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EAR WE GO AGAIN

Catchy poll reveals which song is the worst ‘earworm’ of ALL time… and it WILL stay with you

Classic hits are catchier than new artists, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't walk 500 Miles to get away from them

THE Proclaimers hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) has been crowned the biggest “earworm” song.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes an "earworm" as: "a catchy tune which persistently stays in a person's mind, especially to the point of irritation."

Many Brits would walk 500 miles to get The Proclaimers' hit out of their head, after it was named our biggest earworm
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Many Brits would walk 500 miles to get The Proclaimers' hit out of their head, after it was named our biggest earwormCredit: Getty Images

Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions by Queen also get stuck in people’s heads regularly, say OnePoll, who compiled a top 50 chart of the most difficult tunes to forget.

Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" were also contagious enough to make the top 10.

Queen scored highly with Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions the second and third most likely songs to get stuck in your head
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Queen scored highly with Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions the second and third most likely songs to get stuck in your headCredit: Getty Images

The theme tunes for TV shows Benny Hill and Friends were also high on the list. They are joined by film themes from Star Wars and The Great Escape.

Most of the top earworms were classic hits, which OnePoll said could be a sign "newer songs aren't as catchy as they used to be".

Dolly Parton also made the top 10 - perhaps a sign that songs aren't as catchy nowadays
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Dolly Parton also made the top 10 - perhaps a sign that songs aren't as catchy nowadaysCredit: KEYSTONE/TI-PRESS/EPA FILE

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The highest ranking songs from this decade were Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson, and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift.

A spokesman said: “However the earworm happens, it can get on your nerves, especially if the same song part repeats in your head.”

Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, pictured, and Mark Ronson was the top scoring song of this decade
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Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, pictured, and Mark Ronson was the top scoring song of this decadeCredit: Getty Images

But how to get rid of it?

The study shows a third of Brits believe they can cure their earworm by listening to the song the whole way through.

And one in 10 said they just go to sleep and it's gone when they wake.

What are the top 50 earworms?

1. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
2. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
3. We are the Champions - Queen
4. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
5. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
6. YMCA - Village People
7. Final Countdown - Europe
8. Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson
9. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
10. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
11. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
12. Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men
13. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepson
14. Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
15. Hey Jude - The Beatles
16. Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
17. Jingle Bells
18. Gangnam Style - Psy
19. Friends - theme tune
20. Wonderwall - Oasis
21. Barbie Girl - Aqua
22. Poker Face - Lady Gaga
23. Match of the Day - theme tune
24. When I'm 64 - The Beatles
25. The Time Warp - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
26. Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
27. Sweet Child 'O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
28. The Monkees - theme tune
29. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
30. Ooh Ee Oo Ah Ah, Ting Tang, Walla Walla Bing Bang - Witch Doctor
31. Happy Days - theme tune
32. The Addams Family - Theme Tune
33. Wannabe - Spice Girls
34. Thriller - Michael Jackson
35. Blue (Da Ba Dee) - Eiffel 65
36. The Simpsons - theme tune
37. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
38. Eastenders - theme tune
39. Kung Fu Fighting
40. Mmm Bop - Hanson
41. Benny Hill
42. The Great Escape - Main Soundtrack
43. Star Wars - Main Soundtrack
44. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Mary Poppins
45. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - theme tune
46. Tomorrow - Annie the Musical
47. Pink Panther - theme tune
48. Cheerleader - OMI
49. Backstreet's Back - Backstreet Boys
50. Spongebob Squarepants - theme tune

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