Friday, November 27, 2015
Persistent earworm alert XIV
Not so long ago, you'd hear today's persistent earworm fairly often on oldies radio stations. In recent years, however, oldies stations have dropped a lot of their '60s oldies in order to play more '70s and '80s hits. A big hit from 1963 was once a staple cut on those stations, however. Once its vaguely vaudevillian melody seeps into your mind, expect it to take root. The song? Bobby Vee's "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes." That song has been lodged firmly in the back of my mind for at least six months, and I have no idea why. It stands on its own as a tune you might seek out when you're in a carefree mood, or I can imagine it being interpreted literally with 1,000 eyes in a Muppets sketch. The lyrics are a reminder from one significant other to another to stay faithful and not lie. As off-putting as that might sound out of context, the song works largely because it's instrumentally catchy, and Vee sings it without even a hint of nagging or scolding. That's an impressive feat, considering the subject matter.