Kristine
The WHO officially announced that the coronavirus is a global pandemic, with over 127,000 people becoming infected since December 2019. The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has been recorded in more than 100 countries, consequently causing widespread panic. Instead of stockpiling cleaning supplies and toilet paper, however, health experts are repeatedly urging people to do one simple task to prevent the spread of coronavirus: wash your hands.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.” Properly washing your hands takes about 20 seconds, or about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. This is easy enough to remember, but repeatedly humming the same song several times a day can get boring pretty quickly. To help you maintain good hygiene here are several other 20-second choruses that you can sing as you wash your hands.
“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo
Lizzo’s smash hit features this lively chorus that’ll definitely give you a much-needed energy boost in the middle of your workday, whether you hum, sing, or whistle the lyrics.
“Why men great ’til they gotta be great?
Don’t text me, tell it straight to my face
Best friend sat me down in the salon chair
Shampoo press, get you out of my hair
Fresh photos with the bomb lighting
New man on the Minnesota Vikings
Truth hurts, needed something more exciting
Bom bom bi dom bi dum bum bay”
“Popular” from Wicked
Instead of “defying gravity,” you can hum or sing this more attainable Broadway song that was showcased in the musical, Wicked.
“Popular
You’re gonna be popular
I’ll teach you the proper ploys
When you talk to boys
Little ways to flirt and flounce
Oh! I’ll show you what shoes to wear
How to fix your hair
Everything that really counts to be…
Popular
I’ll help you be popular!”
“Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees
Remember that scene from The Office when everyone learns that this song has the perfect BPM for conducting CPR? Turns out that this catchy chorus is approximately 24 seconds long, too!
“Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive”
“Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
One Twitter user pointed out that singing the first few lines of this iconic teen anthem takes about 20 seconds. In case you’ve forgotten the opening of this song, here are the lyrics you can scream-sing while scrubbing your hands:
“When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, ‘Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten, and the damned?’”
“Lose Yourself” by Eminem
Hype yourself up while practicing good hygiene and preventing the spread of the coronavirus by rapping this 20-second chorus:
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime”
“Africa” by Toto
This 1983 song experienced a sudden resurgence in popularity in recent years, and it’s definitely well-deserved. Just try not to get this chorus stuck in your head for the rest of the day!
“It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had”
“Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega
This song’s chorus barely needs an introduction. Just don’t be surprised when this little ditty gets stuck in your head for hours on end.
“A little bit of Monica in my life
A little bit of Erica by my side
A little bit of Rita is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Sandra in the sun
A little bit of Mary all night long
A little bit of Jessica, here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man”
“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
Since this song came out in 1976, it has won over the hearts of millions around the world. As one passionate ABBA fan wrote, “‘Dancing Queen’ is beautifully produced: catchy and euphoric, the perfect backdrop for a song that encapsulates the carefree bliss of youth.” In other words, it’s a pretty motivational tune to help you keep yourself healthy!
“You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen”
“Love on Top” by Beyoncé
Feel free to belt out this impressive song in whatever key works best for you; it’s the tune that really matters here anyway.
“Baby it’s you
You’re the one I love
You’re the one I need
You’re the only one I see
Come on baby it’s you
You’re the one that gives your all
You’re the one I can always call
When I need to make everything stop
Finally you put my love on top”
“Toxic” by Britney Spears
Don’t act like you don’t remember this pop anthem from 2009! Despite being over a decade old, it still seems like “there’s no escape” from Britney Spears’ hit song.
“With the taste of your lips I’m on a ride
You’re toxic, I’m slipping under
With a taste of a poison paradise
I’m addicted to you
Don’t you know that you’re toxic
And I love what you do
Don’t you know that you’re toxic?”
“My Shot” from Hamilton
If you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s brilliant musical about Alexander Hamilton, try washing your hands to this 21-second rap to keep yourself protected from the coronavirus.
“I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy, and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot
I’mma get scholarship to King’s College
I probably shouldn’t brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains, but no polish
I gotta holler just to be heard
With every word I drop knowledge”
“Take on Me” by A-ha
This chorus is about 20 seconds if you 1) don’t rush through the lyrics and 2) can successfully hit and hold that final high note. Good luck!
“Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two”
“Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley
Just try not to tap your toes or do your best Elvis impersonation next time you wash your hands while singing this ‘50s tune:
“The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin’ and the joint began to swing
You should’ve heard them knocked-out jailbirds sing
Let’s rock everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock”
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!
This bop from 1984 can still make you feel like dancing during its cheerful and bouncy chorus.
“Wake me up before you go-go
Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
Wake me up before you go-go
I don’t wanna miss it when you hit that high
Wake me up before you go-go
‘Cause I’m not plannin’ on going solo
Wake me up before you go-go
Take me dancing tonight”
“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
This instantly-recognizable song has held a spot on the top UK charts for well over a decade, with many passionate music lovers insisting that it’s one of the best songs written in this century. Next time you head to the washroom, you’ll be “doing just fine” by dramatically singing this 22-second chorus as you wash your hands.
“Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis
But it’s just the price I pay, destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes, ’cause I’m Mr. Brightside”
“500 Miles” by The Proclaimers
We challenge you not to smile while singing this song (with an overexaggerated Scottish accent, of course). Bonus points if you can get a friend or coworker to do the back-up vocals during the “da da da da” section.
“But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
Da da da (da da da)
Da da da (da da da)
Da da da dun diddle un diddle un diddle uh da”
“Jolene” by Dolly Parton
There are just 25 words in this 20-second snippet, 8 of which are “Jolene.” If you can’t remember this chorus, you may have more pressing matters to worry about before the coronavirus.
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I’m begging of you please don’t take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don’t take him just because you can”
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz
This 24-second chorus is perfect for staying positive amidst the coronavirus panic. Best sung with a dreamy, faraway gaze and lots of vibrato.
“Someday, I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me”
“Hotel California” by The Eagles
You won’t be trapped (or quarantined) anywhere you “can’t ever leave” if you sing this whenever you wash your hands:
“Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here”
“American Pie” by Don Mclean
This chorus of this song might end on kind of a morbid note, but it’s super catchy nonetheless.
“So bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey ‘n rye
Singing, ‘This’ll be the day that I die’
‘This’ll be the day that I die’”
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
You’ll have “a real good time” while singing your heart out to this hit rock chorus whenever you lather up your hands.
“Don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time
I’m having a ball
Don’t stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don’t stop me now (’cause I’m having a good time)
Don’t stop me now (yes, I’m havin’ a good time)
I don’t want to stop at all”
“Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2
Here’s another late ‘80s hit from one of U2’s more popular albums. Hum along to this chorus while dreaming of all the places you’ll travel after the coronavirus is contained!
“Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It’s all I can do”
Final Thoughts
Before you go out and put these suggestions to good use, it’s strongly recommended to maintain good hygiene habits even when there isn’t a global pandemic like the coronavirus going on. You don’t need to resort to gargling bleach or spraying yourself with chlorine; just take some rational precautions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As John Oliver eloquently said on a recent episode of Last Week Tonight, “If you’re drinking bleach to protect yourself right now, you should probably calm the fuck down. If you are, say, licking subway poles because you’re certain nothing can hurt you, maybe don’t do that. You want to stay somewhere between those extremes. Don’t be complacent, and don’t be a fucking idiot.” If we all do our part with little things, like washing our hands, we can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
P.S. If you enjoyed reading this and want a fun distraction from current events, check out the rest of our blog.
