Thanks to the Straight Dope doing a survey of people's past experiences with earworms, naturally I am infected with one, specifically Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now". As a song, this really shouldn't work. Firstly, if there's a more wheedling, pathetic set of lyrics written anywhere, then I'm content to never hear them. The tune and production are pure 70s cheese. And yet...I love it to bits. I just wish it wouldn't get stuck in my head.

As to all time earworms, we have a song that all of us are kind of on the honour system never to hum, "Kansas City" from the musical Oklahoma. The tune is absurdly catchy and impossibly jaunty and idly murmuring "I got to Kansas City on a Friday..." will get you a Look. However, in my own subjective opinion, you really can't beat kids tv tunes in this regard. Thus, the dubbed version of Around the World in 80 Days from my childhood is quite dull but it was adored purely for its theme tune. It is possibly the jauntiest thing ever written and has a couple of extra things to recommend on hearing as an adult. Like, what the hell are some of those translated lyrics? Is that character really proclaiming that he's " a big old dumbass cat?" I presume not but it sure as hell sounds like it. But more amusingly, I never realised that the Phileas Fogg character is apparently singing the tune in a very good impersonation of James Mason for some reason. Anyway, enjoy. Or share your own golden earthworms.