Have you ever liked a song so much that you will play it over and over until it completely exhaust you? I have been now watching this new commercial from the British Airways for about a week about a thousand times a day and I am tired. But I can’t stop. The same thing happened to me, for example, with Sagan’s opening monologue in Cosmos or Glass’s Metamorphosis. And there had been many more.

Do you have one like that?

Well, the phenomenon of a song playing in your head whether you like it or not is called an earworm, and it can be very annoying indeed. But doing it to yourself sounds sort of masochistic.

No, the earworm phenomenon is something different; I don’t actually get those very often.

I just thought of something else. If it does happen to anyone else, do you smoke, drink in excess, take drugs or overeat? (I smoke.)

If I understand correctly, this isn’t just sticking in your mind (earworm), but rather you have something that plays the commercial repetitively? Can’t you just press the “off” button???

No, I can’t. I will stop playing it when I get sick of it. I am surprised that it doesn’t happen to more people.

I’m a bit friendlier with the ‘off’ button in those situations.

George - 11 November 2011 11:38 AM

No, I can’t. I will stop playing it when I get sick of it. I am surprised that it doesn’t happen to more people.

Sounds like you might make a decent musician.

TromboneAndrew - 11 November 2011 12:53 PM

George - 11 November 2011 11:38 AM

No, I can’t. I will stop playing it when I get sick of it. I am surprised that it doesn’t happen to more people.

Sounds like you might make a decent musician.

Tried that and it didn’t work out. I am too shy. But I’ll play at dinner parties and around a camp fire and I sang for a choir. Does that count?

Do you torture yourself playing the same music over and over, too, Andrew?

You’re the first one I’ve heard of this happening to. I like certain notes/chords. I love G for some reason. Seriously.

I like A minor. BTW, our family whistle consists of four notes, three of them being a G. If I ever get to meet you at the potluck, I’ll whistle it for you. 

George - 11 November 2011 01:01 PM

TromboneAndrew - 11 November 2011 12:53 PM

George - 11 November 2011 11:38 AM

No, I can’t. I will stop playing it when I get sick of it. I am surprised that it doesn’t happen to more people.

Sounds like you might make a decent musician.

Tried that and it didn’t work out. I am too shy. But I’ll play at dinner parties and around a camp fire and I sang for a choir. Does that count?

Do you torture yourself playing the same music over and over, too, Andrew?

Yes, when I’m trying to write it or play it.

TromboneAndrew - 11 November 2011 02:17 PM

George - 11 November 2011 01:01 PM

TromboneAndrew - 11 November 2011 12:53 PM

George - 11 November 2011 11:38 AM

No, I can’t. I will stop playing it when I get sick of it. I am surprised that it doesn’t happen to more people.

Sounds like you might make a decent musician.

Tried that and it didn’t work out. I am too shy. But I’ll play at dinner parties and around a camp fire and I sang for a choir. Does that count?

Do you torture yourself playing the same music over and over, too, Andrew?

Yes, when I’m trying to write it or play it.

Same. Otherwise, I tend to avoid listening to the same music twice in a row. And I usually listen to entire albums, not individual songs, anyway.

(<—hipster)

George, do you watch the videos too? Or just listen to it on a loop? What do you like about it? Or is it more of a compulsion?

In the case of the BA commercial yes, I watch the video too. I think the part towards the end where all the different planes are taking off and the face expressions of the pilots are absolutely amazing. I assume Sagan’s Cosmos intro would have the same effect on me without the video, but I have never tried it. Glass’s music is obviously fine without having to see the pianist.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the BA commercial on any So. Calif. station so I can’t appreciate your pleasure at its music. 

Occam

Thay’s too bad, Occam. I am sure you would like it since we seem to have very similar taste in music and movies.

I’ve been known to have Prince’s “Pink Cashmere” on repeat play for days at a time.  on several occasions.  It helps me think for some reason when I need to create something.