Instead of getting held up on one snippet, TIME reports that letting the whole song play out in its entirety can help work the earworm out of your system. Alternatively, redirect your mouth’s attention. Many of us tend to sing or hum along with a sticky song, whether out loud or in our heads. By popping in a piece of gum or eating a snack, our mouth is now focused on chewing rather than singing.
If all else fails, try playing a different song altogether. In a 2014 study published in PLOS ONE, researchers gathered over 1,000 reports from people in Finland and the U.K. to determine how people responded to and coped with earworms. While many people simply gave in to the joy of it, others sought out distractions. This included what the researchers deemed “cure tunes.” Out of more than 60 songs named, six came up repeatedly. With two mentions each came “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel, “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin, and the theme song to “The A-Team.” With three votes each was “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club and the widely-known “Happy Birthday.” With the most mentions, “God Save the Queen” by Thomas Arne raked in six mentions. Perhaps the next time you’re dealing with a pesky earworm, try cranking up another jam and dance it out!
