I mean songs that aren't real hits or possibly even well known but for whatever reason the lyrics and sound get stuck in your head. In 2009 I found this song and it became a bit of an ear worm. In the 80s / 90s songs like Agadoo were stuck in my head.
But "Agadoo" was a hit song, reaching Number 2 in the UK charts and being the 8th best selling single of 1984. But I suspect the 80's where the decade of cheesy songs that stick in your head.
I actually like Agadoo a lot. It's a terrific party song. You have to be not sober to fully enjoy it.
Now if you really want an annoying song, there is this one But yet again it is another song tha was a hit (at least in the UK) PLus of course being a Star Trek board one has to mention this one But once again it was a hit song peaking at number 1 (in the UK)
Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo always hangs in my brain for way too long. But right now it's Does Your Mother Know by ABBA. At least I think that's the title, judging by the repetitions.
I have a real soft spot for Star Trekkin. I still have the extended version on vinyl. It's fun. Oh and the Birdie song, how many weddings I had attended and that had played OMG. Ah the 80s I have a soft spot for ABBA..... Some of their songs were OK, the problem here though was that radio stations played them to death and that made people switch off. Also killed the bands popularity. Mexican Radio is OK but its catchy.
Looks like you got some songs in the UK that are pretty unknown here in the US. I do like that Agadoo thing just because the two guys aren't very in sync with each other's moves. For me, it's that damned All-Star from Smashmouth, that thing will get lodged in my head and it's terrible. I suppose it's not a bad song but 500 Miles is one that does that too and worse because it's just like two lines over and over because I don't know the others so it gets stuck in my head as "When I wake up I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you...I would walk 500 miles and would etc...and when I wake up...
The LeAnn Rimes version of "How Do I Live" (or as she pronounces it, how do AH LEEEEEEEEVE). If this song does not make you want to punch innocent bystanders, you are not human. (For some reason, radio stations never seemed to play the vastly superior Trisha Yearwood version.)
I saw her in concert. She was the 2nd act for John Farnham here a few years back. But you are correct. Trisha Yearwood is far superior in every single way.
I think you'll find the reverse is also true, they'll be songs that are known in the US that are virtually unknown in the UK. But I suspect that many annoying songs were actually hit for the very simply reason they have catchy tunes.
Well-known is subjective. I could dig up plenty of songs in this category that were hits back in their day, but would likely be obscure to modern listeners. Exhibit A:
I've had the opening bars of the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" stuck in my head at random times since 1975. For the last couple of days I've had a Kirsty McCall tune stuck up there, which confuses me, since I haven't listened to McCall in several years.
I think Mexican Radio could be a potential earworm but because I grew up in the 80s my first thought when thinking of the song is of the guy's head coming through the beans.
Like the entire genre of Country.... My earworm recently, thanks to Deadpool, I also went to wedding recently and therefore slightly randomly have 'In Christ Alone' stuck in my head. That one wasn't in Deadpool.