The Formula for a Catchy SongCan you name any catchy songs?

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reading + listening

You are going to hear clips from seven songs on a list of the catchiest pop songs. Identify the artists and songs and say which one you find the catchiest. The pictures below offer some clues.

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The Daily MailScientists reveal the formula for a catchy song

They are the irritating tunes that get stuck inside our heads on an endless loop for hours or even days.

But now researchers have discovered what may allow these songs to wiggle their way into our consciousness.

Researchers from Goldsmiths University of London have found pop songs that repeat in our minds continuously - known as earworms - share many

key features with children’s nursery rhymes, which are designed to be easy to remember.

Catchy songs like Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Move Like Jagger by Maroon 5, which are among the most common earworms, have fast tempos and common melody patterns.

Move Like Jagger, for example, has a basic rise and fall in pitch as the lyrics

are sung - something that is also seen in nursery songs like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

This simple pattern makes them easy for young children to remember the lyrics and the tune.

These catchy songs also tend to have unusual intervals or repeated riffs, which also makes them more likely to get stuck in our heads.

What do you think makes a song catchy? Read the first part of the article and compare your ideas to the explanations given.

November 2016

B

‘Music is one of the true cultural universals. It can be found in every known culture as something that we share as humans,’ lead author Dr Kelly Jakubowski said.

‘Music taps into a lot of primitive areas in our brain, including the reward system.’

The simple nature of many pop songs that become earworms appears to tap into a key component of how our memories work.

The study, which is published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, asked 3,000 people to name the songs that most often plagued them as earworms.

They then compared these to songs that had never been

named as earworms but had ranked equally in terms of popularity in the charts.

Dr Jakubowki said: ‘Our findings show that you can, to some extent, predict which songs are going to get stuck in people’s heads based on the song’s melodic content.

‘This could help aspiring song-writers or advertisers write a jingle everyone will remember for days or months afterwards.’

For those struggling to get a particular tune out of their head, Dr Jakubowki also has some tips to get rid of an earworm.

Other research has suggested that chewing gum, trying to solve tricky anagrams or reading a good novel can displace the annoying tune from your memory.

She said: ‘Seeking out a recording and listening to it all the way through may help to gain closure.’

‘Distracting with another song or auditory material, such as talk radio can also

work. The top song used in our study for distracting from earworms was God Save the Queen.’

‘Sometimes though, letting it fade away on its own is the only way to get rid of an earworm.’

THE CATCHIEST POP SONGS1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga2. Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue3. Don’t Stop Believing - Journey4. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye 5. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 6. California Gurls - Katy Perry 7. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

The Formula for a Catchy Song

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Summarise in your own words what makes a song catchy according to the article.f

Discuss the following questions and then read the second part of the article and check your ideas.

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1 The lead author of the research says: ‘Music is one of the true cultural universals.’ What do you think she means by this?2 Which primitive areas in our brains does music tap into?3 Who could the research about catchy songs help?4 How can you get a particular tune out of your head?

Are there any songs that are being played on the radio at the moment that you can’t get out of your head?b

Complete the lyrics from the songs you heard at the beginning of the class and then listen to them again to check your ideas.

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The Formula for a Catchy Song

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Somebody That I Used To Know - GotyeBut you didn’t have to _______ me offMake out like it never happened and that we were _______________And I don’t even need your loveBut you treat me like a ________________ and that feels so roughNo you didn’t have to stoop so lowHave your ___________________ collect your records and then change your numberI guess that I don’t need that thoughNow you’re just somebody that I used to knowNow you’re just somebody that I used to knowNow you’re just somebody that I used to know

Bad Romance - Lady GagaOh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!Caught in a bad romanceOh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!Caught in a bad romanceRah rah ah-ah-ah!Ro mah ro-mah-mahGaga oh-la-la!Want your bad romanceRah rah ah-ah-ah!Ro mah ro-mah-mahGaga ooh-la-la!Want your bad romanceI want your _______________I want your diseaseI want your everythingAs long as it’s _______________

I want your loveLove love loveI want your loveI want your _______________The touch of your handI want your leather studded kiss in the _______________I want your loveLove love love, I want your love Don’t Stop Believing - JourneyJust a small _______________ girlLiving in a lonely _______________She took the midnight _________________ going anywhereJust a _______________ boyBorn and raised in south DetroitHe took the midnight train going anywhereA singer in a smoky roomA smell of wine and cheap _______________For a smile they can share the nightIt goes on and on, and on, and onStrangers _______________Up and down the boulevardTheir _____________ searching in the nightStreetlights, peopleLiving just to find __________________Hiding somewhere in the night

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie MinogueI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, your _____________ is all I think aboutI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, it’s more than I ____________ to think aboutLa, la, la, la, la, la, la, laLa, la, la, la, la, la, la, laI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, your _____________ is all I think aboutI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, it’s more than I ____________ to think aboutEvery night every _______________Just to be there in your _______________Won’t you stay won’t you stay

Stay forever and ever and ever

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 Just shoot for the stars if it feels rightAnd aim for my _______________ if you feel like itTake me away and make it okayI _______________ I’ll behaveYou wanted _______________ so we waitedI put on a show now we’re nakedYou say I’m a kid my ____________ is bigI don’t give a shit and it goes like thisTake me by the tongue and I’ll know youKiss me till you’re ______________ and I’ll show you all the moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like JaggerI don’t need to try to ______________ youLook into my ____________ and I’ll own you with them moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like Jagger

California Gurls - Katy Perry Greetings loved onesLet’s take a journeyI know a placeWhere the grass is really ____________Warm, wet and wildThere must be something in the _________Sipping gin and juiceLaying underneath the palm ____________ (undone)The boys break their ____________

Trying to creep a little sneak peek (at us)You could _______________ the worldBut nothing comes closeTo the golden coastOnce you ____________ with usYou’ll be falling in loveCalifornia girlsWe’re unforgettableDaisy DukesBikinis on topSun-kissed ____________So hotWe’ll melt your popsicleCalifornia girlsWe’re undeniableFine, fresh, fierceWe got it on lockWest Coast representNow put your ____________ up

Bohemian Rhapsody - QueenIs this the ____________ life?Is this just ____________?Caught in a landslideNo escape from ____________Open your ____________Look up to the ____________ and seeI’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathyBecause I’m easy come, easy _________A little high, a little ____________Anyway the ____________ blows, doesn’t really matter to me, to meMama, just ________________ a manPut a gun against his headPulled my _______________, now he’s deadMama, life had just begunBut now I’ve gone and thrown it all awayMamaDidn’t mean to make you ____________If I’m not back again this time tomorrowCarry on, carry on, as if nothing really ________________

The Formula for a Catchy Song reading + listening

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Choose five words from the article or song lyrics that you would like to learn and write a definition and example sentence for each one on the back of the page.

V

Complete the phrasal verb in this extract from the article with the correct preposition and explain what it means:

E

There are a number of verb combinations with into. Complete the gaps to make the verbs defined. If you need help, the words are at the bottom of the page.

bumping into people

f

The Formula for a Catchy Song reading + listening

The Daily MailThe simple nature of many pop songs that become earworms appears to tap _____ a key component of how our memories work.

November 2016

V

1 __________ into receive, especially as an heir (inherit)

2 __________ into enter (a profession, Parliament, etc.)

3 __________ into meet by chance

4 __________ into drive off the road into (a service station, etc.)

5 __________ into become interested or involved in

6 __________ into investigate or examine

7 __________ (someone) into convince (a person) to do something

8 __________ into like, be enthusiastic about

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be go come bump pull get look talk

1 My father wanted me to be a doctor, but I ended up being a teacher.

React to these statements using the phrasal verbs above:e.g. I always meet the same people when I go shopping. We must have the same tastes.Possible reaction: I never bump into people when I go out.

2 If I ever got some money from a long lost relative the first thing I would do is pay off my debts.

3 I’ve read detective novels ever since I was a teenager.

4 If my phone rings while I am driving I always go to a lay-by or service station before I answer.

5 I started collecting stamps after my grandfather showed me his collection.

6 Helen didn’t want to go to the cinema, but I convinced her that she would enjoy the film.

intermediate+ (B1+)week of 14.11.16

student pages 5

Transcript Somebody That I Used To Know - GotyeBut you didn’t have to cut me offMake out like it never happened and that we were nothingAnd I don’t even need your loveBut you treat me like a stranger and that feels so roughNo you didn’t have to stoop so lowHave your friends collect your records and then change your numberI guess that I don’t need that thoughNow you’re just somebody that I used to know

Now you’re just somebody that I used to knowNow you’re just somebody that I used to know

Bad Romance - Lady GagaOh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!Caught in a bad romanceOh-oh-oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!Caught in a bad romanceRah rah ah-ah-ah!Ro mah ro-mah-mahGaga oh-la-la!Want your bad romance

Rah rah ah-ah-ah!Ro mah ro-mah-mahGaga ooh-la-la!Want your bad romanceI want your uglyI want your diseaseI want your everythingAs long as it’s freeI want your loveLove love loveI want your loveI want your dramaThe touch of your handI want your leather studded kiss in the sandI want your love

The Formula for a Catchy Song

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Teacher’s notes 1/2

reading + listening

Complete the phrasal verb in this extract from the article with the correct preposition and explain what it means:

E

tap into = gain access to; manage to use something in a way that brings good results

1 My father wanted me to be a doctor, but I ended up being a teacher.Possible reaction: What made you go into teaching?2 If I ever got some money from a long lost relative the first thing I would do is pay off my debts.Possible reaction: If I came into some money, I’d go on a long holiday.3 I’ve read detective novels ever since I was a teenager.Possible reaction: I’ve never been into detective novels, I prefer romantic novels.4 If my phone rings while I am driving I always go to a lay-by or service station before I answer.Possible reaction: I wish more people pulled into lay-bys instead of putting everyone else at risk by taking the call while driving.5 I started collecting stamps after my grandfather showed me his collection.Possible reaction: So you got into stamp collecting after seeing your grandfather’s collection.6 Helen didn’t want to go to the cinema, but I convinced her that she would enjoy the film.Possible reaction: You talked Helen into going to the cinema.

f React to these statements using the phrasal verbs above:

There are a number of verb combinations with into. Complete the gaps to make the verbs defined. If you need help, the words are at the bottom of the page.

V

1 come 2 go 3 bump 4 pull 5 get 6 look 7 talk 8 be

Love love love, I want your love

Don’t Stop Believing - JourneyJust a small town girlLiving in a lonely worldShe took the midnight train going anywhereJust a city boyBorn and raised in south DetroitHe took the midnight train going anywhereA singer in a smoky roomA smell of wine and cheap perfumeFor a smile they can share the nightIt goes on and on, and on, and onStrangers waitingUp and down the boulevardTheir shadows searching in the nightStreetlights, peopleLiving just to find emotionHiding somewhere in the night

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie MinogueI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, your loving is all I think aboutI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, it’s more than I dare to think aboutLa, la, la, la, la, la, la, laLa, la, la, la, la, la, la, laI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, your loving is all I think aboutI just can’t get you out of my headBoy, it’s more than I dare to think aboutEvery night every dayJust to be there in your armsWon’t you stay won’t you stayStay forever and ever and ever

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 Just shoot for the stars if it feels rightAnd aim for my heart if you feel like itTake me away and make it okayI swear I’ll behaveYou wanted control so we waitedI put on a show now we’re nakedYou say I’m a kid my ego is bigI don’t give a shit and it goes like thisTake me by the tongue and I’ll know youKiss me till you’re drunk and I’ll show you all the moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like JaggerI don’t need to try to control youLook into my eyes and I’ll own you with them moves like JaggerI’ve got the moves like Jagger

California Gurls - Katy Perry Greetings loved onesLet’s take a journeyI know a placeWhere the grass is really greenerWarm, wet and wildThere must be something in the waterSipping gin and juiceLaying underneath the palm trees (undone)The boys break their necksTrying to creep a little sneak peek (at us)You could travel the worldBut nothing comes closeTo the golden coastOnce you party with usYou’ll be falling in loveCalifornia girlsWe’re unforgettableDaisy DukesBikinis on topSun-kissed skinSo hotWe’ll melt your popsicleCalifornia girlsWe’re undeniableFine, fresh, fierceWe got it on lockWest Coast representNow put your hands up

Bohemian Rhapsody - QueenIs this the real life?Is this just fantasy?Caught in a landslideNo escape from realityOpen your eyesLook up to the skies and seeI’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathyBecause I’m easy come, easy goA little high, a little lowAnyway the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to me, to meMama, just killed a manPut a gun against his headPulled my trigger, now he’s deadMama, life had just begunBut now I’ve gone and thrown it all awayMamaDidn’t mean to make you cryIf I’m not back again this time tomorrowCarry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

intermediate+ (B1+)week of 14.11.16

The Formula for a Catchy SongTeacher’s notes 2/2

reading + listening