Diminishing Interest in POP. I hate earworms


First of all, let me be clear. I love all manner and genres of music, I am a very eclectic guy and my music collection reflects that.

However, as I get older, and as much as I try to keep current, I find myself less able and willing to listen to what I term "pop" music. The interest factor is likely tied to my senior citizen status. :) I think I've finally moved beyond youthful angst. :)

One primary reason is that the hooks in so many songs increasingly take up residence in my brain and I hear them over and over until they decide to migrate elsewhere for the season. It's rather maddening. And, at the least,
extremely unpleasant.

It's one thing to keep hearing passages from Beethoven, Satie, Sibelius, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, etc, etc . and Coltrane, Miles, Chet Baker, Django, and on and on, et al, but an entirely other matter to have to listen to an internal shortloop of a pop tune. I'm referring to material from Billy Holliday, to Patsy Cline, to Dylan, to Reed, to Otis, to Talking Heads, Petty, The Band, Simon, and a myriad of much newer "artists" as they've come to be called. The handful of musicians I just mentioned are barely indicative of the extent of my listening.

For example: How many of you can't get "Bye Bye American Pie" out of YOUR heads? :)

My apologies to the thousands of new pop artists who reached prominence during the past 15 years or so. I don't disrespect the best of your efforts but generally I find it's usually not worth the time and effort to listen.

Thanks for your response.
ps

Showing 4 responses by ps

Tonykay:
I probably could have written YOUR post! Although I never got into Led Zep. I once saw them at the Fillmore in SF and Robert Plant seemed comical to me. I know, I'm probably a ZEP luddite. But in those days I had the opportunity to see dozens of great blues musicians at a club in Berkeley, CA - I think it was called Mandrakes, and the "british invasion" blues types didn't compare too well in my mind. Hmmm. I'm getting off topic here. Sorry.

One exceptionally talented singer-songwriter I heard recently at a small club where we live is Mary Gauthier. She is the "real deal" and it was a great experience. Fortunately I was left with no ear worms.

In many ways my sense of audio adventure is far greater when it comes to what we generally term "classical". I'm even enough of a masochist to have 3 or 4 Alan Petterson symphonies in my vinyl collection. :) I will say however, that one or two hearings is enough.

The ear worm problem is invariably related to pop music and it's maddening. I've looked for antidotes, but so far have not had any success other than to avoid listening.

If anyone else is reading this and is plagued with ear worms, I'd be grateful to learn how you "cope"
Rodman99999

I suspect your mantra is nothing more than a nefarious, thinly-disguised attempt at mind control. :)

Good one.
Mapman:
Great tune, great video. Had me laughing. Thanks.
77jovian: Thanks- your post gave me additional laughs.
How about "who let the dog out?"
Try chanting "who let the dog out, da do ron ron" for a minimum of 45 minutes. This has been proven to end any cravings for a Big Mac or similar "food."

Unfortunately, the mantra does not cure nor prevent ear worms.

The search for a cure continues.