Top 12 ‘ear worm’ songs (blog version

These are those meddlesome songs that won’t leave your brain, even after you ask.

I think in general that ear worm songs are good songs that — sometimes are just that, good songs. Maybe they are TOO good at burying themselves in your head for a long time. Heard’em called ‘ear Weevils’ as well.

Again this doesn’t mean you like or dislike a song. I’m looking for specifically songs that won’t abandon ship when you are waiting dockside. Gosh are they still playing “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch?)

Here’s my 12-plus from #12 to #1 (plus bonus). Afterword I’ll have a list that ‘science’ has picked for ‘catchiest’ song just to give this list some perspective.

UNRATED Iko Iko — Dr. John

This is one so good that it’s an ear worm every time you hear it. And then you don’t want it to leave. People want Iko Iko to stay in their heads, it’s good for full day worth. Like I said, I don’t consider it an ear worm because it’s rarely not wanted. A true ear worm may be good, but to qualify for an earworm it must STICK in you head past the point you want it to.

12) Come. on Eileen — Dexy’s Midnight Runners This was big in the early days of MTV. Catchy as all get out. Seemed like a good sound. Then what happened? Oh come on Eilleen …

11) Hey Ya — OutKast

Does this ever leave your head?

10) Billie Jean — Micheal Jackson

I was getting out of university and starting the late 1980s, 1990s with a Michael Jackson soundtrack that permeated everything of that time period. Such talent. Billie Jean is a top single of all time and it’s a worm all right.

9) Prince — Purple Rain

This is kind of like MJ (above) in that the songs are sweeping, epic and define the artists’ style. Two of arguably the biggest stars of the 1980s. But start chanting ‘Purple Rain, Purple Rain” to tasty Prince guitar licks and you will spend hours getting that that chorus out of your head.

8) Brandy (You’re a Fine, Girl) — Looking Glass

Brandy was a fine song. It appeared on nearly ever compilation album ever made (hyperbole). That’s because they are one-hit wonders. Apparently, they had little or nothing left to offer. But Brandy what a fine song, tells a slice of life tale and had a chorus even the sailors could sing to. And that’s the same reason you are singing it right now.

“There’ a port on the western shore that serves 100 ships a day.…”

7) Hey Jude –Beatles

Nananananana Hey Jude! Forever chorus.

6) If You Want Me to Stay –“Sly Stone

One of my favorite vocals — but not necessarily on this video, he’s seems a little slower here: But he seems to be having a good time through this song that is sung in Sly’s copyrighted Opposite of Falsetto (OOF) singing style, AKA Just Just Woke Up with a Frog in Throat (FIT).

5) Mmmmbop – Hanson

Brothers, singers. Play instruments. No Donny Osmond here.

4)Walking on Sunshine — Katrina and the Waves

This British singer had a big hit with this. The Bangles covered it as well. It’s a ‘worm.’

3) Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics

Annie Lennox did a nice job with the Eurythmics, and I still stand behind this song as the biggest ‘ear worm’ but this song seemed to be new when I first heard. I know this isn’t profound, but it doesn’t sound so new anymore.

2) Land of 1,000 Dances – -Wilson Picket

You don’t have to remember all the words to get this stuck in your brain.

1) The Rain, the Park & Other Things (The 1) Flower Girl Song). — Cowsills

That’s my list. The Cowsills win hand’s down on one of the biggest ‘ear worm’ songs of all time. Listen to it with idea that it will be there 24 hours, even sleeping. I had to work this off with a heavy metal blast from Deep Purple’s ‘Highway Star.’ Album or concert version will do.

The Cowsills singing the Flower Girl song takes the cake. It sticks with you like that gum you stepped on yesterday. I got infected by this once when the song came on the radio in the car of someone we were talking to via cell phone.

Another Top 10 ‘Catchiest Songs (From CNET.com Read about how they put their’s together.