Songs that Get Stuck in your Head (TV Theme Edition)

We've all had it at one time or another. A song, stuck in repeat cycle over and over in our heads. The last one I suffered through? The theme from "The Love Boat." Arghhh.

There are different words and phrases to describe it. Earworm, Stuck Song Syndrome, Musical Imagery Repetition, Involuntary Musical Imagery, Brainworm, etc. Whatever you may call it, it happens to us all.

After suffering through an entire Monday with..."soon will be making another run..." blaring through my brain's speaker system, I started to do a little research on this phenomena (which sounds a lot like "Ma-nah-ma-nah," another song I've had stuck in my head previously, but I digress). It would appear that TV show themes are a common culprit in the earworm curse.

From Fox News Magazine writer Michael Bartiromo we get "10 TV Theme Songs That Always Get Stuck in Your Head:"

#1. 'The Andy Griffith Show'

Along with from Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," the theme from "The Andy Griffith Show" is arguably one of the most whistleable tune ever recorded. Also referred to as "The Fishin' Hole," this recognizable ditty was composed by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer with lyrics later added by Everett Sloane (yes, there are lyrics).

 

No lyrics (that I know of), but this one still gets stuck in heads a lot:

#2. 'Hawaii Five-0'

In addition to getting us revved up for its specific brand of Hawaiian police work, the theme from "Hawaii Five-O" got us humming along like idiots — and we were far from the only ones. The theme music, composed by Morton Stevens and recorded by surf rockers The Ventures, was a major hit on its own, making it all the way to No. 4 on the Billboard charts.

Oh, yeah. I've definitely suffered through this next one:

#3. 'The Brady Bunch'

The Bradys didn't have a toilet, but they sure as heck had a memorable, expository theme song. Written by composer Frank De Vol and show creator Sherwood Schwartz, it was first recorded by a group called the Peppermint Trolley Company. The Brady children took over singing duties from season two onward.

You can check out more of Michael Bartiromo's piece here.

One more thing. I shouldn't be the only one who suffered through Stuck Song Syndrome with this one. Please, by all means, join me: