My favorite earworms
- JonPorobil
- Beat It
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
My favorite earworms
I'm trying to think of the some of the catchiest, most iconic songs of all time. Not just "hey, that's pretty good" kind of catchy; more like "hear it once, and YOU WILL TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE" kind of catchy. It's largely a function of melody, but it also has a lot to do with the way the lyrics feel on the melody, and the interplay between them. You can debate the quality of these songs, but their pervasiveness, and their tendency to get caught between your ears, is undeniable.
For starters, I've
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz.
Louis Armstrong - "What a Wonderful World"
(those two, stripped down to solo ukulele and combined, form one of the greatest medley/cover songs ever).
Bob Dylan - "Blowin' in the Wind"
Elvis Presley - "Heartbreak Hotel," "All Shook Up," "Jailhouse Rock," etc.
The Beatles - "Hard Day's Night," "Eight Days a Week," "From Me To You," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," etc.
James Brown - "I Feel Good"
The Rolling Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," etc.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "I Won't Back Down"
Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get it On"
Queen - "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions," "Another One Bites the Dust"
Billy Joel - "Only the Good Die Young"
Elton John - "Crocodile Rock," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Van Morrison - "Black Magic" (how is it so rhapsodic and yet so pervasive?)
Madonna - "Like a Prayer"
Green Day - "Basket Case"
Beck - "Loser"
Any other suggestions? I'm not necessarily looking to dissect these songs or write essays about them or anything, but I'd imagine that simply listening to a wide range of highly-influential tunes would cause at least a little of the magic rub off on us.
For starters, I've
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz.
Louis Armstrong - "What a Wonderful World"
(those two, stripped down to solo ukulele and combined, form one of the greatest medley/cover songs ever).
Bob Dylan - "Blowin' in the Wind"
Elvis Presley - "Heartbreak Hotel," "All Shook Up," "Jailhouse Rock," etc.
The Beatles - "Hard Day's Night," "Eight Days a Week," "From Me To You," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," etc.
James Brown - "I Feel Good"
The Rolling Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," etc.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "I Won't Back Down"
Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get it On"
Queen - "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions," "Another One Bites the Dust"
Billy Joel - "Only the Good Die Young"
Elton John - "Crocodile Rock," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Van Morrison - "Black Magic" (how is it so rhapsodic and yet so pervasive?)
Madonna - "Like a Prayer"
Green Day - "Basket Case"
Beck - "Loser"
Any other suggestions? I'm not necessarily looking to dissect these songs or write essays about them or anything, but I'd imagine that simply listening to a wide range of highly-influential tunes would cause at least a little of the magic rub off on us.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
- irwin
- Mean Street
- Posts: 620
- Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:09 pm
- Instruments: insecurity
- Recording Method: scotch
- Submitting as: suckweasel, kasper, nutwalls
- Location: Woodland, CA
Re: My favorite earworms
Suzanne Vega's Tom's Diner has the amazing ability to trump just about anything else stuck in your head.
"Ouch. I wonder if this guy sounds like this when he speaks." -- Puce
- inevitableguy
- Mean Street
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:19 am
- Instruments: Stuff with strings, vocals, poor drum machine programming
- Recording Method: Roland VS-1880
- Submitting as: Naked Philosophy
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
I hate to say it, but...
Europe - "The Final Countdown"
Europe - "The Final Countdown"
==========================================
Naked Philosophy, The Tedward Nixon Experience
==========================================
"Brilliant and disastrous at almost the exact same time" - Melvin
Naked Philosophy, The Tedward Nixon Experience
==========================================
"Brilliant and disastrous at almost the exact same time" - Melvin
- Caravan Ray
- bono
- Posts: 8659
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:51 pm
- Instruments: Penis
- Recording Method: Garageband
- Submitting as: Caravan Ray,G.O.R.T.E.C,Lyricburglar,The Thugs from the Scallop Industry
- Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
- Contact:
- JonPorobil
- Beat It
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
In a similar vein... Men Without Hats - "The Safety Dance"inevitableguy wrote:I hate to say it, but...
Europe - "The Final Countdown"
...and CR: I honestly thought that was a link to "Never Gonna Give You Up," 'til I clicked it.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
- Billy's Little Trip
- Odie
- Posts: 12090
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:56 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums, Skin Flute
- Recording Method: analog to digital via Presonus FireBox, Cubase and a porn machine
- Submitting as: Billy's Little Trip, Billy and the Psychotics
- Location: Cali fucking ornia
Re: My favorite earworms
The Knac, My Sharona.
Billy Squire, Stroke.
Rick James, Super Freak.
and MC Hammer, Can't Touch this *lulz*
Beasty Boys, Brass Monkey.
Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Spice Girls, Wannabe.
Billy Squire, Stroke.
Rick James, Super Freak.
and MC Hammer, Can't Touch this *lulz*
Beasty Boys, Brass Monkey.
Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Spice Girls, Wannabe.
-
- Mr. Beast
- Posts: 2263
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:43 pm
- Instruments: Guitar/bass/keys
- Recording Method: Various. Mostly Garageband these days, actually.
- Submitting as: Jim Tyrrell
- Location: New Hampshire
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
Somewhere in the back of my brain, Feliz Navidad is still playing and it won't stop.
I WANNA WISH YOU A MEEEEERRY CHRISTMAAAAS.....
I WANNA WISH YOU A MEEEEERRY CHRISTMAAAAS.....
- glennny
- Jump
- Posts: 2205
- Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:39 am
- Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Dobro, Banjo, E-Bow, Glock
- Recording Method: Garageband
- Submitting as: Berkeley Social Scene
- Location: Castro Valley, California
Re: My favorite earworms
That's off of Full Moon Fever, there are some Heartbreakers on the recording, but it is officially a Tom Petty solo project.Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "I Won't Back Down"
Phillipso, Older Brothers, Semolina Pilchards, Zipline , Thank Glennny for the Frisbee, The Odoriferous Valley, The Worldly Self Assurance, Berkeley Social Scene, Very Gentle Knives, Daddy Bop Swing Set, GUNS, The Kraken Lives, Cavedwellers
- JonPorobil
- Beat It
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
The Kinks - "You Really Got Me"
Cheap Trick - "I Want You To Want Me"
How did I fail to think of those when I first put this list together?
Cheap Trick - "I Want You To Want Me"
How did I fail to think of those when I first put this list together?
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
- ken
- Hot for Teacher
- Posts: 3876
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:10 pm
- Instruments: Guitar, bass, drums, keys
- Recording Method: MOTU 828x, Cubase 10
- Submitting as: Ken's Super Duper Band 'n Stuff
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: oakland, ca
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
I just listened to Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky. I don't think it will leave my brain for a while.
Ken's Super Duper Band 'n Stuff - Berkeley Social Scene - Tiny Robots - Seamus Collective - Semolina Pilchards - Cutie Pies - Explino! - Bravo Bros. - 2 from 14 - and more!
i would just like to remind everyone that Ken eats kittens - blue lang
i would just like to remind everyone that Ken eats kittens - blue lang
- roymond
- Beat It
- Posts: 5188
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 3:42 pm
- Instruments: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Logic
- Recording Method: Logic X, MacBookPro, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- Submitting as: roymond, Dangerous Croutons, Intentionally Left Bank, Moody Vermin
- Pronouns: he/him
- Location: brooklyn
- Contact:
Re: My favorite earworms
Pink Floyd's "Money"
Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated"
Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated"
roymond.com | songfights | covers
"Any more chromaticism and you'll have to change your last name to Wagner!" - Frankie Big Face
"Any more chromaticism and you'll have to change your last name to Wagner!" - Frankie Big Face