Myth: Believing ‘Best Day’ song brings bad luck

Graphic by Annie Liu

I cover my ears up when I hear “Best Day of My Life” playing.

The first time I heard American Authors’ 2014 hit “Best Day of My Life” was when my elementary school teacher played it in class. Right after class, I walked into a closing door and slammed my face against it. 

From then on, I associated “Best Day of My Life” with bad luck. It was only reasonable for me to blame the song, right? I mean, who walks into a closing door when they’ve just been in a class celebrating the “best day” of their life?

The superstition grew over time. Even the slightest hum of that tune in my head seemed to result in bad outcomes. As a few notable examples, I got yelled at by my mom for things that were completely out of my control, a string on my violin broke when I was practicing and I got into a fight with my friend — all while after that damnable song played in my head.

My elementary self was confused. How can a song so optimistic and positive be so cursed? Lead singer Zac Barnett literally talks about embracing our lives and enjoying ourselves.

Every time I heard that song, the  lyrics “Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh” trickled into my ear and made me squirm like a worm (haha get it because “earworm?”). And every “this is going to be the best day of my life” was screaming “this is going to be the worst day of my life” in my mind.

Whenever I heard the song, whether it’s in the car or at the mall, my eyes would widen and I would brace myself for bad luck. I can’t recall bad things happening every time I heard the song, but I was really scared every time I heard the cheerful song.

As the years passed, the song faded from radio stations and common playlists. In truth, I haven’t had to think about it for a very long time. Until now, I’ve never told anyone about my superstition, but I’m here to debunk it now as a highschooler and Saratoga Falcon staffer. 

Based on my calculations, there are only two options to choose from: (1) I’m delusional and I blame the consequences of my own doings on an innocent song and (2) Bad luck and curses exist. 

If No. 1 is correct, then I’ve been lying to myself and I need to apologize to American Authors. And if No. 2 is correct, then yes, the song is most definitely cursed. 

Like how philosophical discussions in AP Language take its students in logical loops, I’m confident to say I have no answer to this dilemma and ask only for sympathy and understanding. 

One thing I’ve learned from years of paranoia from a cheerful song is I cannot defy fate as life’s twists and turns are beyond my control. Another is that I’ll live the “best day of my life” by not thinking about silly superstitions like this one.