[SeekAndFind]

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)

[dfwgator]

4. Lady Gaga - Just Dance - 2.66 s (1:39)

Never heard of it, therefore it should not be number 4.

[Dr. Sivana]

Elton John - Candle in the Wind - 3.04 s (0:39)

Are they kidding? Crocodile Rock is 100x as catchy, and Benny and the Jets has a single piano chord at the very beginning which is almost a hook in and of itself.

[ConservativeStatement]

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” tops my list for most annoying song of all-time.

[bigbob]

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...

[GeronL]

2NE1 songs are pretty catchy

[GeronL]

I bet “Ode To Joy” would win hands down

[Signalman]

8. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You - 2.83 s (3:09)

My alternate title: I will always gag (every time I hear it).

[BeadCounter]

I know tons of Aerosmith songs, their contribution is at #10. “I don’t want to miss a thing” that I barely know and certainly isn’t from their golden age.

In this vein of rock,

Smoke on the water

Black Dog

For starters... I mean, they put a straight reggae song into the list at “Rivers of Babylon”. The list is subjective, maybe it is a bigger song over in UK.

Though, I would not even buy the song, that Wham song, George Michael’s “Wake me up before you go” would seem to be proper for this list.

[BenLurkin]

They missed the most important hook song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgQejd14wKs

[Baynative]

That was an obviously skewed generational list. I'm a bit older, I guess, but I can offer much catchier hooks right of the top of my head:

In the mood
Bad to the Bone
Start me Up
Rocky Mountain High
Don't Stop (thinking about tomorrow)
Werewolves of London
Sweet Home Alabama
Walk on the Wild Side
Louie, Louie
Bad Moon Rising
Listen to the Music
FAME
Midnight Rider
Thrill is Gone

...just to name a few in less than a minute

[Secret Agent Man]

and wipeout, surfin bird, jump, devil inside, every breath you take, rock me amadeus, couldn’t be figured out in a couple seconds?

[mad_as_he$$]

My current drive songs in order:
WARNING adult words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LTT0xwdfw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_VsvZmIWxY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyA1GL1touw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRQnJyP77tY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-XZ_dN4Hc

None from the OP list.

I have a short commute.

[A Navy Vet]

"1. Spice Girls - Wannabe - 2.29 seconds (0:45)
Uh, maybe.
2. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 - 2.48 s (0:50) Don't know it.
3. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger - 2.62 s (2:04)
Definitely catchy, especially the beginning.
4. Lady Gaga - Just Dance - 2.66 s (1:39) Never heard it.
5. ABBA - SOS - 2.73 s (2:25)
Please. Dancing Queen and so many others are more catchy.
6. Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman - 2.73 s (1:07)
Agreed.
7. Michael Jackson - Beat It - 2.80 s (0:38)
Agreed.
8. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You - 2.83 s (3:09)
Hardly catchy. Nice slow ballad, but not up tempo catchy.
9. The Human League - Don’t You Want Me - 2.83 s (3:05)
Lame
10. Aerosmith - I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - 2.84 s (2:22)
Really? That's a ballad. Walk This Way would be their all time catchy song.
11. Lady Gaga - Poker Face - 2.88 s (0:5
Never heard it.
12. Hanson - Mmmmbop - 2.89 s (1:44)
Never heard it.
13. Elvis Presley - It’s Now Or Never - 2.91 s (2:14) Wrong, another ballad. Presley's Viva Las Vegas is the ultimate Vegas catchy song. It's the Vegas Anthem. Ack. Lame. They had better.
15. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - 2.97 s (1:25)
Hate to admit it but that was a cool song with a great groove.
16. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon - 2.99 s (0:41)
You're kidding me as catchy?
17. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time - 2.99 s (0:33)
Never know it Good song, but not all that catchy.
19. Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon - 3.03 s (0:23)
Never heard it. 20. Elton John - Candle in the Wind - 3.04 s (0:39)
Bad choice...that was a ballad and hardly catchy. "Crodile Rock" would be a better choice.