September 30, 2011 14:59

Queen's 'We Are The Champions' is the catchiest song ever, say scientists Queen Tickets

Band's classic beats out Sum 41 and the Village People to top the list

Photo: PA

Queen's 'We Are The Champions' has been found to be the catchiest song ever written, according to new scientific research.

Scientists at Goldsmiths University conducted new research into what makes a song memorable and compiled a list of the ten "catchiest" songs of all time, reports the Press Association.

In order to get the results, they observed thousands of volunteers singing a selected list of tracks.

During the court of the research, they discovered that sing-along songs contained four key elements: Long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song's 'hook', male vocalists, and higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort.

Using this formula, the scientists found that 'We Are The Champions' was the track most were able to sing along to. This was followed by 'Y.M.C.A' by the Village People, Sum 41's 'Fat Lip', Europe's 'The Final Countdown' and The Automatic's 'Monster'.

Music psychologist Dr Daniel Mullensiefen said of the results:

Every musical hit is reliant on maths, science, engineering and technology; from the physics and frequencies of sound that determine pitch and harmony, to the hi-tech digital processors and synthesizers which can add effects to make a song more catchy.

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