How often do you have that feeling that you just can’t stop listening to that one song? It’s like it just falls perfectly on the ear at the right time and in the right mood.
I’ve given up pressing the << button like 10s of times, but now instead, I’ve just placed this song on repeat because the next song isn’t what fits into my current listening appetite.
It’s basically like a bowl of peanuts at a party. It suits the occasion, it’s right there to take more from, and nobody needs to offer it to you. We just continuously take more ourselves.
Today we’ll look at why and how it happens that our brains obsess over a song, and below, I also revealed the song recurring on my system today.
What Is It Called Listening To a Song On Repeat?
It is called that the song is on a loop, or I am looping this song while listening to it. It comes from the term looping that musicians use to repeat a certain part of the song or play the same part over on their instruments.
Electric instruments, like a keyboard or e-piano, also have the ‘looping’ feature integrated so that musicians can record a loop and perform other parts of the song while the loop continues.
It is usually preferred to use an instrument pedal to have more control over the exact timing of the loop. See the link as an example. The highly rated LEKATO Guitar and Bass Pedal can even loop 9 different riffs at the same time!
There are other terms for songs looping in your mind:
- Binge listening – Which comes from watching a series without taking breaks.
- Wearing it out – This comes from wearing out the needle of the old vinyl record players.
Is It Normal To Listen to a Song Over and Over?
For me, this started at a young age. I remember my sister getting the Avril Lavigne album for her birthday, and for some reason, I couldn’t get enough of Sk8er Boi.
I played the song over and over again. And until today I am still completely fine.
It is absolutely normal for one to listen to the same song on a loop. Your mind and mood met the perfect melody and key for stimulation of the brain.
It’s like meeting the right person at the right time, and you just click with each other. Where if it would have happened at a different time and place, it might not have been such a unique and perfect match.
This post was written and posted by De Wet from startingmyband.com on 18.05.2023. The content was stolen from me if this blog post is seen anywhere else.
Am I Obsessing Over This Song?
If we are looking at the psychological side of it, we could consider the phrase ‘to obsess over’, since it’s an abnormal repetition of a certain action.
“Obsessing over” is a strong term that people don’t necessarily want to relate to, but in the end, our brains feel stimulated by the song and happy to have it running.
The same happens when we had a situation taking place, like an argument, where we keep reflecting and revising a situation. This can also be considered “obsessing over a situation”.
How Does This Happen?
This happens when your brain is introduced to a certain song, melody, lyrics or instrumental, at the exact time that you are in the current state of wellness is in the mood for it.
I would also include that the correct musical key is being used.
Oliver Sacks also describes in various chapters of this entertaining book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, how the brain craves music.
The psychological term we often use is idée fixe, which is a preoccupation of the mind, where the mind becomes resistant to adapt or modify.
No wonder the next track didn’t sound as well as the one that my brain is fantasising about.
Another book that I can recommend to read is This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, which also gives you more insight and explains how the mind fantasises and obsesses over music.
What Is The Term For A Song That You Are Tired of Looping?
If you’ve been listening to the same song for too long, the term to use is that ‘it’s done to death’.
This basically means that you’ve listened to it so many times now, that your brain does not find it interesting anymore.
The best to do then is to let it go for a while.
Let’s take the oldies into consideration. These were the looping songs of the ’70s, 80’s, 90’s etc. People love listening to them again because it connects them to that phase of their lives.
After taking a decent break from a song and you listen to it again after a few years, you will feel refreshed and happy again.
I had this experience this week while listening to the 2003 Billy Talent self-titled album. Two decades later, my brain finds it exciting again, and I felt like I was in my teens again.
Revealing My Current Single on a Loop
So this week I was looping the cover by Our Last Night called Last Night. It came to me at the right time and I was in the right mood to just take it all in.
Thanks for the great work of cover bands that specialises in making other genres accessible to the rock ‘n roll family.
If you are a keen concertgoer and would like to know more about WHY Concerts Have Opening Acts, go ahead and scan through this article.
More interesting, if you are interested in becoming a Music Manager, which is one of the most rewarding jobs there could be, don’t miss the article I published about How To Become a Music Manager.
Until next time, Rock ‘n Roll Boys ‘n Girls.