Skimming Stones | Sula's Blog | Sula1968 A South African poet, potter and mother
Today’s Daily Post Prompt titled Earworm is “What song is stuck in your head (or on permanent rotation in your CD or MP3 player) these days? Why does it speak to you?”
Over a month ago I caught the Banana Boat song playing on the radio. Oi, I’ve never had such a bad case of earworm. I just can’t get it out of my head and catch myself singing it all the time.
Cliff told me that he recently heard that often an earworm is most often an annoying song, not one which you love. I don’t find the Banana Boat song annoying, it’s rather fun. Particularly when it was used in Beetlejuice, that scene was classic. The song does not speak to me. Song’s like Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush singing “Don’t Give up“, Kansas “Dust in the Wind” or Joan Baez singing Johnny Clegg’s “Asimbonanga” that one gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Those songs speak to me.
The absolute worst is when I put a kids DVD on for Acacia to watch while I’m doing a few chores in the morning. A little while later I can feel my brain liquefying and my blood pressure rising. I realize the source of the problem when I become aware of the song at the end of the DVD looping until it drives me loopy. Why can’t they just cut it at the end? Is there an evil plot to drive parents completely around the twist. To add insult to injury I then walk around all day singing the Noddy or Barney theme song.
I have one weather related earworm, every time I hear the wind blow I start singing the Nick Cave song “Henry Lee” (and the wind did howl and the wind did blow, la la la la la, La la la la Lee, Little bird looked down on Henry Lee”. At least that one is cool.
For now The Banana Boat song has simply taken up residence in my head and I have to ride it out or go nuts whichever comes first.
I could see how that song would stick. I am not sure if annoying song are the ones but maybe catchy types that typically have a high, upbeat melody and repetitive lyrics.