While on my knees in the flower bed, I was struck by an ear worm. No, not that nasty, voracious insect, the earwig, although I've had my battles with them, too.
What I'm talking about is the audio affliction, where a snippet of music gets stuck on permanent replay in your head.
The term is actually a corruption of the German word Ohrwurm and is used to designate a musical itch in the brain. According to researchers, 99% of people have, at one time or another, suffered from an earworm. Women are especially susceptible to the monotonous musical phrase playing endlessly in our minds, perhaps because we worry more than men. -- I'm not even going there! -- However, if you want to drive the man in your life crazy, just hum a bit of your earworm out loud and he's bound to catch it. Apparently, an earworm is a bit like a yawn, high infectious.
Psychoanalyst Theodor Reik had a nicer term for the phenomenom. He called it a "haunting melody". On a CBC radio show (CBC is the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) listeners were asked to find other terms. My favourite suggestion is "humbug."
There have been many scientific and unscientific studies as to the most likely tunes to produce this effect. They include "The Macarena," "Who Let the Dogs Out," "It's a Small World," the theme from "Sesame Street," and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
Luckily for me, the music on endless replay while I worked the flower bed, was the Sunday anthem. "Come before His presence with singing, Come before His presence with song." Although why I should think of coming into God's presence while wrestling the root of a dandelion, I'm not sure. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Yes, yes, on my knees, I give thanks for all that God has provided, but could You please turn off the tape? "Know that the Lord, He is our God, We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." Ah, perhaps I should listen instead of fighting. Perhaps my annoying earworm contains the voice of God, reminding me that no matter how hard I work at ordering my world, God is in charge. And when God is in charge, all things, even dandelions, show forth His wisdom.
Luckily for me, the music on endless replay while I worked the flower bed, was the Sunday anthem. "Come before His presence with singing, Come before His presence with song." Although why I should think of coming into God's presence while wrestling the root of a dandelion, I'm not sure. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Yes, yes, on my knees, I give thanks for all that God has provided, but could You please turn off the tape? "Know that the Lord, He is our God, We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." Ah, perhaps I should listen instead of fighting. Perhaps my annoying earworm contains the voice of God, reminding me that no matter how hard I work at ordering my world, God is in charge. And when God is in charge, all things, even dandelions, show forth His wisdom.
So, here's a chance for another unscientific study. What tunes are most likely to infect you with an earworm?
Posted by Alice Valdal. Keep track of me and my writing and gardening adventures at http://www.alicevaldal.com/
