Have you ever found yourself singing along to a song and realized you haven’t heard it in years? There’s a good chance that you probably have a list of songs you know by heart. It’s clear that music has a profound ability to stick in our heads, but have you ever wondered how many songs you actually know, and how you’re able to remember all of them? If so, VALLEY has the answers for you!
The average person hears roughly 1.3 million songs in their lifetime. That’s a lot of songs! Of course, this number can vary depending on a number of factors, including how you grew up and how much you listen to music. Age and cultural differences can also play a role in how many songs a person knows.
Repetition and Meaning
How do we remember all of these songs? The answer is repetition. The more you hear a song, the more pathways and associations your brain builds to that song. That’s why songs you’ve listened to more times are easier to remember. The more you sing a song, the better you remember it.
There’s another factor that plays an important role in how we remember songs. Songs that are emotionally meaningful or significant to you personally are more likely to be remembered over time. This is because your brain prioritizes significant information to retain for long-term memory. This is the reason you may be able to remember every word of a song that reminds you of your ex or an old friend.
Lyrics and Beat
Do we really know all the words to these songs, or do we just remember most of them? How well we remember lyrics can vary depending on the song and the individual. Some people have the ability to remember every single word of a song perfectly, while others can recall most, but not all of the lyrics. Genres and tempo can also play a role in how well lyrics are remembered. For example, the lyrics of rap and hip-hop songs that are more fast-paced may be harder to remember than songs with a slower pace.
Here are some of the most popular songs that have been remembered throughout the years.
-“Happy Birthday to You”
–“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
–“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
–“Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey
–“Thriller” by Michael Jackson
Music is a powerful force in our lives that can help us recall important memories or even help us create new ones. Whether you know 1,000 songs by heart or just a few, take a moment to appreciate the amazing capability of your brain and what it can hold onto.
Tag us on Instagram, @VALLEYmag, with your favorite song recommendations!
