Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Your Head?

It can happen without warning: A song starts replaying in your head as if there’s a band in your brain singing the chorus over and over. Maybe it’s the Archies’ chart-topper “Sugar, Sugar” (“Sugar … ah, honey, honey”) or the excruciatingly relentless “1-877-KARS-4-KIDS” jingle.

It’s usually just a short part of the song, about 15 to 30 seconds, and whatever the melody, it’s impossible to shake. Why does this happen, and more importantly, how do you make it stop?

Sticky Tunes

There’s a scientific name for this pesky phenomenon: involuntary musical imagery, colloquially known as an earworm. But don’t worry: There are no actual creepy crawlers inside your head.

Researchers estimate that more than 90% of people get tunes stuck in their heads at least once a week. And while these earworms can definitely be irritating, they’re typically harmless.

One reason songs get stuck in your head is because your brain is wired for it. Your brain uses many systems at the same time when you listen to music, including one known as phonological loop. It’s the part of your working memory that temporarily stores and replays sounds, such as lyrics to a song — think of it as the brain’s mental notepad. 

Because your brain recognizes and repeats patterns, catchy songs can get “looped” in this part of your memory. The phonological loop also tends to get hung up on unfinished sequences because your brain wants to complete them. This could explain why you need to hear only a short snippet of a song for it to get stuck in your head.

Many pop songs are also written to linger in this way. Studies have found that most earworms tend to have simple melodies, upbeat tempos, and musical patterns that are easy to remember. Pop songs with repetitive choruses (“Sugar, Sugar,” for instance) often fit this formula perfectly.

Memory plays a major role, too. Psychologists suggest that even if you hear just a short part of a song — the first “Sugar,” for instance — it can trigger your brain’s memory networks to replay the rest of the song. Emotional memories, such as seeing a particular person or visiting a special place, can also prompt song recall.

Your mood can matter as well. If you’re stressed or bored or doing things that don’t take much mental effort, your mind may wander and start singing that familiar song.

Make It Stop!

If you just can’t take that song on loop anymore, there are a few tricks that might help make it stop. Cleveland Clinic suggests you listen to the entire song — this might satisfy your brain’s need to “complete the loop.” 

If that doesn’t work, listen to another song, or try to refocus your brain by taking a walk or solving a puzzle. Some studies have even found that chewing gum helps. Whatever works, right?