I’ve noticed that there is only one particular song that is played absolutely everywhere I go in the world. I’ve heard it in Tokyo, Mumbai, Stockholm, Berlin, Dublin, Paris and Taipei. Today in a restaurant in New Orleans I heard it yet again. I wonder whether anyone has been officially tracking this – it seems to be, in this sense, by far the most universally popular song in the world. And I wonder whether there is some reason that could be articulated, to explain the immense universal appeal of this one tune.
I’m not going to name the song right now, because I’m curious to see whether anybody can “name that tune”.
enh, the first one comes to my mind is “Happy Birthday to you…” And the reason for that is obvious.
La Cuchuracha!
Cockroaches are everywhere!
Happy Birthday would be an excellent choice for a song that is sung everywhere in the world. I was referring to a song that I’ve heard being played over the sound system in airports, restaurants, clothing stores, bars, pretty much everywhere, from Oslo to Cape Town, and apparently all points inbetween.
And yes David, if it were a question of the most ubiquitous subject of a song, I’d have to agree with you. 🙂
An irresistible puzzle!
I read your post a bit quickly on the first read, and thought that maybe you were thinking of the melody known as the “universal taunt”. (Your blog software has a tendency of eating posts with links in them, but just go to the Wikipedia page for Taunt, and you will find a passable MIDI rendition of the motif somewhere down the page).
But something playing on a sound system, that must surely be recorded music. What ever could it be? Perhaps Pachelbel’s Canon in D major? Or Smoke on the Water, by Deep Purple?
is it a girl from somewhere?
oh – just saw your followup!