Everyone gets songs stuck in their heads that just won’t go away. They sneak into your subconscious. They are epic earworms that you find yourself humming uncontrollably, singing in the shower, or tapping the beat to with your foot or ballpoint pen when you should be working. Sometimes they even keep you awake at night. Whether they are current hits, one-hit wonders, movie soundtrack gems, holiday favorites, or songs from your youth, their catchy vocals, riffs, hooks, and choruses seem to linger for days.
Here, those songs find a home, no matter the genre. Here, those epic earworms are revisited, explained, and celebrated. Here, you may find the song that haunts you tomorrow. Here is today’s unescapable song of the day…and the story behind it.
Today’s Epic Earworm: Creed — “With Arms Wide Open”
From 1997-2002, Creed was one of the biggest names in rock music. The band’s first 3 albums sold over 22 million copies in the United States alone. They were nominated for three Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards.
One of Creed’s biggest hits during that span was “With Arms Wide Open.” The song about lead singer Scott Stapp’s experience in becoming a father for the first time was a song that so many people could relate to. The single topped Billboard’s Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock charts and peaked at Number Two on the Alternative chart. The double-platinum hit won the Grammy for Best Rock Song and was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
A Foundational Single
Many people know “With Arms Wide Open” the song, but most don’t know that With Arms Wide Open was also the name of a foundation that Stapp started to help children and families. To launch the foundation, Creed released a special edition enhanced package single of the song that featured three versions of the song, plus the music video. Proceeds from its sale went to the charity foundation.
