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

Queen have topped a list naming the catchiest songs in music history.

Scientists have researched what variables in a song inspire people to sing along in public, the Daily Record reports. Experts found that the impromptu urge to sing along to a song can be credited to four different elements.

These are a long and detailed musical phrase, multiple pitch changes in a song's hook, the song being led by a male vocalist and the male vocal being in a higher key.



Queen's 'We Are The Champions' came out on top, while The Village People's 'Y.M.C.A.' and Sum 41's 'Fat Lip' came in second and third respectively.

'The Final Countdown' by Europe and 'Monster' by The Automatic completed the top five.

Music psychologist Dr Daniel Mullensiefen explained: "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 synthesisers which can add effects to make a song more catchy.

"We've discovered that there's a science behind the sing-along and a special combination of neuroscience, maths and cognitive psychology can produce the elusive elixir of the perfect sing-along song.

"We hope that our study will inspire musicians of the future to crack the equation for the textbook tune."

After hearing the news, Queen's Brian May responded: "Fabulous, so it's proved then? We truly are the champions."

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Watch the music video for Queen's 'We Are The Champions' below: