5 Rock Songs That You’ll Never Get Out of Your Head Again

There has to be some kind of science behind earworm songs. What is it about a particular tune, especially in the rock genre, that will make it repeat over and over inside one’s noggin? It’s equal parts enjoyable and annoying and utterly fascinating to think about. If you’re in the mood to experience it for yourself, check out the following five rock songs that you will never get out of your head.

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1. “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed

Sorry about this one, non-Creed fans. Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t deny that Creed’s hit 2000 post-grunge song is one of the most addicting tunes from the early aughts. Is it Scott Stapp’s vocals? Is it that grunge instrumentation? Who knows? Either way, “With Arms Wide Open” won’t get out of your head for quite a while.

2. “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles

The Beatles are behind quite a few famous rock songs that you’ll never get out of your head, but the 1968 track “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” from the White Album is on a totally different level. The nonsensical lyrics and melody join together to create a shining example of songs that were, more or less, engineered to never leave your subconscious.

3. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers was released in 1988 and brought the Scottish band international fame. They ended up becoming one-hit wonders, but their claim to fame has stood the test of time and is still an absolute earworm of a Celtic rock tune today. I dare you to not to belt the chorus.

4. “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys

Few songs are as essential to a beach vacation as “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys. This yacht rock classic was released in 1988 and is a pleasant enough song, but there’s something about referencing Caribbean islands in a rhyming list that just embeds itself in one’s brain. This honestly isn’t the worst song to have replaying in your mind, either.

5. “We Built This City” by Starship

This is a pretty solid example of rock songs that one can never get out of one’s head, though the part that really brands itself on one’s brain tissue is “We built this city on rock and roll!!” This dance-rock classic from 1985 was a no. 1 hit back in the day, and I can definitely see why.

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