I bet you have had an earworm at some point in your life!
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
Centralia, Missouri
November 22, 2015 10:00am CST
There are so many types of music out there, some better than others (sorry rap I just don’t love you). I know there is classical, rap, country, etc. etc. etc…but I more so mean generic categories like easy listening. Some music easily falls into these categories (one or many), some need a category that currently doesn’t exist. Check these three out, I know earworm is an official term, power ballads are a thing, and emoticmusic should be, but aren’t.
1. Earworm music (that’s a thing, according to Wikipedia). It’s a catchy piece of music that gets stuck in your head, long after the song has stopped playing. Commercial Jingles work this way (180096Jenny anyone?). Music like Janet Devlin’s Creatures of the Night, Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny by Lemon Demon, Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, Barbie Girl by Aqua, or We will Rock You by Queen, are known for getting stuck for a while. I’ve had Creatures of the Night in my head since last night and woke up with it playing still!
2. Power Ballads- songs that flow along all nicely then BAM hit you with a soaring power chord or something. Songs that come to mind here are Heaven by Bryan Adams, Lady by the Styx, and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith, are some that come to mind. I would add that one song from Lion King, and the Prayer with Andrea Bocelli (or Josh Groban) and Celine Dion. These are the songs that give me goose bumps along with the high from the vocals soaring up into the sky.
3. Emotimusic- Some of these are the songs so haunting that you not only get goose bumps, but you might even tear up slightly, like Silent Night done by Pentatonix. Or they are the songs that are a bit sad, but make you feel better by listening to them. I count Had a Bad Day by Daniel Powter (also considered a Power Ballad), and Joe Purdy’s Wash Away here.
How about you? What categories for music would you add? What sounds would you put in those categories (real or made up)
Disclaimer, many songs fall under more than one category, and much of this is my opinion only.
16 people like this
18 responses
@FourWalls (86939)
• United States
22 Nov 15
How about including the GUILTY PLEASURE music? Those songs that you feel bad for liking, either because the song ("Kung Fu Fighting") or the band (Abba) has a "bad reputation" for being bad or fluff or "not something (insert genre here) should like." This time of year that usually includes "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." 
As for earworms, I'm proud to say I've never had a Bon Jovi song stuck in my head. It's interesting that you mentioned that, though, because I just wrote a discussion about discovering a song when reading a songwriter's obituary...then listening to the song non-stop for 20 minutes. 
As for earworms, I'm proud to say I've never had a Bon Jovi song stuck in my head. It's interesting that you mentioned that, though, because I just wrote a discussion about discovering a song when reading a songwriter's obituary...then listening to the song non-stop for 20 minutes. 4 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
I love that. (and both Kung Fu Fighting, and most of Abba). I have a couple country songs I like that are like that for me, and maybe 2 rap songs.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
26 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt Yes, it can be obnoxious at times.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
that song, while a nice message, is so obnoxious sounding!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Nov 15
The Macarena... man that one just wouldn't die, LOL!
Yeah, these days I think most music sort of crosses genres, you have country that is more like pop, and rock that is pop, and pop that is jazz... it's a mish mash world these days.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91201)
• United States
22 Nov 15
@dwdavis how about "what does the fox say"?? earworm for sure but not a good one LOL
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 That was a funny nonsense song. A friend would torment me with that one. Kinds and grownups could launch into it anywhere. "What does the fox say......" I blurted it out in line at Trader Joe's once and the checker responded in kind.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
@Susan2015 and @marlina deff earworm potential there!
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Nov 15
I still have Pancho and Lefty in my head, from singing it yesterday. Thank goodness it's a song I like. One MyLotter tied to insert "I am Woman" (hear me roar) into my brain the other day, but I wouldn't let her (smiley face emoticon).
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
It's pretty fun to throw out those, some are easier than others. I can almost always work let it go into things. Mind isn't in the game today so nothing good coming to me. or it's the christmas music I have playing keeping me from being evil.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
@TheHorse love that too, love the big church big echo sound that comes with Handel's music. Venue of where that is sung helps, but you know what i mean. Annnnnd now it is stuck in my head too.... the later not messiah....lol
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt I haven't played any Christmas music yet. I'm a Handel Messiah freak. But dang it, now I have "I've been waiting fo a girl like you to come into my life..." going through my head instead of Pancho and Lefty. I blame @FourWalls.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
Hmm, perhaps a 'Get me moving, grooving, and feeling better" catagory
@allknowing (153529)
• India
30 Nov 15
I hope I won't get stuck with a ear worm as I have had that experience many a time. No matter who much I have tried to banish it that stayed put for quite a number of days.
Talking about goose bumps I have always liked this tenor trio - 'O Sole Mio'
Big Luciano Pavarotti and "O Sole Mio" The Three Tenors: The Spanish Tenor Plácido Domingo, the Spanish / Mexican Tenor José Carreras and the Italian Tenor L...
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
30 Nov 15
he has an amazing voice, always loved his stuff.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
22 Nov 15
I don't mind if it is a good song but usually earworms are the awful songs - this song purposely sums that up
You know the words now sing! Sing I tell you! You know you want to.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
Ok, you beat me hands down for evil. lol
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
22 Nov 15
Hmmm This was a very interesting read. I would have to say, 'trash music'. There is some music, I have no clue how they ever got it recorded, but of course this is just personal opinion.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
22 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt You have a good point there.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
I love that, Trash Music. I might call it dump music, someone dumped this in a pot, then just blopped out a scoop of...whatever it turned into,
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54741)
• United States
23 Nov 15
The ringtone I have for my son is We Will Rock You.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91201)
• United States
22 Nov 15
Two songs that give me goosebumps are Halleljuah by Jon Bon Jovi and I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
There are some good versions of that song, that one, but some others too, and yes it right up there on the give me chills list too. the second I don't know and will have to look up later
@TheHorse (238390)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Nov 15
I Hope You Dance is actually one of my favorite Country songs. I watch the video on YouTube now and then when I need a dose of inspiration. I think the little kids I worked with in Oakland turned me on to that one. It may have been used in Little Mermaid 2, which they made me watch with them.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
Tell her To Let It Go! that you just want her to Let It Be!... . I love to sneak such songs in things I write, then sit back and giggle when people get the songs stuck there head
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
@boiboing I know, I am terrible aren't I. I don't know why it amuses me so much.
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
22 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt You and she would get on like a house on fire.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Nov 15
that is yet another earworm song!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
22 Nov 15
Some catchy or stirring tracks there, yep!
Folk music appeals to some base element in the psyche, putting it firmly in the "Earworm" category:
Val Doonican ... what can you say about him? ... a singer from Eire who took T.V. by storm in 1964 for twenty years ... dressed in his cardigan and sitting i...
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
Deff have to agree with on this one!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
I finally got that one song out of my head....well I did. mentioning it made it start again, 
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
22 Nov 15
One earworm that really got me was Rebecca Black singing "Friday." It is a pretty terrible song, but I couldn't stop singing it. It came out in 2011, but I think I heard it sometime after that. I guess I would categorize it as "Techno-Pop."
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Nov 15
I do like some techno pop, and don't know if I know this one. but I don't know if I wanna, don't need another earworm!
