Phrases that, when you see them, you inexplicably start singing them to the melody of something else (and then will forever be associated with that)

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Also stuck in my head, ever since record store coworkers tried to help a customer seeking "that Bob Marley song, Pajamas," leaving them mystified until she sang it for them:

Pajamas
Pajamas
I'm in pajamas with you
Pajamas pajamas pajamas pajamas pajamas pajamas pajamas
And I hope you like pajamas too
Oh-oh-oh

dad a, Monday, 1 December 2008 15:50 (seventeen years ago)

ahahaha

uәʇɹɐƃu!әʍ ˙ƃ ʎәu!Ⴁʍ (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 1 December 2008 16:02 (seventeen years ago)

omg "I'll tumble dry ya" - laundry is never going to be the same!

Doctor Casino, Monday, 1 December 2008 16:37 (seventeen years ago)

"The sharif don't like it
Lock the Taskbar
Lock the Taskbar"

Takes me back to my college days, where, stumblinginto yet another cheap-ass mixer, my friends and I would break out into:

"I forgot my wallet...
Oh fuck, it's a cash bar!
Fuck, it's a cash bar!"

mottdeterre, Monday, 1 December 2008 19:02 (seventeen years ago)

Until recently my local corner shop was called Akbar's, and every time I went there I would sing "Akbar's! I wanna take you to Akbar's!" (to the tune of 'Gay Bar', obviously). I do have loads more of these, but usually don't remember them aside from when I do it.

More annoyingly, I've found that whenever someone says "yes" in a certain manner, I have to finish it with "the rhythm the rebel". It is driving me insane.

emil.y, Monday, 1 December 2008 20:44 (seventeen years ago)

Argh, "yes, the rhythm the rubbish, without a pause I'm taking out the garbage" went through my head for about a decade whenever I did the trash. What is it about chores that makes them such a breeding ground for these singsongs?

dad a, Monday, 1 December 2008 20:50 (seventeen years ago)

Any street name of the form 2 syllable word + avenue gets 'and I'm caught one more time up on duh-duh avenue' sung to it

sonofstan, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:49 (seventeen years ago)

On seeing a chinchilla in a city farm: "Chinchilla! Who got the keys to my bima?"

chap, Monday, 1 December 2008 23:07 (seventeen years ago)

Shih Tzu, that's how we act when we team up.

Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 00:05 (seventeen years ago)

(there are probably better ways to fill that in)

Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 00:06 (seventeen years ago)

I'm always on the hunt for names and phrases that can be sung to "Camptown Races." My favorite so far is baseball player Yuniesky Betancourt.

Joseph McCombs, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 02:02 (seventeen years ago)

When they lived in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, my parents used to take advantage of the lower gas prices in the U.S. by driving two miles south across the river to Sault Ste. Marie Michigan and filling up there. And when they passed the appropriate sign... http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/29589361_c80f1d9834.jpg?v=0 ...my dad would usually annoy my mom by singing "Briiidge - to the USA!" Springsteen-style.

Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 09:50 (seventeen years ago)

"Doug" substituted for the word "love":

Can You Feel The Doug Tonight?
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Doug
Doug Will Tear Us Apart
Now That We've Found Doug
etc.

kingkongvsgodzilla, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:15 (seventeen years ago)

WHAT

k3vin k., Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:21 (seventeen years ago)

A friend was obsessed with switching out love for lunch: Lunch Will Keep Us Togwether, Lunch Will Tear Us Apart, The Greatest Lunch of All, Stop in the Name of Lunch, When a Man Lunches a Woman....

mottdeterre, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:23 (seventeen years ago)

^^LOL esp. "when a man lunches a woman"

k3vin k., Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:24 (seventeen years ago)

I feel the lunch, baby

mottdeterre, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:24 (seventeen years ago)

then you guys will love this thread

Feel Like Making Lunch

I was hearing "no shakey shakey" to the tune of "push it" after seeing this

http://istor.indyarocks.com/trphotos/NoShakeyShakey1206254587.jpg

Edward III, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:34 (seventeen years ago)

the mayor of my town is named fung and while he campaigned I couldn't stop hearing "everybody vote fung tonight" in my head

thank god the election is over

Edward III, Wednesday, 3 December 2008 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

I fear we're veering from the question's intent. Nevertheless, I have to add that whenever I hear the John Denver & the Muppets' version of "Deck the Halls," when Scooter sings "See the blazing yule before us," I sing it as "See the blazing UB40."

Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 4 December 2008 07:44 (seventeen years ago)

as i was shutting my work computer down for the day - 'the server shut down' to the tune of 'the final countdown'

6335, Thursday, 4 December 2008 07:54 (seventeen years ago)

There's a call center company called Ruffalo Cody with an office in Athens that I would ride past, inevitably leading me to sing their name to the tune of "Buffalo Soldier."

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 7 December 2008 05:44 (seventeen years ago)

There Will be Blood, sung to the tune of "She Will be Loved"

reggaeton shark (salsa shark), Sunday, 7 December 2008 17:25 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Upon seeing a Ralph Lauren Nautica box unwrapped this morning, I sung in my head, as always:

"Nautica, bloody red eyes go to, Nautica, bloody red eyes go to"

bendy, Friday, 26 December 2008 01:21 (seventeen years ago)

There's a coffee chain here called "Cup o Joe" which I have stuck together with "Poppa Joe" by the Sweet.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 29 December 2008 02:44 (seventeen years ago)

hahaha nautica

stfujan stevens (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 29 December 2008 07:50 (seventeen years ago)

bendy truly gets the spirit of this thread

stfujan stevens (Whiney G. Weingarten), Monday, 29 December 2008 07:50 (seventeen years ago)

Run fast as you can.
You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man.

To the tune of Iron Man. Whenever i see hear anything ginger related.

NotEnough, Monday, 29 December 2008 13:52 (seventeen years ago)

WIth Michael PARKINSOn, liza goddard, and LIonel blaiR

to the tune of happy house by juan Mclean

FrAnKoLoCo, Monday, 29 December 2008 13:55 (seventeen years ago)

"I drowned a girl and I liked it"

Bape Store (some dude), Monday, 29 December 2008 16:02 (seventeen years ago)

Looking at medicines that declare "Pain Reliever / Fever Reducer," I flash on Keith Murray saying "Panty raider / party exciter!" on "Special Delivery."

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 11 January 2009 00:43 (seventeen years ago)

"I could drink a quesadilla, darling
and I would still be on my feet..."

banjoboy, Sunday, 11 January 2009 16:23 (seventeen years ago)

I almost forgot this one, whenever I see Fujiya and Miyagi's name, I sing it to "Kokomo"

Fujiya, Miyagi, oooh i wanna take ya

Whiney G. Weingarten, Sunday, 11 January 2009 17:17 (seventeen years ago)

whenever i read the shampoo & face wash bottles in the shower, i start singing "ex-fo-li-aaa-aation, is makin' me scrape."

ian, Sunday, 11 January 2009 18:05 (seventeen years ago)

burrito = "Amoeba" by the Adolescents - Burr - ee -TO! Burr - ee - TO!

sarahel, Sunday, 11 January 2009 22:24 (seventeen years ago)

and another - 70s artist Blinky Palermo to the tune of "Bitchin' Camaro" by the Dead Milkmen.

sarahel, Sunday, 11 January 2009 22:26 (seventeen years ago)

three months pass...

Everytime I see a Blu-Ray disc or player, I sing "blu-ray" to the tune of:

Whiney G. Weingarten, Friday, 17 April 2009 14:48 (seventeen years ago)

if blu-ray technology catches on, I'm screwed!

Whiney G. Weingarten, Friday, 17 April 2009 14:49 (seventeen years ago)

Congrats Whiney, I am totally going to start doing that in my head now. Man, I haven't heard U-Way in forever.

Actually they were kind of dumb not to license the song!

Doctor Casino, Friday, 17 April 2009 17:44 (seventeen years ago)

('they' meaning the blu-ray people, not the Youngbloodz)

Doctor Casino, Friday, 17 April 2009 17:45 (seventeen years ago)

the mayor of my town is named fung and while he campaigned I couldn't stop hearing "everybody vote fung tonight" in my head

thank god the election is over

― Edward III, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 4:39 PM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

At one old job we had a regular customer named Wei Ding (we had to pull the customer's charge accounts from the filing cabinet, so people's names were well-known). This guy came in all the time with large, elaborate orders.... and one day right after he left it clicked in my head: "So tired... Tired of Wei Ding..."

Doctor Casino, Friday, 17 April 2009 17:51 (seventeen years ago)

Temple Of The Dog: Hunger Strike

I'm doing laundry....doin' lauundraaaaaayyyayayayayaya

― kornrulez6969, Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:09 AM (4 months ago) Bookmark

this will never leave my head ever

BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 17 April 2009 18:02 (seventeen years ago)

Clothes are on the table, the dryer's cookiiiiiiin'

Doctor Casino, Friday, 17 April 2009 18:50 (seventeen years ago)

last night I dreamed about this thread. in my dream I posted that I always hear 'Gilgamesh' to the tune of "Silver Bells". that doesn't actually happen to me, but now I think it probably will.

I'm the head soul brother in the US. Where to now? (bernard snowy), Saturday, 18 April 2009 12:21 (seventeen years ago)

ahhhon mind steelin shirts from the mouth of the dryeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer

one thousand BIG HOOS raging and pounding (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Saturday, 18 April 2009 13:16 (seventeen years ago)

Whenever "Rosemary's Baby" is mentioned I start singing, to the tune of Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby," "It's got to be Rosemary's Baby, oh yeah, it's got to be Rosemary's Baby, cause she's so fine...she's gonna be Rosemary's Baby oh yeahhhh"

Like the very nature of these things, it's pretty obnoxious to other ears prob

Cunga, Saturday, 18 April 2009 17:30 (seventeen years ago)

The city of Bangalore = "Albacore" by Palomar.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 18 April 2009 19:16 (seventeen years ago)

A record store I frequented in my teens had a Papa John Creach poster in the back, which name now and forever sparks a Madonna tune in my head:

Papa John Creach
I'm in trouble deep
...

staggerlee, Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:53 (seventeen years ago)

Surprised Papa John's Pizza hasn't picked it up to promote a deep-dish pie. Put it down with "Blu-Ray!"

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 19 April 2009 15:16 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

Our house has several bird nests under the eaves. During the summer months, baby birds will regularly fall out of their nests to meet their demise on the sidewalk below. It sucks a bunch.

Anyway, to the guitar riff from "Baracuda":

Dead, d-d-dead, d-d-dead, d-d-dead, d-d-dead d-d-dead, d-d-dead BA-BY BIRDS!

"Gin And Juice," the baddest groove in years (kingkongvsgodzilla), Saturday, 6 June 2009 11:51 (seventeen years ago)

in the cinema corner:

Wake Up Dead Man, I think I got something to sayyyy to you

and

Even I'll adore ya, my Bugonia

Hiphoptimus Rhyme (Doctor Casino), Wednesday, 26 November 2025 14:07 (six months ago)

Oh also:

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
If I could smile I'd let you know

Hiphoptimus Rhyme (Doctor Casino), Wednesday, 26 November 2025 14:39 (six months ago)

There are so many phrases that pop up that I sing to the melody/rhythm of "Babylon Sisters."

"Turkey Day Stuffing ... shake it!"

"Comey Charge Thrown Out ... shake it!"

"Hockey game hat-trick ... shake it!"

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 26 November 2025 14:43 (six months ago)

Not a song, but when I see "trilobite" I can't help pronouncing it (to myself) like Jimmy Walker's catch phrase "dy-no-MITE."

nickn, Wednesday, 26 November 2025 18:20 (six months ago)

Partiful…. to Northern Boys “Party Time”

It’s Partiful, get your musk out
Do you want to share pics with the Fascist State?

sarahell, Thursday, 27 November 2025 19:13 (six months ago)

If I ever read the name Swami Chinmayananda, it becomes the opening bass hook of "Under Pressure"

Vinnie, Sunday, 7 December 2025 13:56 (six months ago)

four weeks pass...

Me looking at trendy pizzas: God, what have you done? I'm a hot honey girl and I dance at the club

kinder, Tuesday, 6 January 2026 19:14 (five months ago)

Just realized you can sub "cowabunga" for "hallelujah."

calmer chameleon (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 17 January 2026 20:08 (five months ago)

major instant improvement to a great many songs

Hiphoptimus Rhyme (Doctor Casino), Saturday, 17 January 2026 20:47 (five months ago)

two months pass...

Break-fast, burr-i-tos
Breakfast burritos everywhere

- XTC, Generals and Majors

peace, man, Monday, 30 March 2026 11:59 (two months ago)

Looked at that Turtles one above, had the song in my head, went to the kitchen and saw a .... malted bloomer
malted bloomer
malted blooo oo oo ooo oo oo merrrr
(it's bread btw)

kinder, Monday, 30 March 2026 17:21 (two months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F85CAz1uzHI

a burrito, my gazebo (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 30 March 2026 17:43 (two months ago)

I’m embarrassed to admit that my brain reads the thread title “Hands off Iran!” In the cadence of “Come on Eileen” every single time I see it. Then I get the song stuck in my head for the rest of the day. I wasn’t going to say anything because it seems incredibly flippant, but it’s the sad truth.

epistantophus, Friday, 10 April 2026 16:29 (two months ago)

for me it turns into "Bandz A Make Her Dance," with some syllables conjured to fill the gaps, so I share your struggle.

"Canada Dry" is a great one. Tho for me their own 1990s "barbershop quartet" jingle has a lock on the name.

Mighty Morphin Is The Subject of My Sentence (Doctor Casino), Friday, 10 April 2026 16:43 (two months ago)

Hands off Iran for me is MIA Bad Girls

Hands off
Iran
Hegseth
Screw it Well
(X3)

sarahell, Saturday, 11 April 2026 18:56 (two months ago)

Email validator —-> John the Revelator

sarahell, Tuesday, 14 April 2026 16:18 (two months ago)

i sing the title of the new bts album (arirang) to the tune of the kinks' "harry rag"

harper valley paul thomas anderson (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 14 April 2026 18:19 (two months ago)

And I just got an ad for … Tillamook County Smokers … which I now sing to the OP song by Michael Jackson

sarahell, Tuesday, 14 April 2026 18:54 (two months ago)

One of the people who gives things regularly on my fb Buy Nothing group lists each give as a "N Madison porch grab," which I can't help but read as in Springsteen's "10th Avenue Freeze Out."

nickn, Tuesday, 14 April 2026 20:44 (two months ago)

two weeks pass...

BEAN SALAD
OOH BABY BEAN SALAD
I'M YOUR BEANS AND
I'M YOUR SALAD
I'M BEAN SALAD

brimstead, Monday, 4 May 2026 02:17 (one month ago)

Hantavirus Cruise Ship
Jellybean Boom
It’s the end of the world as we know it ….

sarahell, Saturday, 16 May 2026 19:35 (one month ago)

I happened to say the phrase "dress sneaker" today and it came out to the tune of REM's "Daysleeper."

Buffalo buffalo Springfield buffalo (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 25 May 2026 03:22 (three weeks ago)


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