An Unwelcome Visitor
Stuff I hate May 23rd, 2009Been three weeks since the day we became one.
Three weeks of sheer torture.
I wake up to it.
I shower with it.
I cook with it.
I go to work with it.
It’s with me right now.
It haunts me.
It’s sneaky. It’s merciless. It’s painful.
It may never leave.
But I don’t want it.
And I can’t take it.
I want peace.
I need to quiet the voices in my head!
The voices of ….. The Pointer Sisters.
Yeah, the song I heard over a grocery store speaker three weeks ago.
They’re. Still. Here.
Someone once told me the best way to rid yourself of an earworm is to give it to someone else.
Else, it’s all yours:
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Stumble it!
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Sorry, Kathy, this won’t work on me, because I don’t know this song! Whew.
Here’s one to replace it – It’s a Small World after all, It’s a Small World after all, It’s a Small World after all, It’s a Small Small World!
hahaha!
Barb – WillThink4Wine’s last blog post..cosmo kitty
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Oh no – now I have a combo of the Pointer sisters and Disney running through my head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids’s last blog post..A special Day and Photo Hunters – Plastic
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Okay, I have what I think is the Klingon attack score from one of the early Star Trek movies in my head. I’m afraid to Google it for fear it will stay there forever.
But thanks to you, it just switched to “I’m So Excited”–aren’t brains wonderful?
kathcom’s last blog post..7 Signs I’m Getting Old
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Actually it’s one I don’t know so you can keep it ha ha! I would like to ease your pain, but I can’t take it from you if I don’t know it. My mum always taught me not to speak to strangers
babs – beetle’s last blog post..What not to do as a front seat passenger in a car.
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
No way in hell am I hitting play on that. I don’t want your demons.
If it helps, why don’t you concentrate on the song “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow for a little while. That might do the trick.
Chris’s last blog post..The Teacher Files, Volume I: Mr. DiMaria
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Au-to-maaaa-tic…
Oh, yeah. You’ve done it, and I didn’t even have to watch the video. Just thinking about it was enough.
absepa’s last blog post..It’s About Time You Got Here
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Ah jeez, I hate when that happens. At least it was that song by the Pointer Sisters. I had the theme to Bonanza in my head for about a month! I even started calling my dad ‘Paw.’
RedRaider’s last blog post..Tea Time With T. Sam
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I don’t know what’s worse. The outfits, the song, the fact the lead singer sounds sort of like a man, or that the people in the audience actually seem to be enjoying the song.
Regan’s last blog post..Girl Scout Cookies
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I don’t remember that song. No demons here. I do want to comment on the dress of the girl on the right…..duh – could they get it any shorter!!!
grannyann’s last blog post..How Will People Remember You?
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Ha, I love the Pointer Sisters, though I’d be more likely to be sucked into “Baby Come and Get It” or “If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady” or even “Dare Me”.
You can’t scare me with horrible earworms. I live with a teenager. And small children.
(Be grateful it’s not the song from Barney)
Stephanie Barr’s last blog post..For JD: Cat Vanity
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I forgot how poofy the 80’s were.
Speaking of Barney, my little sister is now 16, yet some days I still get the dumb Apples and Bananas song stuck in my head.
Michelle Hartz’s last blog post..I was wrong, THIS is a star studded dream
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I think the best strategy is to replace one earworm with another one. A BETTER one! Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IKFBkOJciw
ps: You’re welcome.
Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Photo Hunters: Plastic
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Nah, never heard it before, not hearing it now, not sticking in my head but when you say Pointer Sisters I immediately hear “I’m so excited, And I just can’t hide it, And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you, want you.”
Grace’s last blog post..There is only one word for chocolate and that’s Teuschers
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
My favorite is by “The Kinks”
Ray Davies singing “there’s a little green man in my head” always cracks me up. There is a specific local blogger i would love to dedicate that song to some night!
Chris Casey’s last blog post..R.I.P. Cranky the Crab
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I share my earworms on Facebook. Yes, they hop over into other people’s brains… but they still seem to stick in mine. It’s so unfair.
I’m singing in a concert next week and pretty much all the songs we’re singing have been sticking in my head for the past two months. I like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” probably more than the next person… but all the freakin’ time???
Sigh.
Kelly’s last blog post..Fractal No. 15
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Nope, it doesn’t bother me at all. But there is one song so insidious, I can’t even type the title, because it will get stuck in my brain for days.
You are brave for posting this.
Joe’s last blog post..The Excitement Never Ends
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
LOL thanks Kathy, I now have their song “I”m so excited” in my head…
May 23rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
You love Paris right, and everyone french knows this song.
Aux Champs-Élysées
(me runs off hoping she will go listen)
Oooooooo Champs-Élysées la la la
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
The one leeetle flaw in your clever plan is that we have to click to play it. And I won’t click! Nyah.
But I do empathize. I get Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” going through my head by the end of almost every day and I have no idea why. *sigh*
Phyl (kashicat)’s last blog post..Dismembered subway cars for Doors Open Toronto
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Sometimes it’s great to have a tune on the brain, but only for so long. Like a few minutes. Let’s hope sharing it worked for you!
Sherry at EX Marks the Spot’s last blog post..PhotoHunt: PLASTIC
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Misery! How have you been surviving? No wonder you had writer’s block. I can’t imagine this torture for so long.
They need to book you on a morning talk show to explain your battle!
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Nope, not gonna click; and I haven’t heard that one either.
But one song lately I CAN’T stand is the Jamie Foxx one. I literally will turn off the radio when it comes on… but if I am too slow, I hear the first bit, turn off the radio, but then my damn mind keeps REPLAYING it anyway!
GAH!!! I wish he would just stick to acting.
Maureen’s last blog post..Deflated
May 24th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Ugh. For the last 20 years, if there’s not something else going on inside my head, Salt and Peppa’s “Push it” gets stuck in there. And it’s not the whose song, just the looping of the intro
“Ooh Baby Baby..
Ooh baby baby..”
And that just goes on. That’s why I try to stay busy — to stop those people.
Fortunately, this is starting to replace it in my head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx3S5mqvvig&feature=related
It’s still really annoying when it gets stuck, but it seems more appropriate in my head that 80s Urban Woman Dance Rap.
Cromely’s last blog post..Have you played Atari today?
May 24th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Barb WillThink4Wine — You picked a song that I’ll always associate with one of the most embarrassing moments in my childhood. Scroll to “Roll with it, baby.” Luckily, I’m over it now, so that song can’t hurt me anymore.
Sniffie and the Florida Furkids — What could be worse? Hey, guess what? I woke up today and didn’t think of the song. Even while responding to these comments, it’s not in my head! I think my tactic worked!
kathcom — At least the Klingon attack music doesn’t have any words, right? Several of you mentioned “I’m So Excited” but I’m grateful it hasn’t stuck in my head since reading about it. And, BTW, I knew I risked making things worse by posting the song. But I haven’t thought about it since, so maybe it worked!
Babs Beetle — You’re so funny. Nope, you don’t have to take candy OR bad 80s songs from strangers.
Chris — Love that song! I mentioned it to my husband and he started singing it. In fact, your song just kicked Automatic out of my head. Thank you, thank you!
absepa — It’s funny. I read the first part of your comment to the tune of “I Want Candy,” from the comment before you. I think that actually helped me change things up in my head. Thanks. I sincerely hope I haven’t put it in yours.
RedRaider — Thankfully, I can’t think of it right now and I’m not looking it up. I’m afraid! A month is long. When I got to two weeks, I thought it’ll have to stop soon, but it never did.
Regan — You poor thing. Subjected to that, never having grown up with it. I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?
grannyann — I know. It’s hideous on so many levels. Ack! My eyes!
Stephanie Barr — Thankfully I know none of those songs and I’m NOT looking them up! I pity parents who were subjected to the Barney era. My heart aches for you.
Michelle Hartz — Har! Yes, they were poofy and shoulder-paddy and shiny and horrible. Oooo, another Barney victim. I was lucky to have missed that. I had very little exposure to the purple menace.
If some of you don’t know who Barney is, here’s a sample. Proceed with caution.
Daisy the Curly Cat — I love that video!!! My husband and I will burst into song at random moments. “Cat! I’m a kitty cat. And I meow, meow, meow, and I meow, meow, meow!”
Grace — It’s amazing I haven’t thought of that song after hearing the one that’s causing me problems. I guess I’ve stricken the Pointer Sisters from my memory. And I would never have thought of the Automatic one if my stupid grocery store hadn’t played it.
Chris Casey — Ha! I had to look that up, actually. That’s not a bad song to have stuck, at least to me.
Kelly — You’re right, and I knew I risked everyone hating me for putting the song in their heads. But I did give the option of clicking or not clicking, so maybe I’m safe. I think this actually worked. I’ve gotten all the way to this point in responses and still haven’t thought about it. So you’re singing in public? You’re my hero! Good luck!
Joe — I did worry that talking about it here would make things worse, but I feel like it’s working because I didn’t sing it at all yesterday, and not once today!!! I do sometimes cringe when a blogger puts a song title in their posts that make me think of it all day. It’s risky sometimes even looking at a post title.
Amy — You and a bunch of other people! I’m sorry!
Alan — I looked that up and I love it! Never heard it before. Thanks for sharing.
Phyl — My guess is you heard two notes of it while out shopping or surfing radio stations. That’s really all it takes. I can’t quite remember how that tune goes, which isn’t a bad thing.
Sherry at EX Marks the Spot — Since sitting down to read and respond to comments, I’ve gotten the “I’ve Got Candy” song in my head (see Chris’ comment). I’m not unhappy about it because it’s replaced the evil one. I’m considering this post a success!
misspiggytoes — It’s been awful. I thought it would go away after a week. Then I went a second week and the third one almost killed me. I think it worked because I haven’t thought of it once since responding to comments. I’m thanking Chris for giving me “I Want Candy,” which is keeping me from thinking of Automatic, yet isn’t so terrible that I’m going crazy with that one. So happy!
Maureen — I’m thrilled I don’t know what song you’re talking about. I, too, hate when you hear only a chord or two, and then BAM!, it’s in your head. I hate that my grocery store even plays real songs. I would be perfectly happy with wordless Musak.
Cromely — You’re going to kill me. I actually love that song. In fact, I put it on my Top 10 tunes to exercise to. I’m sorry it’s an earworm for you. I feel your pain.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:42 am
SOUL TRAIN . . . I remember it well. I can turn off a song only by hearing another song.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Your momma taught you to share, didn’t she? We’re all so proud. Well, I guess we should be. If only I could get this song outta my head!
CrAzY Working Mom’s last blog post..Camera Critters – "B/F/F"
May 24th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Listen to some Air Supply. That should do the trick.
Mary @ Holy Mackerel’s last blog post..A Mixed Medley of Melodious Mumblings
May 24th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I get that “Free Credit Report dot com” song stuck in my head all the time.
John J Savo, the Authoring Auctioneer’s last blog post..The Savo Auctioneers on TV
May 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
It’s payback for the Rubber Ducky song..
Shadowsrider’s last blog post..Wherefore art thou, America?
May 24th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I’m not falling for that. I will not click! I will not click! I will not click! I will not click!
Sue’s last blog post..Uterus For Sale
May 24th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
good luck getting that song out of your head!
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..If Only There Had Been A ‘Warning Label’ Printed On The Bottle
May 24th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Um, this wasn’t from the 80’s by chance, hmmmm???! Yeah. Look at how short the purple dress w/the poufy sleeves is!! Yikes!
Where I come from, they call that the Daily “Humjob”–where you pass on a song that is going through your head for weeks. Mine was Chuck Mangione’s “Land of Make Believe” this fall when another school’s marching band was doing a Chuck Mangione show. It seemed like that school was at EVERY contest we went to–and I would hum that stupid song for weeks afterwards! ugh. And there are no words!!
I don’t think the Pointer Sisters stuck with me–whew!
Lin’s last blog post..Gone Breathing
May 25th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Data Entry Services — I used to watch Soul Train on Saturday mornings. Watching it now is a laugh riot. I’m going into day two of not having the song in my head anymore. I’m THRILLED.
Crazy Working Mom — I hope it doesn’t plague you for long. But I have proof now that passing it along works. I haven’t thought of it in two whole days!
Mary at Holy Mackerel — Ugh. No thanks. I have to move along to the next comment or it’s going to invade my head.
John J Savo — OMG. I hate that commercial. Hate it so much, I’ve never heard the whole song because I’ve tackled the remote so fast and turned the channel before it could hurt me.
Shadowsrider — But we love that song, don’t we?
Sue — I don’t blame you.
meleah rebeccah — It worked! I haven’t heard it in my head for two days now. Passing it along really worked! I’m impressed. And grateful.
Lin — That dress has it all, doesn’t it? Ugh. Chuck Mangione? Now I have “Feels So Good” in my head. Not great, not horrible. It’s better than Automatic.
May 25th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I’m sorry, you’re going to have to do better than that. That (to me) is a totally forgettable tune. Now me, I have ‘It’s a sin to tell a lie’ running through my head. But that’s OK, cos I like it. LOL!
May 25th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Oh noes, Kathy– STILL? Still the Pointer Sisters plague thee?
Start singing
“The Neutron Dance” or “I’m So Excited”… maybe the brain will let you swap one Pointer for another.
Jenn Thorson’s last blog post..From Novel to Nostril: Book-Inspired Fragrances
May 25th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Wow. The lady in blue has a deeper voice than me. The song is super catchy. I hope this doesn’t stick in my head.
May 25th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Congrats! I have it now with me and in a week or so I am going to deliver it to others on my blog. Did you get rid of it now?
May 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
It won’t work on me, either, because I don’t know the song.
Here’s the ditty to a stupid commercial so you can have a new earworm:
Way out west (way out west)
A story’s told (a story’s told)
About a bunch of cowboys, tiny and bold (tiny and bold)
Ridin’ tall (Ridin’ tall)
Tall in the saddle
Herding cows the size of schnauzers but they’re cattle.
Yippee-yi-yay mini sirloin burgers!
Yippee-yi-yo mini sirloin burgers!
Yippee-yi-yay mini sirloin burgers!
May 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Care to trade?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsCXZczTQXo
JD at I Do Things’s last blog post..I Ride the Bike so you don’t have to
May 25th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
la la la la la la la
Musingwoman’s last blog post..In memoriam
May 25th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlUoRJtVUnc&feature=player_embedded
May 25th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
this is the original commercial. It is great for earworms….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xXkmvrT_e8
May 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Hooooray for getting it out of your head! I am glad passing it along made it GO AWAY!
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..If Only There Had Been A ‘Warning Label’ Printed On The Bottle
May 25th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I am terrified to click on that video in case it gets stuck in my head because I have some serious work to do today! But it’s sooo tempting….
Katie’s last blog post..The Birthday Post!
May 26th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Too funny. I love this song but am terribly ashamed to say I always thought it was sung by a man! *hanging my head in 80’s child shame*
What I wouldn’t give for a body in shimmering prom dresses! Thanks for the Tuesday morning laugh.
May 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I am sorry to say, the only way to exterminate the Pointer Sisters is to replace them. I might suggest the Barbie Girl Song, the Macarena, the “I’m Too Sexy” song, or this song my grandma talks about that was out in the 50s where a guy is on a train and the wife tries to bring him his lunch but can’t give it to him because he keeps getting stuck on the subway or whatever because he can’t get out of the door fast enough so is on there riding around for days…
TheSnackHound’s last blog post..Wherefore Art Thou, Mountie?
May 26th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
That’s awful!!!!
Pass on the torture why don’t ya???
Grog’s last blog post..
May 26th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
It is really difficult to get rid of this.LOL!. I have it since 48 hours now.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Jay — Glad it didn’t do you in. I don’t recognize the song lyric you mentioned. I’m afraid to look it up. p.s. I couldn’t stay long on your blog today with the bug and everything. I can’t!
Jenn Thorson — Yes, it plague thee! Well, not anymore, which is amazing. This little trick worked. I’ve had peace for three days now.
Mitch — I hope it doesn’t either. I’m tempted to click the video again to hear how the woman sounds like a man, but I can’t go there. I’m afraid it’ll start the cycle all over again.
Vanessa — Yes, I got rid of it!!! Yipee!!! Go ahead and give yours away to others. I’m a believer in the trick now.
LIbertine — I’m thrilled to death I can’t place that commercial. Is it the one where the cowboy plays guitar at someone’s table and you think it’s a commercial for a restaurant, but it’s really for insurance or something? If so, hate it.
JD at I Do Things — I stupidly clicked that link and got the song in my head, but since then I can’t remember it. And I’m not going back to click it again. Is it out of your head yet?
Musingwoman — Whatever works!
rattln’ along — Oh, no. Do I click it or not? OK, I’m goin’ in….. Well. I’m happy to report I’ve never seen that commercial, so it does nothing for me. Now I know what Libertine was talking about.
meleah rebeccah — Me too. I swear I didn’t think it would work. And even if I try to think about it, I can’t remember it! It’s a miracle!
Katie — Don’t do it. I beg of you. Save yourself.
Erin — So you’re apparently not the only one who thought a man sang it. I’m sure the Pointer Sisters would be mortified. At least the one who sounds like a guy.
TheSnackHound — Oh, no. Not the Macarena! Eeek! I’m running away!!!! That 50s song sounds weird. I’m glad I have no idea what it is.
Grog — Sorry, but it helped me and isn’t that what you all come here to do? Help me? Right?
Vanessa — I’m so sorry. Really and truly I am. You have to give it away to everyone you run into. And also hum a song you really like in your head. Or bang your head against a wall to shake it out. Forgive me?
May 26th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hi Kathy,
Sorry, but how dumb do you think I am?
No way I’m going to click on that link and get an earworm. No way!
I do have a cure though. Listen to the High School Musical soundtrack one thousand times in a row… It will get any other song out of your head, guaranteed.
~ Steve, the trade show guru
steve, trade show guru’s last blog post..Avast (anti-virus program) ROCKS!
May 30th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Trade Show Guru Steve — Not dumb at all. I knew you wouldn’t click it. Since I wrote this, I was free of the song for three days. Then it came back for a little while yesterday. But I think I’m OK again. This thing is downright evil!
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:25 pm
I’m sorry I can’t click on the song but the voices in my head won’t allow it. Apparently they hate the Pointer Sisters. However, they inform me that I may listen to the Monkeys, Elvis, 3 or 4 Barry Manilow songs (they refuse to be specific), Gladys Knight but only one Pip.
191
June 10th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I remember this jam! Used to listen to it with my mom back in the day. That first girl is singing low though! Lower than El Debarge!
June 14th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
thephantombloggerstrikes — OK, I’ll ask. Which Pip? OMG, I haven’t heard the Monkeys mentioned in ages. And would you believe all I can think of is their TV show theme song?
Urban Clothing Guy — I’m afraid to go back and listen for the low-singing one. The song has been banished from my head for a couple weeks now, thankfully. No need to start it up again.
July 14th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Kathy, I was wrong about the Pip. I guess I didn’t hear the voices very well. They apparently said PIMP! I am embarrassed now because I know so many Pim….uh I mean I don’t know any PIMPS. Yeah, that’s right, no PIMPS! Not one single PIMP! Whew, I’m glad that is all straightened out. It is, right? Remember, NO PIMPS! La La La!
*voices speak* no pimps huh? Here she comes walking down the street…street walker, get it? not amused? we know your voices and they love…Y M C A it’s fun to stay at the Y M C A-A……..tee hee!