And it's all over just a very pleasant, perhaps even a bit bland song. It doesn't have any, you know, like, loud surprises. It's a bit groovy, but not too much groovy. HEGGLI: Mainly because it is a very in-the-middle type of song - it's a medium tempo. THE POLICE: (Singing) I'll be watching you, every breath you take, every move you make. Scientists say it shows how our music preferences are shaped by our daily rhythms.ĬHANG: But here's the catch - the song whose musical qualities would allow it to drift through all five time blocks? Well, you guessed it. KELLY: Danceable music in the evening - you get the point. RIHANNA: (Singing) Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)") ROBBIE WILLIAMS: (Singing) When there's no love in town, this new century keeps bringing you down.ĬHANG: Now, louder, faster songs rule in the afternoon, like "Only Girl (In The World)" by Rihanna. Heggli suggested "Supreme" by Robbie Williams. In the morning block, slow but energetic songs dominate. KELLY: Ole Heggli of Aarhus University says those five time blocks have different musical qualities. OLE HEGGLI: And we found that we could categorize it into five distinct time blocks throughout the day. In a study published this week by the Royal Society, researchers in Denmark analyzed streaming data for nearly 4 million songs on Spotify to see if there was a pattern to the types of music we listen to over a 24-hour period. And weirdly, I think over the decades, that has kind of been flipped from what might be seen as a weakness to a strength.ĬHANG: Well, now there's some new science that might explain the song's staying power. But otherwise, that song kind of sits flat. It has that one really memorable kind of snaky guitar line to it. THOMPSON: It's actually kind of a monochromatic arrangement. KELLY: That is NPR Music's Stephen Thompson. STEPHEN THOMPSON, BYLINE: I'm not surprised at all that people continue to gravitate to it in part because it sounds so distinct. And today, it plays on - the soundtrack to parties and weddings, trips to the grocery store. The Police, of course - "Every Breath You Take" was a huge sensation when it came out in 1983. THE POLICE: (Singing) Every breath you take and every move you make. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE")
Some songs will just never go away - like this one.