Revenge of the earworm
Another successful gym session. I don’t suppose I’ll end up a jacked old lady, but it is making a positive difference in my day to day function.
One unexpected downside of the gym has been the loudspeaker playing Top 40 radio. They’re still playing junk from MY childhood. I remember all the lyrics to songs I haven’t heard in forty years. Songs I hated then and hate now – but by god I know the words! It’s evidence of how they’d play those things over and over and over until they were burned into your braincell.
I remember one day in the Sixties on my rather long commute to school our local station played “Cherish” seven times in a row. We always assumed the DJ lost a bet.
Funny, I never realized how much of our pop repertoire was Elton John songs.
Posted: September 16th, 2025 under personal.
Comments: 9
Comments
Comment from Mark Matis
Time: September 16, 2025, 5:54 pm
Would you prefer rap?
Or maybe they could just chant some Muslim prayers?
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: September 16, 2025, 9:02 pm
@stoaty, at first I thought this was about the thermonuclear ear worm, a song that invades your skull and refuses to depart under the most dire of threats. Like the Oscar Meyer Wiener song, for example. (You’re welcome.)
But in case anyone here is occasionally tortured by one of those, perhaps my own sure-fire remedy will work for you, too. Inside my head (it doesn’t have to be aloud) I sing the National Anthem. Yes, The Star-Spangled Banner song itself lingers for a minute or two but it fades quickly and whatever the original annoyance was has faded with it.
For non-U.S. sufferers, try your own national anthem. For reasons not worth mentioning here, I also know the Himno Nacional Argentino and that works just as well as the spangly one.
edit p.s. — For aerobic exercise, nothing beats disco. Try Donna Summer.
Comment from ExpressoBold Pureblood
Time: September 16, 2025, 11:07 pm
Are you allowed to wear those subversively independent ear buds attached to a phone or iPod to listen to John Phillip Sousa… or whatever?
Comment from MrKnowitall
Time: September 17, 2025, 2:21 am
So, did you get a chance to try out some kettlebells?
Comment from S.Weasel
Time: September 17, 2025, 5:35 pm
I own a couple of kettlebells, in fact. I’m more about the machines (my balance is bad and I feel safer).
I haven’t worked myself up to earphones yet. The WIFI signal in there is atrocious, so I’d have to put albums on my phone and bluetooth it. I can’t make up my mind about music.
I’ve kind of fallen out with music in recent years. Don’t know why. It used to be very important to me.
Comment from MrKnowitall
Time: September 17, 2025, 7:45 pm
Understood about the balance. That may improve once you get your core strength up.
As for music, you can try this place for some fun AI generated lounge/exotica music https://www.youtube.com/@Nuvoluxe
Comment from Pupster
Time: September 17, 2025, 10:01 pm
Mrs. Pupster bought a Spotify family plan and I honestly haven’t listened to anything else since. I’m currently creating a metal no lyrics playlist that will change history.
Comment from capybara clicker
Time: September 19, 2025, 8:48 am
I’m looking for a Capybara Clickers Club to join. Is anyone up for some lighthearted fun?
Comment from perfect tidy
Time: May 24, 2026, 2:28 pm
I laughed at your memory of the gym’s Top 40 and the earworm — hearing “Cherish” seven times would have driven me mad.
Totally agree that disco, especially Donna Summer, is unbeatable for aerobic exercise.
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