We Got the Beat

In 1977, the movie Saturday Night Fever was a huge hit with moviegoers. Even for those like me, who weren't around at the time, the BeeGees song "Stayin' Alive" instantly brings to mind the image of a white-suit-clad John Travolta boogieing down on the disco floor. Oh, but that song! Once it's in your head, you can't get it out!

Turns out, that might just be a good thing, if you're ever in a position to save someone's life.

I ran across a news article today about a small study conducted at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. The study found that people who listened to "Stayin' Alive" while practicing CPR kept up the perfect rhythm and speed to keep someone alive until that person could get more extensive medical help. Even better, apparently just thinking about the song's rhythm while doing CPR also kept up a near-perfect beat!

I'm never going to think about that song again without thinking of this study. Oh, and the other song the study found that keeps up the near-perfect beat?

Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust." Sheesh. Right rhythm, wrong message. =)