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teratornisThis week's Friday Five.
I do love talking about music, and to be honest I'd never really analyzed the stuff that gets stuck in my head most often, so this seems like a fun one to dive into.
1. What is a common ear worm that you get?
A lot of this really depends on what I've been listening to lately. Recently, it's mostly been Baobhan Sith by Syr, Killers with the Cross by Powerwolf, The Face of Silence by Ordan Ogan, or Hy-Brasil by Allison Russell.
If we're talking lifetime greatest hits that will smack me upside the head out of the blue, though, we're mostly talking Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn, the electric version of Layla by Eric Clapton, or Lyfjaberg by Wardruna.
2. How long do they last?
Also depends. Sometimes only a couple of hours, sometimes a week or two. Also depends on how consistently I'm listening to the same song over and over again. Sometimes that helps, sometimes that makes it worse.
3. What do you do to get rid of them?
I have a handful of mostly sea shanties memorized - songs with a steady rhythm and a solid, easy-to-follow beat, and relatively easy-to-learn lyrics. I'll start singing one of those to myself if I really want a song out of my head, and usually the sea shanty overrides it.
My dad used to sing the Barney the Dinosaur theme song to anybody complaining about having a song stuck in their head. We learned real quick to not bring it up around him.
4. What is the worst ear worm you've ever had?
In about 2009, I think, I got Girl of Mysterious Sorrow by Marc Cohn stuck in my head. This was before you could find any song under the sun on youtube, and I was away from home and my physical copy of the album this song is on, so I couldn't actually listen to it. It ended up being stuck in my head for three months.
It's a song I love, but still.
5. Do you get some guilty pleasure in passing the ear worm along?
Also depends, usually on the song in question. There are some I genuinely feel bad about inadvertently getting stuck in someone's head, if it's something particularly awful or annoying that the person in question also doesn't like. Other times, I just think it's funny. I don't feel particularly guilty in that case, though.
I do love talking about music, and to be honest I'd never really analyzed the stuff that gets stuck in my head most often, so this seems like a fun one to dive into.
1. What is a common ear worm that you get?
A lot of this really depends on what I've been listening to lately. Recently, it's mostly been Baobhan Sith by Syr, Killers with the Cross by Powerwolf, The Face of Silence by Ordan Ogan, or Hy-Brasil by Allison Russell.
If we're talking lifetime greatest hits that will smack me upside the head out of the blue, though, we're mostly talking Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn, the electric version of Layla by Eric Clapton, or Lyfjaberg by Wardruna.
2. How long do they last?
Also depends. Sometimes only a couple of hours, sometimes a week or two. Also depends on how consistently I'm listening to the same song over and over again. Sometimes that helps, sometimes that makes it worse.
3. What do you do to get rid of them?
I have a handful of mostly sea shanties memorized - songs with a steady rhythm and a solid, easy-to-follow beat, and relatively easy-to-learn lyrics. I'll start singing one of those to myself if I really want a song out of my head, and usually the sea shanty overrides it.
My dad used to sing the Barney the Dinosaur theme song to anybody complaining about having a song stuck in their head. We learned real quick to not bring it up around him.
4. What is the worst ear worm you've ever had?
In about 2009, I think, I got Girl of Mysterious Sorrow by Marc Cohn stuck in my head. This was before you could find any song under the sun on youtube, and I was away from home and my physical copy of the album this song is on, so I couldn't actually listen to it. It ended up being stuck in my head for three months.
It's a song I love, but still.
5. Do you get some guilty pleasure in passing the ear worm along?
Also depends, usually on the song in question. There are some I genuinely feel bad about inadvertently getting stuck in someone's head, if it's something particularly awful or annoying that the person in question also doesn't like. Other times, I just think it's funny. I don't feel particularly guilty in that case, though.
no subject
Date: 29 Mar 2026 00:19 (UTC)This was fun to read, and your sea shanty strategy is very clever, as they are intended to be catchy, and to not require musical backing, for ease of transport. I'm glad that works for you, when an earworm is unwelcome.
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Date: 29 Mar 2026 00:56 (UTC)Thanks! I've found listening to the song stuck in my head to be helpful only some of the time, and of course if it's a song I don't like I don't want to do that anyway. I have yet to find a sea shanty I don't like, though, and they're tailor-made to be memorable.
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Date: 29 Mar 2026 22:30 (UTC)no subject
Date: 30 Mar 2026 03:15 (UTC)no subject
Date: 30 Mar 2026 01:14 (UTC)2. I totally love Baobhan Sith by Syr and it's gone on my favorites playlist.
3. I can understand how the chorus of Killers with the Cross by Powerwolf would stick. That, I'd get tired of. The Face of Silence is more than kinda awesome, but also more than a little frenetic and then isn't and then is and then isn't. Gods. Can understand how part of it could wear a groove. Fpur minutes in, it had worn me out. But also love Hy-Brasil by Allison Russell. Tornis have you been holding out of me?
4. I'd never heard Walking in Memphis before. It's wonderful. Also had never heard Lyfjaberg by Wardruna. Also wonderful and it's liable to end up on my favorite favorites list. yes, I really have a favorite favorites list. Is there anyone who was alive who has never had Layla on their mind?
5. I am obviously not answering the questions asked in the same order. I many save that for a post I make.
6. But I will comment that I almost always like the songs I get stuck in my mind and they're usually on whatever playlist was on the day before. If I'm awake and not with patients I'm usually listening and listening to music.
7. I enjoyed this post. Thank you. Mick and Keith icon bc--music I get on my mind.
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Date: 30 Mar 2026 03:33 (UTC)I could've sworn I'd sent you Hy-Brasil in the past, but I guess not. Isn't it lovely? I have sent you Face of Silence, though. I think you said the same thing then. :P
Marc Cohn has been one of my favorite musicians since I was very young. I love his stuff. I love most of what Wardruna does, too. I'll send you a few more by both of them. :D
Glad you enjoyed this!