So I’m strolling down the hotel hall* in my new black flipflops, and as I round a corner it occurs to me that I’m humming “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from the musical Annie (which, by the way, I haven’t seen since elementary school). Suddenly I’m searching the area for a crowbar, a jackhammer, a radio – anything that will pry, pound, or flush the bubbly tune from my cranium. Nothing. I’m stuck. Only hurrying with my ice refill, slapping back down the hall, and throwing myself at my exhausted iPod or the hotel room’s tiny clock radio will do the trick. Until I find out my husband has Phil Collins’ “One More Night” in his head. Goodbye, show tune. Hello sweet, sappy ’80s ballad.
Most of the time it seems like my life is accompanied by a soundtrack not of my own choosing. In college, I once underwent three months in Mexico singing either “Celito Lindo” or the original version of “Macarena” in my off hours. A couple years ago, I spent a weekend rafting on the San Juan River doing everything in time with the decidedly uncatchy “Amie” by Pure Prairie League. Infectious melodies regularly add to my insomniac misery as I sigh through hours of wakefulness with songs ranging from Jack Johnson’s “Good People” to Beck’s “Hell Yes” running an endless loop in the background. And I can never think of the musical West Side Story without suffering a deluge of show tunes, most especially “America”. It’s amazing how often that Romeo and Juliet adaptation comes to mind simply because I try to resist all thoughts of it.
My brother recently proved to me that the best way to lodge a song in someone’s head is to sing only part of it, stopping midway through – preferably in the middle of a word. This way the person’s brain is forced to continue the melody, starting over and over, until it finds a satisfactory ending. Like Sisyphus and the rock, a satisfying climax never occurs. No wonder it’s death to my peaceful mind when I switch stations partway through “The Milkshake Song”. I assure you, however, that I haven’t listened to “It’s a Hard Knock Life”, either in whole or in part, since a friend last subjected me to her cheerful off-key rendition months ago. So what brought it up?
I’m sick of my usual “ear worms” as they’ve come to be called, and am hereby suggesting a trade. I tell you what I have in my head, and you tell me what you’re singing. (Chances are, it’s now one of the songs I’ve mentioned above. I’m so sorry. Truly.) Or are you one of those lucky people who isn’t subjected to fourteen straight hours of “It’s a Small World After All” just because a coworker finishes a story of running into an old classmate in the deli section of her grocery store with a cheerful, “It really is a small world, isn’t it?” If so, not only are you part of the lucky 2%, but you’re really missing out. I mean, you actually have to turn on a radio to hear a little music. Really, I feel so much pity for you.
*Yes, we’re already on vacation, and have been for a while, which is why I haven’t been haunting the blogosphere as much as usual. Expect more of the same over the next several weeks. Not that blogging’s been totally off my mind, of course. Hubs and I already stayed several nights with the delightful, talented Robin, and I’ll meet up with a few others at the RWA conference next week. If you’re going, too, maybe I’ll see you there! (In the meantime, though, be sure to check out Pam’s posts on preparing for Nationals.) So, really, you are far from forgotten, even when I myself am far from a good network connection.
Well, being a musician, the music never stops. It is a skill, learning how to make the music stop. It’s why, when the whole world goes around hooked up to an iPod, I often crave silence. Music involves too much of my brain; it’s overwhelming at times.
When we were in conservatory, we loved to play a song and end on the V chord, that one chord before the resolution, just to drive each other batty. And then the other person, with a slightly crazed look on their face, would rush to the nearest piano and resolve the damn chord, already. 🙂
do you know what song popped into my head while I was reading this?
Sing by The Carpenters
Make it stop.
Have fun at the RWA convention. I can’t wait for 2010 when it comes to NY and I can attend the book signing event.
Songs stuck in your head? I think I know this. My poison, pick any song from the Rent Soundtrack. Any. Song. I do listen to it from time to time, but the song that get’s stuck in my head is usually one I wasn’t listening to.
I usually just listen to other music.
Enjoy the conference!
I LOVE this post!
Okay, for the last two weeks, I’ve been writing (on deadline!) to:
Dead. On. A–ri- val.
Because SOMEONE keeps playing it on Rock Band over and over again. And even when they’re done– it lingers— for days . . .
Spyscribbler, that is hilarious! I love the though of musicians driving each other crazy that way.
Dru, all you need is to get something else in your head instead — preferably something at least as unpleasant. 😉 As for the book signing, I haven’t been to it yet since I’ve never attended Nationals, but I’ve heard it’s amazing.
Ooh, Cynthia, I can see how Rent would be a problem. Chicago also does it for me.
Thanks, Alyson! Good luck with erasing the song from your head. I’m sure it’ll eventually be replaced by something just as tenacious. 😉
i once had the theme song to Green Acres in my crazy little head for about two months. Why? Because i couldn’t remember the last line. See, what works for me is to sing the part of the song stuck in me all the way through with no mistakes and not having that last line was killing me.
i asked everyone and finally, TVLand had a marathon. (i never liked the show.) Anyway, i got the last line, sang it all the way through and it went away! There’ve been many songs since, but that was by far the most irritating.
Wow! I thought I was the only one who gets Green Acres stuck in my head. I never liked the show either. I have this curse that I pick up tunes very easily. I usually can remember the lyrics to an entire song upon one hearing. Hence, after my lovely children Netflixed the entire 4th season of Family Guy this week, I’ve been walking around singing “Lucky there’s a family guy …” for days.
Other ridiculous songs that tend to get stuck (I did a post on this once): Take a Chance on Me by ABBA (and I haven’t even heard that song since I was, like, twelve), American Pie (both the original and the Weird Al version … I often mix up the words), and recently “It’s a Fine Life” from the movie Oliver, thanks to Sam’s killer word this week.
The other night I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell in my head. Oh. My.God.
My other one is any song from the Buffy “Once More With Feeling” soundtrack. (Yes, Caryn, everything comes back to Buffy.)
OMG–Boston’s “Amanda”–for 3 weeks now I’ve been hearing that song. Over. And over. And I don’t know why. I’m hoping “It’s a Hard Knock Life” will push it out of my head. Seriously. 🙂
Hope to cross paths with you in SF!!
Another great post, Caryn! I get songs stuck in my head *all* the time! But for some reason, at this moment, put on the spot, I’ve got ‘nothin. I can’t even remember the last song that wouldn’t leave me alone. And thankfully, I’m not singing anything from Annie either. 🙂 Nice try. No trades today I’m afraid. But when I see you in S.F., watch out! (Because really, I’m not one of those 2%.)