Death threats, earworms and the science behind why Kars4Kids is the most annoying song of all time

[yuiyoshida]

There are worse songs in the world. Songs that denigrate women, songs that glorify racism, anything that appeared on Paris Hilton’s album. But in terms of widespread, ubiquitous hate, it’s hard to top the Kars4Kids jingle.

It’s in your head now, isn’t it? All someone has to do is say Kars4Kids and, like Beetlejuice, it is summoned from the depths. Who created this hellish masterwork, the soundtrack that Satan plays on repeat for purgatory’s most unrepentant sinners?

“The original song was written by a volunteer named Kevin in an ad-hoc marketing-brainstorming meeting,” Kars4Kids public relations director Wendy Kirwan says. “... Even those who were involved have only fuzzy recollections of the jingle’s origin. Seriously, no one anticipated the jingle gaining the acclaim it did.”

The website for the jingle (yup, it has its own website) claims that the volunteer’s identity has been left purposely vague due to “multiple death threats.” So if you thought you hated that song more than any human alive, there’s someone out there who hates it more than you.
You could argue most jingles are annoying. But there’s something special about Kars4Kids that cuts into your consciousness. Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis, the director of the Music Cognition Lab at the University of Arkansas, has a few theories as to why Kars4Kids is so damn annoying: its timbre, its use of repetition and its melodic structure.

For starters, Kars4Kids uses electronic keyboards and young singers, a combination Margulis notes is usually found only in kids music.

https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kars4Kids-charity-jingle-most-annoying-song-ever-9205900.php

[ProudLib72]

1. Thanks a lot

I had never seen it, but after reading your post I had to look it up on youtube. Now I must go stick my head in a blender.

[Harker]

5. Way to take one for the team.

I'll stick to having Blood, Sweat & Tears playing in my head.

[mucifer]

2. Dammit why did you stick that awful tune in my little brain again?! The commercial doesn't even say

what the hell the organization is. Donate your car to what? For what?

[Demovictory9]

4. that commercial plays constantly in southern cali. i think it supports a Jewish nonprofit

[TreasonousBastard]

7. They never say, but other sources say it's an organization helping kids get closer...

to their Jewish heritage.

That in itself is not a bad thing, but they make it sound like it's helping kids with leukemia.

[nolabear]

3. Thanks a pantload.

Although we did just hear Pidge, our African Grey, make her first stab at that aria from the car commercial. She whistles it more than sings but she’s getting the tune. *sigh*

[montanacowboy]

6. Egggggggggggggggggggg

I HATE that song. They play it continuously on Sirius. I am quick to shut it off.

[yuiyoshida]

8. In San Francisco

They play it during Giants and Warriors games on the radio...its horrible so I shut it off when it comes on the radio.

[MrScorpio]

9. I don't know this song.

I must be lucky

[yuiyoshida]

10. Here....Ear worm warning...

[Cartoonist]

11. My dislike goes way back

It started out with just an acoustic guitar and a male voice.

[Afromania]

12. Hoo boy, this one was a staple of sports radio way back before it hit the "big time"

I've heard this thing so often I've gone past the hate into numbness. It would come on a every commercial break without fail. It was only sports radio at first. Then it sort of expanded into fm radio. Not just on one of two stations but, seemingly, most of them all at once.

It got so bad that you could change to multiple stations and each of them was either playing the commercial already or it would be the next up. The was literally no was To escape it. To this day I feel like it was being coordinated effort rather than blind coincidence.

[Hotler]

13. Just think how much fun you can have or shit you can start by....

sing this song as you go through the grocery store or when you leave the bank, sing it while on the bus of light rail.