You know the song that’s on permanent repeat in your head? That infectious jam that, no matter how hard you strain your brain, just may be with you for the rest of your life? This serious and life–altering ailment is known as an ear worm, and popular music is lousy with them. Whether the song in question is musically repetitive or lyrically seductive, ear worms root themselves deep in your brain and refuse to leave until you listen to the song dozens of times, ultimately collapsing in defeat. Reservoir salutes these unprecedentedly catchy tracks with our Ode to the Earworm.

 

HEADBAND – B.o.B. feat 2 Chainz

The whistling melody in this 2013 smash is simple, satisfying, and dangerously addictive. After one listen you will be whistling the DJ Mustard hit for the next month, guaranteed.

 

YOU MAKE ME FEEL – Cobra Starship feat. Sabi

It seems the simpler the lyrics, the easier they stick with you. And what’s simpler than Cobra Starship’s “la la la la la” refrain in “You Make Me Feel”? We bet pre-schoolers and prima donnas alike were on board with this one.

 

PONY – Ginuwine

When you hear the burp-y baseline in this R&B smash it is impossible not to start breaking it down like it’s the late ‘90s all over again. If Magic Mike wants to rip it to “Pony”, you know it must be the jam.

 

BAD GIRLS – M.I.A.

“Live Fast Die Young Bad Girls Do it Well” is now the personal motto of roughly one fourth of the English-speaking population. Not to mention that snaky Middle Eastern synth? You’re killing us, Danja.

 

I’M DIFFERENT – 2 Chainz

As soon as 2 Chainz hit the A-list rap game one thing was quite obvious—homeboy was different. When he pulls up to a scene, his ceiling is missing and he needs you to know that. He also needs a tentative piano loop to lodge itself deep, deep into your psyche, apparently.

Bonus fact: This track also features 2 Chainz’ confession that he sometimes does, in fact, have more than two chains on, ending a worldwide series of debates on the subject.

 

YEAH! – Usher, Lil Jon, Ludacris

In 2004, no one could escape musical history’s catchiest synth line, courtesy of Lil Jon.

 

SEXYBACK – Justin Timberlake

Anatomy of an early aughts smash: A classic Danja-Timberland beat. Justin Timberlake’s crush-making vocals. A deceptively simple two-note synth riff on repeat. Voilà! A hit.

 

MERCY – Kanye West feat. 2 Chainz, Pusha T, Big Sean

With an unintelligible sample and a huge roster of G.O.O.D. Music rappers, Kanye’s ode to his favorite Lamborghini had the world begging for mercy in 2012 with its eerie synth-chime loop and “oh-oh-oh-oh-oh okay!” on repeat.

 

 

GANGNAM STYLE (REMIX) – PSY feat Diplo, 2 Chainz, Tyga

The song that spawned the most viewed video in Youtube history got a bit more flavor when remixed by Diplo and company. As you may recall from the original version of the track, PSY’s style transcended international borders, language barriers, and catchy, near-nonsensical song chorus records all in one.