We all go through his from time to time…you come upon a song or other instrumental piece of music and can’t get it out of your head no matter what! It’s one thing if it’s an expert piece of music composed by an enormously talented composer…e.g. Beethoven, Mozart, Bach. But when it’s something from a piano Method Book we use to teach beginners to learn the instrument…a methodical, robotic learning piece…what’s that all about?

That happened to me a few years ago. For the life of me I couldn’t get this simple and yes, annoying piece of learning music out of my mind…going to bed at night, in the shower…good grief! Usually when I latch on to something it’s an aria I used to sing or the last/choral movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Impressive! But…how could I admit to anyone that I was hopelessly hooked beyond my control on a kids’ learning piece? Ugh.

Now I find I am hooked on yet another piece…”The Rains in Africa” by the group from the 70s-80s, Toto. I was watching TV and there is a commercial about having a phenomenal time wherever you go on vacation. The background music is “The Rains in Africa.” I was intrigued as I remember that one clearly. So I went online to look it up. That was 3 days ago. I have listened to the thing…and sung along mind you…at least 3 time a day. Why?! What do these songs we get hooked on for a time actually do for us?

Of course I hopped online to research this. Well…I was almost sorry I did. Harvard neuroscientist explained it’s called an “earworm.” Back in the days when there was no written word people in many cultures used music together with rhyming to help themselves remember oral histories. Apparently our brains evolved to remember this. Huh. So here I sit with my current earworm, “The Rains in Africa.”

But something else about this phenomenon is that it feeds a certain emotion. I’m not sure what emotion the kids’ learning piece fed but the “Rains” song does feed a certain musical emotion…more like the chord structure which I recognize being a musician. It makes me feel good. And I do have to admit. It’s a well-structured song musically. The group Toto sings it very much on pitch. Rhythm is very nice. This song sure feeds something in my musicianship and emotions. I wonder why now?

And then once we get so tired of hearing or even physically singing this particular piece of music…our earworm…it goes away. We’re done. Huh. I guess we’ve solved whatever musical issue our brain is going through. Our emotions seem to be satisfied, and frankly getting quite annoyed with the endless mental repetition of the thing. I honestly wonder what we are solving when this happens? Why those particular snippets of music that won’t unstick themselves from our brains? Subconscious stuff is really interesting. Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on the wall inside your brain and see what is going on with this stuff?

I don’t have answers. I’m just sitting here wondering why a particular piece of music sticks itself into your brain for several days and then leaves. Does it go to someone else’s brain? Make the rounds? Ha! An errant musical phrase that is wandering from brain to brain. Hahahahaha!

At least they eventually leave us. But not to worry. Another one will come along in due time. They always do. Ha!

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