Everyone gets songs stuck in their heads that just won’t go away. They sneak into your subconscious. They are epic earworms that you find yourself humming uncontrollably, singing in the shower, or tapping the beat to with your foot or ballpoint pen when you should be working. Sometimes they even keep you awake at night. Whether they are current hits, one-hit wonders, movie soundtrack gems, holiday favorites, or songs from your youth, their catchy vocals, riffs, hooks, and choruses seem to linger for days.
Here, those songs find a home, no matter the genre. Here, those epic earworms are revisited, explained, and celebrated. Here, you may find the song that haunts you tomorrow. Here is today’s unescapable song of the day…and the story behind it.
Today’s Epic Earworm: Don Henley — “The Boys of Summer”
After the Eagles split up in 1980, Don Henley quickly established himself as a solo artist. His first album, I Can’t Stand Still, was certified gold and produced the gold single “Dirty Laundry.” It was his second album, though, that made him a household name outside of his former band. Building the Perfect Beast’s first single, “The Boys of Summer,” set the tone for the triple-platinum album’s success. The first of five hits from the album, it topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and peaked at Number Five on the Hot 100 Singles chart. Ironically, the song’s originator was rejected when he first tried to get it recorded in 1985.
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
Guitarist Mike Campbell wrote the music for what would become “The Boys of Summer” for his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. When he brought the track to Petty, though, the rock legend didn’t think that the tune was a fit for the album they were working on, Southern Accents. Producer Jimmy Iovine suggested that Campbell play the song for Henley.
The former Eagles drummer and vocalist liked what he heard. They tinkered with the key, and Henley wrote the lyrics. The two recorded the song with Henley’s band, and much to Petty’s chagrin, the song was a massive hit. “The Boys of Summer” was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning for Best Rock Male Vocalist. The accompanying video won Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1985 as well.
The song was not just a hit for Henley, though. In 2003, the Ataris recorded a pop-punk cover of the epic earworm. The cover hit Number Two on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart and was certified gold. No word on if Campbell rubbed it in Petty‘s face a second time…
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