Every morning here in L.A., I drop my colorful comic book jammy bottoms and step into the shower to prep for another new day. Every morning the same song seeps into my skull. No matter what I do—short of singing the entire theme song--opening and closing credits--to The Flintstones —the song REMAINS the same—stuck in my head. In my case the song is Led Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days”. I like the band but this isn’t my favorite!
Luckily, through chats with friends both old and new in a favorite Facebook group--You grew up in the Souderton/ Telford/ Harleysville area if you remember... I found out I am not alone in this experience. This happens to a lot of people. This series is dedicated to all the songs that somehow get “stuck in your head”. Here are the most recent songs:
Regular reader and contributor Cynthia Heffelfinger Steyer has “Oh, What a Night” stuck in her head. She admits she doesn’t remember who performs it but FB friend and fellow SHS grad Loren Anders helped out stating the song was released by The Four Seasons. The title of the tune is actually "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)".
It was written by the original Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker. It’s off the 1975 album Who Loves You. Originally the tune was about the repeal of Prohibition and titled "December 5th, 1933". Parker and Vali urged Gaudio to change the song and it quickly became a musical memory of a young man's "first time" with a woman. Released in December of 1975, it took the top slot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
A few folks said “Lemon Tree” by Peter, Paul and Mary is quite often crammed in their craniums. Originally off the folk group’s 1962 eponymous premiere platter Peter, Paul and Mary, it was written by Will Holt. The tune was taped by several different artists including Chad & Jeremy, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and Roger Whittaker. It was also included on 1960s TV commercials for "Lemon Pledge" furniture polish and referenced and/or performed in such shows as Seinfeld and F Troop.
Another individual said AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” is sunken into his cerebellum. This one is the title track from their 1976 (UK) and 1981 (US) album of the same name. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, the single hit number four. The tune was also slotted in at number 24 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs and more recently (2009) was ranked at number 31 on VH1’s list of best all time hard rock songs.
Colleen Slade said “My Belle Ami” by Tee Set sealed in her cerebrum. This was first released in the US in 1970 on their album Ma Belle Amie. The LP hit number 158 on the Billboard 200 chart and the single climbed to number 5, selling over a million copies and going gold.
Finally, there was yet another Led Zeppelin tune turned in as an earnest earworm. That song is “Misty Mountain Hop”. This is off the band’s untitled fourth offering in 1971. It was only the flip side of the “Black Dog” single but still got a lot of FM airplay. Most folks feel it has something to do with cops and a near marijuana bust and includes a reference to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Good literature and mind-altering drugs. What more could anyone want with their rock ‘n’ roll?
Recently, your rockin' writer came across some research that indicates that the artistically-inclined and women are the most likely to suffer from musical earworms. Very interesting, no? At any rate, there you have it, boys and girls, music in different languages from different decades and genres. Those are the songs stuck in OUR heads. Whether you love it or hate it, let me know what songs are . . . stuck in YOUR head!
My name is Phoenix and . . . that’s the bottom line.
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