Scientists Name the Top 20 Catchiest Songs of All Time [PLAYLIST]

Scientists from Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry published the results of a study that looked into what makes a song stick in your head. The team of researchers used a series of tools and surveys of 12,000 individuals to determine the catchiest songs ever.

One of the key elements of the study looked at how long it took people to recognize the hook of popular songs. The winning track, taking an average of only 2.29 seconds to recognize, was the Spice Girls hit song "Wannabe". Following in a close second was another 1990s hit, Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5". Here's the whole list, along with the average time it took to recognize the song:

1. Spice Girls - Wannabe (2.29 seconds)
2. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 (2.48 seconds)
3. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (2.62 seconds)
4. Lady Gaga - Just Dance (2.66 seconds)
5. ABBA - SOS (2.73 seconds)
6. Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman (2.73 seconds)
7. Michael Jackson - Beat It (2.80 seconds)
8. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (2.83 seconds)
9. The Human League - Don't You Want Me (2.83 seconds)
10. Aerosmith - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (2.84 seconds)
11. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (2.88 seconds)
12. Hanson - Mmmmbop (2.89 seconds)
13. Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never (2.91 seconds)
14. Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet (2.94 seconds)
15. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (2.97 seconds)
16. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon (2.99 seconds)
17. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time (2.99 seconds)
18. Elvis Presley - Devil in Disguise (3.01 seconds)
19. Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon (3.03 seconds)
20. Elton John - Candle in the Wind (3.04 seconds)