get stuck in his head
-Deep purple “Smoke on the water”
-Mr Big “To be with you” (yeah i know, don’t ask)
-Eric Clapton’s version of “Cocaine”
-John William’s “Star Wars Theme”
-Peter Frampton “do You feel like we/I do” (live version)
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Second Movement in D Minor, Op. 125. Why ? Its them main music used throughout my favorite movie of all time “A Clockwork Orange” (I also give honorable mention to the song “Singin’ In The Rain”, sung by Gene Kelly, watch the movie and you’ll understand !!)
Chumbawamba. tubthumping
should be number 1
Absolutely.
nice job on the list and I think i definitely agree with you on these selections, although i do like a couple of them. As soo as I read Robot Rock and Pumped Up Kicks, the songs stated playing in my head…and now I’ll be stuck with this all day, thanks for that! lol
Pumped up kicks is a cover….