Infallible cure for earworms
Naturally, my music taste is impeccably eclectic, sophisticated and erudite. My favourite bands are better than your favourite bands in every possible way.
But sometimes, even I get infected with earworms: some ghastly mass-produced crap like The Spice Girls or Take That finds its way into my brain and will not let go. This week, for example, my car CD mix of Burial, Amritakripa, The Pop Group and Natacha Atlas has remained entirely unlistened-to as I guiltily polluted myself with the latest earworm—“About You Now” by The Sugerbabes (for chrissake).
But I’ve cured myself, through the simple remedy of going to YouTube and overdosing on the self-made videos of angst-ridden teenage girls singing it in their bedrooms.
Actually, I still found myself thinking, that last link is pretty good. So I needed a magic bullet. Here it is:
Hey Presto! Earworms are gone.
A middle-aged bloke searching youtube for teenage girls in their bedrooms because he’s annoyed by pop music. Riiiight… I’m sure the judge will understand when the indecency case comes up.
You could at least have given us a video of Natacha Atlas changing her shirt in the back of a taxi.
By the way, this post reminded me that I own a Natacha Atlas album - Halim, which is going into iTunes right now. Thanks for that!
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I went to YouTube to indulge the earworm and was amazed to discover a subculture of people who seem to spend their lives in their bedrooms posting karaoke versions of other people’s songs.
There’s also kids who make videos for ancient songs (e.g., The Beatles’ Rain) and who do mellow acoustic My Bloody Valentine covers.
Truly, what the Web was made for. And thus, I pissed away the three hours I put aside this morning to upgrade WordPress and write a new theme.
By the way - the newest Natacha Atlas album, Mish Maoul (Flash, Sound) is her best ever, I think. Track 3 Hayati Inta is fab: crazy bass, fuzzy guitars, ululating women and groovy drums).
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
We could sing her under the table mate….! We should put our own rendition of a few classics on YouTube. It’s been at least a month since we practiced last, and I know the World has room for another Hall & Oates.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Have you discovered the internet archive? Mogwai live at the Gothic Theatre might apppeal to your shoegazing tendencies.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Burial’s astounding - good choice. My guilty pleasure currently is Paramore.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I guess we’ll never find you on YouTube, Bruce, singing along to someone else’s song. Oops…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3xlvWL2LU
February 7th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Curse you, Howell!
February 7th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Ha ha. I would never embarrass myself like that on youtube. Oh, wait…
February 8th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hehe, Bruce is rock star.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Listen everyone - Bruce hides his Take That, Boyzone and Westlife CD’s when y’all go round to his place, just to look cool, when in fact he has no taste in music whatsoever. Sugababes is probably the coolest band he likes…
Tee hee!
February 8th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Gosh… I couldn’t even listen the music to the end… Sorry it sucked!!!
Paulo
February 9th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Shez, I note the URL that you have chosen to link your name with. Pot, kettle????
February 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Sorry Bruce but I have to offer a far more upmarket version of that song, as reviewed last month on my blog, which has an entire web site backing it, not just a measly YouTube Vid.
Now when you can perform an entire song backed only by a GameBoy, then I think you’ll be ready for the big time.
Sugababes track “About you now”
February 9th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
By God, Gill, that’s a genius find - and a guaranteed cure for this particular earworm.
You win a lifetime subscription to this blog.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
RESULT!!! :o)
February 10th, 2008 at 4:37 am
business income opportunity xango…
For many people, it is difficult to know where to begin when in the market to choose a massage chair……
July 4th, 2008 at 12:19 am