How quickly do certain words make you start singing a song in your head?

@TheHorse (238280)

Walnut Creek, California

November 13, 2016 11:51am CST

I always seem to have a song in my head. That's probably a good thing, as I play a lot of music. I'm basically "rehearsing melodies," which can only be helpful. Yesterday, in my post about incompetent doctors, someone (I think it was @JolietJake) replied that his doctor "hears what he wants to hear..." Of course, I was singing The Boxer, by Simon and Garfunkel, for the next hour or two. "...a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." Depending on your age and the kinds of music you listen to, different phrases will get you. Some that get me every time are "Wait a minute" (turns into Wait a Minute, by Herb Pedersen, as sung by the Seldom Scene), "I cried like a baby" (turns into I Cried Like a Baby, as sung by Chicago blues great, Koko Taylor), "sundown" (turns into Sundown, by Gordon Lightfoot), "I don't mind when..." (turns into What I Got, by Sublime), "it's all a dream" (turns into Box of Rain, by the Grateful Dead). Even "to the left" gets me (Irreplaceable, by Beyonce). Are there certain phrases that get you going?

Seldom Scene - wait a minute

www.youtube.com

dall'album old Train del 1974.

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16 responses

• Indore, India

14 Nov 16

When someone says 'Oh!', my brain extrapolates it to "oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine!". It happens nearly all the time. When I see someone talk or do something in a hurry, the song that begins playing in my head is 'Xmas_evet10' by Aphex Twin.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

It's impossible to stop it from happening.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 16

@Nihil90 Heh heh. Nobody knows. Unless you open your mouth to try and say something intelligent and "I WENT DOWN TO THE CROSSROADS..." comes out.

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• Indore, India

15 Nov 16

@TheHorse You just can't! It keeps blaring inside, and you look so involved in whatever you're doing from outside.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

13 Nov 16

i aint allowed to sing, makes the coyotes howl. don't stop me from doin' such'n my head though.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

15 Nov 16

@TheHorse the hubs dislikes 't coz't makes the pups howl, too. purty soon there's a chorus 'f critters'n myself way off key, lol. 'tis jest best to sing'n my lil head than to torture others :)

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 16

@crazyhorseladycx Oh, don't let that stop you. Any chorus is good.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

What's wrong with a little coyote chorus?

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@LadyDuck (502234)

• Italy

14 Nov 16

Most of the time a couple of words brings a song to my mind, sometimes just a word... Yesterday (all my troubles seemed so far away.)

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@LadyDuck (502234)

• Italy

15 Nov 16

I am sorry, it is an ear worm for me now.

@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

Oh oh, that one COULD turn into an ear worm for me.

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@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

14 Nov 16

Oh yes, and I may have that song in my head for hours. I try not to sing out loud unless I'm on my own though

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

Why not sing loud?

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@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

14 Nov 16

@TheHorse Wouldn't want to scare people!

@amadeo (111937)

• United States

13 Nov 16

I have music in my head most of the day.All kind from Broadway to Rock and Jazz.

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@amadeo (111937)

• United States

14 Nov 16

@TheHorse today music in my head.Was Nina Simone My baby don't care for me.This is a great tune by her

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

Diverse musical tastes is a good thing!

@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 16

@amadeo I think I've heard It. I'll look for it.

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

14 Nov 16

I'm a fan of several different genre's @TheHorse so with my past dancing history, music and phrases hit my pea brain all the time. My cats however don't appreciate my voice.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

My horse, alas, didn't care what I sang when we were out on a trail ride. I also tried, and failed, to get her interested in Handel back at the barn.

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

14 Nov 16

@TheHorse Critters! What can ya say! "A horse is a horse, of course, of course". Mr. Ed

@vandana7 (102698)

• India

13 Nov 16

I don't know...my little friend (boy) always says ..atta sing..he likes to listen to me singing. So when he talks something...I kinda use some tune from some of the songs I know...and he jumps with joy ..I find it fascinating. Like ..I was teaching him ..mother of mine for his mom's b'day...and he was not willing to. So I sang "I don't wanna sing"... in the tune..ABBA .."I don't want to talk" (The winner takes it all)...and boy he got so excited..but at this stage it is difficult to get them to sing two lines continuously I suppose.. He sings once and then does not want to learn more..his sister is different. I am sure she will be good in everything...

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Nov 16

I think littlies like to sing "silly" songs that they make up to familiar tunes. But as long as they're both having fun, I'm happy.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61463)

• United States

13 Nov 16

Funny you should say that because the word bunny gets me and my grandson Jack singing Little Bunny FooFoo lol He loves it.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

Good one!

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@FourWalls (86615)

• United States

13 Nov 16

Just about everything can start me singing. I was watching an old TV show and one of the characters mentioned "silk brocade" and I added "and a job that paid for two," the line from Robbie Fulks' "Long I Ride" ("she had silk brocade in her bedroom and a job that paid for two").

And I would like it duly noted for the record that the Seldom Scene's version of "Wait a Minute" is one of the greatest songs in bluegrass history. Thank you.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Nov 16

I agree about Wait a Minute. I sing that one at bluegrass jams with my friends Kathy and Liz. It's a great harmony song.

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

14 Nov 16

oh all kinds of things set off songs in my head, the word hallelujah, or champion, always do!

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 16

Oh, I forgot about those two. Now I have THREE songs playing in my head. Know what I mean, Jelly Bean?

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@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

13 Nov 16

almost in every sentence - my head is always singing

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Nov 16

I wonder if I could produce a sentence that's all song lyrics.

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@Lucky15 (37391)

• Philippines

13 Nov 16

i have one song, title is "OKAY" No matter what you been through, here you are...it's gonna be okay

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

When I remind myself that everything's going to be alright, a Reggae song comes into my head. I think it's Bob Marley.

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@teamfreak16 (43577)

• Denver, Colorado

13 Nov 16

Sometimes all it takes is word.

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

whipping cream...whipping...whipping post...sometimes I FEEEEEEL like I've been tied to the whipping post!!!...

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@tzwrites (4835)

• Romania

14 Nov 16

As soon as I hear one or two words of some songs I start singing in my head. It can be a nuisance because then the song gets stuck in my head

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

14 Nov 16

I don't mind if it's a song I like. Right now I'm doing progress notes and listening to classical music. Because it's less repetitive, it doesn't lend itself to ear worms as much.

@Theresaaiza (10487)

• Australia

7 Nov 17

Oh yes !

Almost instantly! "Hey, MOM!" (Buses and Trains, Bachelor Girl) "Can you help me?" (Can you help me, Usher) Well this is a terrible day to think of usher cause obviously someone's probably in distress.

But yep, happened to me not too long ago

@STOUTjodee (3670)

• United States

13 Nov 16

"Suck it up buttercup" or "We Are Family."

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@TheHorse (238280)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Nov 16

Heh. We are Family does pass through my head sometimes.

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