Like baby, baby, baby, no. Like baby, baby, baby, oh. I thought you’d always be mine, mine.

Please don’t accuse me of liking Justin Bieber.

I am not singing this by choice. I can’t help it. It’s just… stuck in my head.

To anybody who is going to be singing that song all day now, I apologize.

As Noah Bender’13 said, “It is usually those catchy songs that everyone says they don’t like that you can’t get out of your head.”

I know. Thanks a lot, Bieber.

Everybody has had to deal with this phenomenon. In fact most people have reported getting a song stuck in their head every day. Talk about annoying. Homework, you may have met your match.

However, there is a difference between homework and songs getting stuck in your head. The difference being that there is an actual reason that a song gets stuck in your head.

Researchers at theUniversityofCincinatihave developed an interesting theory on the subject. The theory states that certain songs create a “cognitive itch,” the mental equivalent of an itchy back. The only way to scratch that “itch” is to replay the responsible tune mentally.

And that’s how the problem begins.

Unfortunately, just like a normal itch, the more you scratch at it, the worse it gets. Before you know it, you’re singing “Baby” all.. day… long.

It has been proven that musical characteristics are believed to play a role in creating this cognitive itch.

One characteristic is repetition, which causes the brain to echo the pattern causing it to play over in your head.

I guess “Like baby, baby, baby, no. Like baby, baby, baby” might fit that category. It’s just a thought.

And taking into account that most students would appreciate a way to get a song like “Baby” out of their head, here are a few ways to do that.

1. Sing another song.

2. Switch to an activity that keeps you busy.

3. Turn on the radio to get your brain tuned in to another song.

4. Bang your head on a table until you knock yourself out.

Don’t actually attempt the last suggestion. Unless you have to.

But to be fair to Justin, “Baby” isn’t actually the only song that commonly gets stuck in your head. There are several others that can be just as annoying. I know, shocking.

Starting off the count at No.1 song that gets stuck in your head, according to Pop Culture Madness, “It’s A Small World.”

May God have mercy on our souls. If there were any song that could irritate somebody to the point of insanity, this would be it.

Let me augment my original list of ways to get a song out of your head.

5. DestroyDisneyland

Just to be clear, I don’t actually mean that. Maybe just that ride, but I digress.

Before I start thinking too much about it and get “It’s A Small World” stuck in my head, let’s move on.

Going down the list a little ways just for humor’s sake, the 17th most dangerous song to get stuck in your head is… drum roll for this one…“Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue.

Kylie, maybe if you didn’t make the song we wouldn’t have to worry about getting it out of our heads. But, thanks.

Sorry folks, but with songs like these floating around, you’re bound to get one stuck in your head. Just bite your lip, grit your teeth, and hope that it isn’t by Justin Bieber.