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: Michael Jackson — “Bad”
Michael Jackson‘s seventh studio album, Bad, was his final collaboration with Quincy Jones. The album was a massive success. It earned diamond status in the United States, selling over ten million copies, and it topped over 35 million sales worldwide. The album topped the charts in the U.S. and in countries all over the globe. The title track was a massive hit. Released as the album’s second single, it also topped charts all over the world. The original music video, directed by Martin Scorsese, is over 18 minutes long and features Wesley Snipes and numerous references to “West Side Story.” After the video’s debut, most outlets switched to the shorter, 4-minute version.
“Bad” Was Supposed to Be a Duet
Quincy Jones had intended the epic earworm to be a duet with Jackson’s chief rival at the time, Prince. However, Prince declined. He, in turn, pitched his song “Wouldn’t You Love to Love Me,” which Jackson rejected. Prince eventually gave that song to Taja Sevelle for her debut album on his Paisley Park label. Sadly, the two would never end up collaborating on a song.
