Annoying songs: Sometimes they just linger on

Not sure if Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes" fame has ever covered this subject in the many years he has reflected on the nuances of life. If he hasn't - or even if he has - here's my take on one of life's little annoyances.Have you ever had a song in your head you couldn't get rid of it? There simply is no off button in these instances. The tune just keeps playing and playing. Meanwhile, it drives most of us nearly insane.I don't know much about the phenomenon. I'm sure there are studies that attempt to explain it. But here's the thing about songs that continually find the replay button in your head - why are they always the most annoying ones?I can't even remember when I heard this particular song, but an old Phil Collins tune (there aren't any new ones, are there?) simply will not go away, torturing me for the last two weeks. I will be four hours into my day and all of a sudden there it is, the Phil Collins song seemingly laughing at me as it continues being the ultimate pest.I have even developed a method for disposing these exasperating songs that linger well past the tolerable stage. Because I love practically anything by the Beatles - there are exceptions, old stuff like "I Want to Hold Your Hand" departed my personal hit list long ago - I will mentally slip in one of their songs and often times be rid of the maddening one that hangs around far too long, like an unwanted relative at a family gathering.Sadly, this method does not always work. Thinking I was rid of the Phil Collins song (I won't mention the title, for fear it's contagious) last weekend, it hauntingly came back while taking a shower Monday morning.Of course, I have no one to blame but myself for the Phil Collins assault, which must have been ignited due to an "oldie" station I occasionally listen to. It's times like this that make me want to stick with talk radio exclusively.But I must say, sometimes the culprit can be my wife, providing a "song from hell." She has a habit of humming bad TV sitcom jingles occasionally around the house. These typically become severe cases where you are desperate for the incessant replaying to stop. It would almost be worth getting a lobotomy to rid oneself of the theme from "Gilligan's Island." Even typing the name of the old 1960s sitcom in right now is like putting it on my brain's CD player - "Just sit right back" - quick, where's "Hey Jude?"While some songs seem to mysteriously appear in your head, there are explanations why some develop. A co-worker just mentioned the song that wakes him up each morning can linger throughout the day.I've also noticed the last song I here on the radio before getting out of my car can stick to me like glue as well. That's why on occasion I've actually stayed in my car a little longer, trying to get a cool song to carry with me through the day.Music is quite the phenomenon. Why can I recall nearly every word to a fast-paced, lengthy Bob Dylan song ("Submarine Homesick Blues"), yet have no clue concerning math equations I was forced to memorize long ago?Yeah, I know, the Dylan song was something I liked first as a teenager, while the math was something forced on me. But still, to be nearly clueless on how to attack a geometry equation and to know almost every word of a song that has 71 lines and nearly 300 words that I hear about once every five years?It simply doesn't make any sense.What also might not make any sense is devoting an entire column to such a frivolous topic (sorry for the self-indulgement). But guess what? It may have cured me.While "Submarine Homesick Blues" - "Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine, I'm on the pavement, thinking about the government" - plays in my head, guess who has hopefully departed?Who can explain the mystery? And by the way, can anyone explain what "Su-Su-Suddio" means? - Jeffrey Weidel is the Editor of The Press-Tribune.