The Power of a Favorite Song

By Carolyn Lyon James

In my dream, I am walking through a summer meadow, hazy sunshine shimmering off deep grasses as brightly colored butterflies flutter lazily on nearby wildflowers. I pause to breathe in the sweet summer air. As I stand there, relaxed and content, with the warmth of the sun on my bare head, I hear another sound, music coming from way across the other side of the meadow — distant and indistinct, yet somehow familiar. I continue along my path, trying to block out the music, even as it grows louder and more insistent. I walk to a sycamore tree, seeking the shade beneath its giant branches. But the music follows me even here. I sit down on the cool grass and lean against the rough bark as the song and lyrics take form.

Mister Aladdin, sir,
Have a wish or two or three.
I’m on the job, you big nabob…
You ain’t never had a friend like me!

I awoke with a start, and realized I had fallen victim to an earworm, a song that gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave. For me, that song was “Friend Like Me,” from the classic Disney movie Aladdin. As it continued to play on a constant loop throughout the day, I tried different cures to try to get it out of my head, like listening to the song in its entirety and listening to commercial jingles, but Robin Williams’ voice continued to haunt me. The cure that finally worked was chewing gum. Apparently, the act of chewing gum creates a sound in your head that interrupts the song playing on repeat in your brain, and helps to get rid of it. Whatever the science behind it, it worked for me.

For those of us who work with younger students or in special ed classrooms, we use music as a tool to help set a mood, to transition, or to entertain. I will often play songs during PE to help liven class up a bit. The kids love to come and request songs they want to hear. Many times, they request the same songs over and over again, and those songs can get stuck in my head. I began asking them why they wanted to hear these particular songs. “Because it’s my favorite!” was the usual reply. “But why is it your favorite?” I wanted to know. “I will play your song if you can tell me why it is a favorite.” I was rewarded with some amazing answers to the question. One student said she liked “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga because it helped her feel special and powerful. Luke Bryan was a favorite of another student because his parents took him to see the country singer in concert last summer.

“I had never heard of Johnny Cash,” a third student replied, “until we were in lockdown during the pandemic. Some kid was listening to ‘Ring of Fire’ during one of my online classes. I thought it was cool and have liked every Johnny Cash song I’ve heard since then.”

And finally, the girl who requested to hear “Friend Like Me.” Every day, she came to me, asking that I play it. “Why this particular song?” I asked. She paused for a moment, searching for the right words. “I was in a really bad mood one day when I came to school. This song started to play on somebody’s computer. One of the other kids jumped up and started singing along. And he could laugh just like the genie does in the song. When he laughed, it made me laugh. Now, whenever I hear that song, it puts me in a good mood.”

Asking kids about their favorite songs was not only a great conversation starter, it helped me gain new insight into these students’ lives. Music is so personal, so unique to each individual, and allowing them a chance to open up about their favorite songs allowed me to see each of the kids through a new lens. And although I may continue to get the oft-repeated songs stuck in my head, I will come prepared with chewing gum and a new sense of understanding about why they want these songs played over and over again.