I have only recently come to realize that I have had the same song running somewhere in the back of my head since at least October. Not the entire song, end to end, only the really catchy bits. It’s funny that I am just now consciously realizing this, after so much time. I supposed this is not the kind of thing one notices right away. Songs that run in the back of your head tend to the subliminal.
In my case the song is “Sugar Water” by Cibo Matto. I have no idea why this particular song has taken such a place of honor in my brain, rather than other catchy songs like “Bad Romance”, or “Rehab”, or even the ever-popular “It’s a Small World” (this may be the first time those three songs have ever been mentioned together in one sentence).
But no, it’s “Sugar Water” all the way. I realize now that the song was playing in my head the entire time I was co-writing “Sun and Moon”. Certainly the song factored into the plot. For example, the lyric “A woman in the moon is singing to the earth” essentially plays out as a major story point in the novel.
Perhaps this was all triggered in September when I rewatched the episode “When she was bad” that kicks off the second season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. The scene in which this song was played is certainly unforgettable. But I’m not convinced that’s it.
No, I think it’s just that a song is a sort of half-wild creature which comes and visits you for a while. Like a stray black cat that wanders into your house one day. You understand that this is a visitor, and you make sure to feed it and set out a bowl of milk at night. Little by little you become used to it, curled up on a chair or purring contentedly in your lap.
Until one day you realize that it has gone.
I like this song–and only know it, for what it’s worth–because of the great music video that accompanies it. Another excellent piece of work/art by Michel Gondry.
http://vimeo.com/5905413
Well thanks a LOT.
Now it’s stuck in my head too.
Good thing it’s a good tune – something very sensual about it (and the Buffy scene too).
It is certainly possible that it was playing in the car the night we drove you all over the place (including around the bend a little, no?) – it’s on one of the CDs in the car. That might have helped cement it in your head.
I have one tune I always use to oust headtunes: I have no idea where it comes from, but sounds like a typical maritime chantey. It’s called “sandwiches are beautiful” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEVg1daIdYs&feature=youtu.be&a, starts about 2 minutes in, this version by one of my favorite children’s entertainers).
I like this tune because it doesn’t stick in my head after the it’s replaced the other tune. Not sure how that works, but it does. Plus, trying to sing it always makes me smile.
What’s wrong with having “Sugar Water” stuck in your head? I think it’s rather pleasant. Although I really like the idea of a “catchy-song-antidote”!!