By Chloe Halpin
From iconic guitar solos to heavenly vocals, there’s a mix of melody, rhythm and emotion that makes some tracks unforgettable.
Do you ever press play on a song and suddenly feel yourself drifting away?
Maybe when you’re listening to ‘In The Modern World’ by Fontaines D.C. and you suddenly start to feel as if you are floating. I know I do. Or maybe you’re on a country road when ‘Delta Dawn’ by Tanya Tucker plays, and you are suddenly aware of the heat from the sun hitting your face.
Music has a way of doing that, especially when you’re on the way to work or college. Music can allow you to escape from your assignments even if it’s just for a moment. It allows you to create a whole new world, just you, your headphones and Stevie Nicks.
Songs stay with us not just because we enjoy the beat or the lyrics, but because of something called an “earworm”. This refers to a catchy song that replays in our minds constantly, whether we like it or not. Certain songs seem to have that magical power. Once you hear them, they linger, ricocheting in your mind long after the music stops.
While I have your attention, stick on ‘Your Love’ by The Outfield. I don’t know about you, but I was immediately drawn in from the start. From when Tony Lewis sings “Josie’s on a vacation far away”, with every guitar strum I am sucked in and at 1 minute 15 seconds, you start to almost melt into the lyrics. There is always a drum beat to shake your head to and wave your arms around almost recklessly, yet with care.
For me, this song is a prime example of an earworm squirming around in my mind. The hook repeats just enough to embed itself in your memory. The steady beat of the drums to the powerful vocals perfectly illustrate how rhythm, melody and emotion work together to make a song stick.
Now, if you have finished dancing around your room, I want you to sit down.
It helps if the rain is hitting your windows for this.
Play ‘Never Going Back Again’ by Fleetwood Mac.
I first listened to this on an empty bus with the rain flowing to the beat. Lindsey Buckingham’s intricate fingerpicking was absolutely mesmerising. It almost had a nostalgic feel to it. It’s the kind of song you have to let take over your body, just lying there, maybe slowly tapping your foot.
Here, the strum of the guitar creates a gentle rhythm that is satisfying to the ear. The delicate melody of Stevie Nicks’ airy vocals evoke emotions that transport you to another time and place. This song lingers in your mind in a way ‘Your Love’ by The Outfield doesn’t. It’s the kind of song where you sit and digest each and every lyric.
Some songs often get stuck in our heads because they hold precious memories or nostalgia. A song that refuses to leave my mind is ‘You Never Can Tell’ by Chuck Berry.
If you’ve ever seen Pulp Fiction, you’ll know the iconic dance scene with John Travolta and Uma Thurman. The playful, infectious beat makes you want to get up and dance just like Mia Wallace herself. But for me, this song isn’t just about the rhythm, it’s tied to memories. I remember hearing it on the radio with my dad, talking about the scene and imagining the day we might recreate it ourselves.
Songs like this linger not only because they’re catchy, but because they carry moments, people, and places into your mind.
Another example is ‘A Boy Named Sue’ by Johnny Cash. It’s a completely different song, but I immediately associate it with my dad again. Both tracks show how music can get stuck in your head, not just through melody and rhythm, but through nostalgia and the memories they hold.
These songs that have been replaying in my mind for weeks show how and why music gets stuck in your head. While some songs grab your attention due to their deep, meaningful lyrics, others pull you in with an insane beat. And that’s the magic of music and the power of a song.
It’s not just something you hear on the radio or at a bar, it’s something you feel, something that your brain and heart can’t seem to let go.
In such a chaotic world, it’s nice to have that beat or lyric that brings us comfort.