My favorite earworms

[JonPorobil]

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.

[irwin]

Suzanne Vega's Tom's Diner has the amazing ability to trump just about anything else stuck in your head.

[inevitableguy]

I hate to say it, but...

Europe - "The Final Countdown"

[Caravan Ray]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgh2LRTMYo

[JonPorobil]

I hate to say it, but...

Europe - "The Final Countdown"

In a similar vein... Men Without Hats - "The Safety Dance"

...and CR: I honestly thought that was a link to "Never Gonna Give You Up," 'til I clicked it.

[Billy's Little Trip]

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.

[jimtyrrell]

Somewhere in the back of my brain, Feliz Navidad is still playing and it won't stop.

I WANNA WISH YOU A MEEEEERRY CHRISTMAAAAS.....

[glennny]

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "I Won't Back Down"

That's off of Full Moon Fever, there are some Heartbreakers on the recording, but it is officially a Tom Petty solo project.

[JonPorobil]

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?

[ken]

I just listened to Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky. I don't think it will leave my brain for a while.

[roymond]

Pink Floyd's "Money"
Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated"