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Concerning the Earworm

Greetings from the Music Bowl! I'm The Wonderfish.

This week's post serves as an open letter to all earworms.

Dear Earworms,

Hello! How are you doing today? I'm The Wonderfish, and I'm doing just fine myself, however, I have a bone to pick with you. Being an earworm, you are informally defined in pop culture as such: a catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person's mind. You certainly are an impressive creature, aren't you? You are stealthy and sly. You are poised to strike at any time. Sometimes, you are a song that we hear and just cannot get out of our heads for the rest of the day. Other times, we have not even listened to music yet and you pop into our brains, a relentless, unforgiving loop of a melody, of a beat, of a solo, or a chorus.

Why?

How?

What are you?!

The rumors I hear about you are incredulous, by the way. It's been said that if you are constantly in our brains, then a form of insanity must be at work. I heard that a classical composer was once driven to the brink of madness because of you. He very well was pushed right over the edge. Also, someone once told me that if one tries to sing a song backwards, you will cease to exist. Another person said that simply singing through a round of Happy Birthday is enough to make you disappear.

Can any of this actually be true?

Let's just say I am a Wonderfish on a mission! I warn you now, I am going to pick you apart. To be honest, I can't believe how often you visit me. I can't get over the variety of your musical choices. I can't understand why, for the love of all that is good, you have to bother me constantly, particularly when the loop you choose is a song that I don't even enjoy!

Please take note: I am watching you!

Have a pleasant day and maybe leave me alone for a bit.

Thank you,
The Wonderfish

P.S. Here is my challenge to all of our readers: Keep an earworm journal for one week. Send us any patterns that you notice (email: heardandthewonderfish@gmail.com). I started mine this week and will discuss my own results in a few days, along with a couple of resources on earworms. Shark's in the water! See ya next week!
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