Posted on 11/03/2014 7:39:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Scientists say if you wanna be the pop star with the catchiest song of all time, “what you want, what you really really want,” to have is a word "hook" that latches onto a listener’s mind super fast.
In the case of The Spice Girls’ hit "Wannabe," the study of 12,000 people found it takes just 2.29 seconds to recognize the song when it begins at the chorus "if you wanna be my lover…"
Anyone seeking something man-made and sold to the general public which operates at that kind of speed may have to leave the world of song and hit the race track in search of an Ariel Atom – which moves just a hair slower than a Spice Girl tune. The Atom is the fastest accelerating street legal road car on the planet thanks to its ability to go from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 2.3 seconds, according to 10 Most Today website.
Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) published the results of a year-long study of what makes a song stick in your head – the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” came in at No. 1.
Researchers used the ‘Hooked on Music’ test, which is online for continued use by the general public.
The MOSI site offers two versions of the test. It asks listeners to try to name a song randomly selected from over 1,000 best-selling tunes when it began playing from the hook – or to take a time trial to see how fast you can recognize the song from the hook.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
The List of songs that speed to work on a listener’s memory, according to the new study. The second time listed is where the song’s catchiest “hook,” like a refrain, falls in the song.
1. Spice Girls - Wannabe - 2.29 seconds (0:45)
2. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 - 2.48 s (0:50)
3. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger - 2.62 s (2:04)
4. Lady Gaga - Just Dance - 2.66 s (1:39)
5. ABBA - SOS - 2.73 s (2:25)
6. Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman - 2.73 s (1:07)
7. Michael Jackson - Beat It - 2.80 s (0:38)
8. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You - 2.83 s (3:09)
9. The Human League - Don’t You Want Me - 2.83 s (3:05)
10. Aerosmith - I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - 2.84 s (2:22)
11. Lady Gaga - Poker Face - 2.88 s (0:57)
12. Hanson - Mmmmbop - 2.89 s (1:44)
13. Elvis Presley - It’s Now Or Never - 2.91 s (2:14)
14. Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet - 2.94 s (1:48)
15. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - 2.97 s (1:25)
16. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon - 2.99 s (0:41)
17. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time - 2.99 s (0:33)
18. Elvis Presley - Devil in Disguise - 3.01 s (1:21)
19. Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon - 3.03 s (0:23)
20. Elton John - Candle in the Wind - 3.04 s (0:39)
The Dragnet theme didn’t make the list? Most memorable four notes in history.
Never heard of it, therefore it should not be number 4.
I never heard of it either. Wonder if this “study” was paid for by Lady GaGa’s agent to help promote this song?
Just imagine if this was combined with the WWII secret funniest joke in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gpjk_MaCGM
The terrorist would have won!
I’m very partial to the opening instrumental of The Pretenders’ “My City Was Gone”. When I hear it I get warm fuzzies and some hope for America.
Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” tops my list for most annoying song of all-time.
Nope, 1st 4 notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
Most brain sticky tune? "It's a Small World", Disney ride; just try not to think it for the rest of the day.
I heard Rush talk about that song and have a hazy memory in which he said he discussed using it with Chrissie Hynde.
they have obviously never been to that damned “It’s a Small World” attraction at Disneyland...oh crap make it stop!! Makieitstop!
On the other hand I can recognize most 60s songs in a second or two...
If I ever had my own radio show, I thinhk I’d use the opening instrumental of Canned Ham by Norman Greenbaum. Uber catchy, and the right length, and suitable for voiceover.
we are sympatico, my FRiend....now pass the ear bleach!
I can think of several ways to make it stop ....
Oddly enough, they all involve large quantities of energetic materials.
BS! Because who in the world would not recognize Queen’s ‘We will Rock you’ which is at every football (Both kinds) game in the world?
“Most brain sticky tune? “It’s a Small World”, Disney ride; just try not to think it for the rest of the day.”
Now you’ve done it. Damn you, you evil, evil person.
That is not catchy at all, it’s annoying
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