We've
all had the experience of having an
unwanted song stuck in our heads for
days or weeks. As it turns out, there is
a term for the condition. The songs,
called "earworms," may have a connection
with a person's neurosis level,
according to a study by
James
Kellaris, a marketing professor at the University of
Cincinnati.
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Kellaris, who coined the term "earworms," surveyed around 500
students, faculty and staff on the
campus. His study, which he
presented at a conference of the
Society for Consumer Psychology this
year, showed that women reported
more irritation and frustration from
"earworms," and that people who are
more exposed to music suffer from
earworms more frequently. Kellaris
next plans to begin studying when
earworms are most likely to occur.
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Among
the songs respondents picked as most
likely to become stuck were the
Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps
Tonight," the Chili's restaurant
"baby back ribs" jingle, and the
Baha
Men's "Who Let the Dogs
Out."
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Other
songs that were commonly cited as "earworms":
"YMCA" by the
Village People
"My Sharona" by the
Knack
"Kung Fu Fighting" by
Carl
Douglas
Oscar Mayer bologna jingle
"Secret Agent Man" by
Johnny Rivers
"Meow Mix" jingle
"Do-Re-Mi" from
The
Sound of Music
"Batman" TV show theme
"Michelle" by the
Beatles
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