Some time ago I read a fascinating article describing the experiences of MPs and soldiers who had been involved in interrogation against suspected terrorists in Iraq. The MPs and soldiers talked candidly about their methods when using “no-touch torture” – loud music and sounds designed to cause discomfort and prevent sleep. The soldiers listed their “favorite” music for interrogation sessions – and from that list I give you this list – the top 10 torture soundtracks.
The provocative music and singing style of Aguilera is the reason that it has been so popular with young MPs (Military Police) who were handling interrogation of suspected terrorists. It would go against the morals of the suspects (who would not approve of such outward displays of femaleness) while allowing the MPs to enjoy some “music from home”. It is not known whether Aguilera approves the use of her music for interrogation.
White America is Eminem’s take on American society and his rocketing to fame – which he blames on his white skin. The song criticizes various politicians and speaks out for suburban youths. The music style is most likely the reason for its choice in torture soundtracks as it would be very alien to the ears of most people under interrogation at the present time. The song was very popular in Canada where it reached number 3 on the charts.
The lyrics of this song are hardly provocative, so it is most likely that it was used because it was sung by the Bee Gees, and frankly, the Bee Gees music is torture even without lyrics. It may have also been seen to be ironic by the people performing the interrogation sessions due to its title. Forced to listen to the Gibb brothers for hours on end would make me confess to absolutely anything.
A lot of torture sessions involve(d) the use of music by Rage Against the Machine – an American rap cum rock group formed in 1991. Apparently the band members have some integrity, because as soon as they found out their music was being used in this way, they wrote to the State Department and demanded that it cease immediately. Whether or not that happened is unknown, but good on them for standing up and speaking out.
For the non-Americans amongst us (myself included), Meow Mix is a popular type of cat food in the USA. In 1970, Meow Mix launched a commercial which has now become iconic. The jingle was written by Shelly Palmer in 1970. The lyrics were, “I want tuna, I want chicken, Meow Mix flavors keep me lickin.” In commercials, it was typically meowed by a cat (often called “Mr Meow”), with English subtitles. This commercial is extremely popular in torture sessions – I am not sure why, except that maybe it becomes annoying in time, though it is also possible that it was simply used as it reminded the MPs of home.
You don’t need to be a terrorist to despise Country Music – millions of people everywhere do. It is likely that the majority of interrogation MPs dislike country music and that may explain the fact that it appears on a large number of interrogation soundtracks. I personally like a bit of country so it would not be tortuous for me, but played at sufficiently high a volume, I am not sure I would be too pleased with it.
America (or “They’re coming to America”) is the name of a patriotic song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond in 1980. Its patriotic bent is the reason that it is so popular with interrogators. Interestingly, this song was added to the Clear Channel list of songs deemed inappropriate for broadcast after the 9/11 attacks in the US. Shortly after the attacks, Diamond changed the lyrics in live performances from “They’re coming to America” to “Stand up for America”.
Those here who knew children while Barney was a hit will well remember this terrible song. The Barney Theme Song was so hated amongst adults that it became something of an Internet Meme. For this reason I am sure most here will understand the reason that so many MPs would choose this music when supervising interrogation sessions. Against my better judgement I have included a video clip of it. Listen at your own risk.
Janeane Garofalo is a powerful Jewish American woman who does standup comedy that frequently refers to sleeping around and dating. You could say that she is the epitome of all that the “enemy” hates about America and its society. It therefore stands to reason that her stand up routines would frequently appear in torture playlists. Having said that, I am sure that if Sarah Silverman started her show a few years ago, she would be used instead. Personally, I find her amusing – but many people find her annoying. For your viewing pleasure I have included a clip of Janeane doing a standup routine.
Just when you thought Metallica couldn’t damage their reputation any further, the morons wrote to the State Department saying they were “excited” that their music was being used in torture sessions and said that they were “honored” to be contributing to the war on terror. Nice one guys. Now, I am not saying that the torture is wrong or evil (I am also not saying it is good) – what I do think is wrong is to publicly state that you are “excited” about it.
Contributor: Xanthius
You forgot one…
Soulja Boy anyone?
uuuuggghhh
no thriller?
Metallica – what a bunch of *****s!! You call this torture?? I live across the road from a sports stadium that occasionally has music concerts – TWO HOURS OF CELINE DION!!!!! Now that’s torture!
I could quite happily sit in a room listening to metallica at rediculously high volume levels for exceptionally long periods of time
Pretty crappy thing to say your excited your music is being used for torture though. I would think that I would be a bit offended actually :-S
I already lost half my brain listening to # 10 – 2.
How about the theme for The Magic Roundabout played constantly. You would lose your mind in no time. There is something very sinister about that song as described in this clip by one of my favorite comedians Bill Bailey!
LOOOOOOOOOOL soulja boy would definately be torture
Number 3 = SUPREME TORTURE
Seriously, should be number one. Scarred me for life.
the meow mix sounds actually cute..
It would make sense that Meow Mix would be there, ’cause the tune is WAY TOO CATCHY to not get stuck in your head… regardless of language.
I was tortured with Elton John – Candle in the wind, albeit it was by an american marine but nowhere near iraq
Soulja Boy is torture in and of itself – though, for some reason Koreans love it.
When I was growing up Barney was on and I always hated it. I would litrally scream in rerror when if I turned to it by accident. For some reason I knew all of the songs and would sing them at elementary school, like when we were cleaning up I’d sing “Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share. Clean up, clean up.” And I would jus trandomly sings “I love you, you love me.” Just to be funny. P.S. Soulja Boy isn’t that bad. I can do the dance.
Oh, good job Metallica. Way to improve your failing image.
Heh, Meow Mix… I always loved that song. Now, some real good torture would be that Peter Cottontail song you see on Toys R Us commercials around Easter. That one just makes your brain want to vomit.
Okay, Barney, do your torture thing!
About RATM and torture. On June 1st I attended the Pinkpop festival here in the Netherlands & RATM (still a 1990s favourite of mine) performed. They walked onto the stage while an air alarm was blaring and then stood there – in orange coveralls and with black hoods on… Check it out here:
Don’t know if it was a reaction to the article mentioned above…
Metallica is win.
’nuff said.
No Celine? That’s a mystery.
“Just when you thought Metallica couldn’t damage their reputation any further, the morons wrote to the State Department saying they were “excited” that their music was being used in torture sessions and said that they were “honored” to be contributing to the war on terror.”
Source on this please?
Article that states that Metallica aren’t “excited” about this:
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104234
Great. Now I’ll have the Meow Mix song in my head all day. Just the mention of it makes my brain go crazy.
Wha?!?! No BeeGee’s love? I don’t understand.
Personally, I would have thought Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” would have been a better choice than Neil’s song. They used to play that song every night at a little karaoke bar I used to go to and all the drunken rednecks would stand up and sing badly at the top of their lungs. *cringes* THAT was torture.
Cher? Or does that go beyond torture?
YOU MADE ME HAVE A SEIZURE WITH THAT TERRIBLE MUSIC! (Idiom)
; o ;
I always heard that “welcome to the jungle” by guns n’ roses was also a popular interrogation song.
How about the theme song for Team America, terroist would love that blasting in their ears.
There is another version of the Meow Mix lyrics that may be more popular (or maybe it is just my area).It goes like this.
I like chicken,
I like liver,
Meow Mix, Meow Mix,
Please deliver.
here is a youtube clip for those who have never seen a meow mix commercial
Watch me crank that soulja boy then superman that ho!! Lol, I love it!!
forced discomfort like making someone listen to loud annoying music is NOT torture. neither is waterboarding or any of the other methods that the hippies cry about all day long. it’s not torture until the ball peen hammer comes out and fingers and toes start getting bashed.
Torture non-physically though
torture = knowing people think their myspace and facebook pages are cool.
True story – GI’s set up some mega speakers around the church where Noriega had holed up and played “I Fought the Law and the Law Won,” and Van Halen’s “Panama,” over and over and over again at a Spinal Tap volume 11 until he surrendered. Pretty funny *****!
And DAMN you for posting that shot of Barry Gibb. You have no idea what effect it has for a person who actually purchased The Bee Gees greatest hits. I spent years in therapy to rid myself of that plague. The voices in my head are revved up again and they’re at DefCon 2. They’re telling me that the rape monkeys are on their way and that bellbottoms look cool! YAARRHGHHGH!! LET ME OUT OF HERE!!
DAMN YOU!!!!
Man, shut up. Bee Gees >>>>>>>> You.
HAHAHA, Par: that is funny. Better uses for torture:
Lil Wayne
Lil Jon
Gilbert Godfried’s voice
Watching my US stock portfolio
Seeing the Philles knock in virtually no runs with men on third in the World Series, game 1 and 2
is there another callie? That’s strange.
Callie’s unite!
For some people, my recent pre-1750s choral music list would be torture. My sisters, who never came to my concerts, for example!
this list is really disturbing. forcing people to listen to music may not directly be “torture” but the fact that the MPs are using it for that purpose. and a lot of their song choices are songs they know the “suspected terrorists” wouldn’t approve of because of their culture. whether or not the people are getting tortured during the songs or whatever the ***** else, it’s still incredibly demeaning and a total power play on the part of the *****ing stupid MPs.
I don’t know why but I think Janeane Garofalo is a freaking fox!!!Man I would do her for days!!!
It’s a Small World after all. It’s a Small World after all. It’s a Small World after all. It’s a small, small world.
Now go on with your day and DON’T have that tune running thru your head.
/bwa-ha-ha-ha
I think that there is a uncountable number of songs that would sound so alien and frightening that should fit better an interrogation room. Just thing at Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed! Or the heaviest tracks from FIXES by Nine Inch nails…
Aside from that, I’d say that torture is certainly bad and wrong (as much as Metallica).
If someone claims to fight for justice and freedom, torture is not one of his options.
What about Lamp Chops song: “The song that never ends” That song is horrible
Gilbert Gottfied – just imagining his voice makes my brain bleed. As for the Bee Gees – guess what you just encouraged me to download…
Joe R. I agree with you on her looks, but she’d have to agree to keep duct tape over the old pie hole. Talk about (her)speaking ruining the moment!!
re: #1 its a thrash metal band. read the lyrical content. Heavy metal is all about torture and pain, regardless of the recipient. Rock on Metallica!!!!!!!!!!!
Any Cannibal Corpse or average death or black metal song would probably work better than any of these songs when wanting to torture terrorists or make them feel uncomfortable.
I'd go with that blackmetal would be terrible for me.Plus Im catholic so lol.
Cannibal Corpse roolz!!!!
Gosh where to start? Great list. Interesting.
How sad is it that I watched the whole Christina video? I am not even sure why. Meow Mix defnitely gets stuck in your head. Kind of like “The Song That Doesn’t End” (watch clip at your own risk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNTxr2NJHa0). I am not a huge fan of coutnry music, yet you seem to have picked one I knew and liked. Maybe I am a country music fan in the closet lol. I did not even click on the Barney clip. That would be pure torture. And yes I think Sarah Silverman would definitely be one that they could use.This would drive them nuts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qTXlNJj9s. I enjoy Janeane Garofalo.
THE BARNEY CLIP MADE ME CRY ; O ;
Awww, My favorite luv song is being used for torture?
I’m speaking of the “meow meow meow meow meow” cat commercial.
Well, one person’s idea of love can be another person’s pain after all.
I’m guess I’m a softy when it comes to talking/singing animal commercials.
p.s. Seems like the forum topics are being milked for fodder.
p.p.s. I know I remember reading about American troops using, “Born In The USA”. Blasting from loud speakers attached to tanks.
That’s not only torture.
Go here for the Sarah Silverman clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qTXlNJj9s
The other had an extra . in it and won’t get you there.
Most of this list made me want to slit my wrists…. I love Metallica though and I like it loud!!
No one is gonna mention that they used AC/DC to torture Manuel Noriega out of the vatican embassy?
Garofalo is not Jewish. She’s Italian and Irish. Fact check much?
“Apparently the band members have some integrity, because as soon as they found out their music was being used in this way, they wrote to the State Department and demanded that it cease immediately. Whether or not that happened is unknown, but good on them for standing up and speaking out.”
Who would thought it?!
i love that the writer of this list used the word torture to describe the way american soldiers are ordered to treat people overseas.
tell that to most americans in charge, and they will vigorously deny that their methods are in violation with the rules of the geneva convention.
I learn something new every day.
I recently read that the “music” of Deicide was “The number one torture hit in Iraq” according to a somewhat recent article
http://www.metalstorm.ee/events/news_comments.php?news_id=6097&page=1&message_id=
In my opinion, this is not torture, this may be qualified as extreme annoyance, but torture? No.
The people (and I use the word in it’s loosest sense) who were behind, and/or supported the (people) who were behind the attacks on 9/11 *deserve* to be treated in whatever manner (observing the Geneva Conventions) required to gain information leading us to Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
Yes, that some of these prisoners *may* be innocent disturbs me. It doesn’t disturb me sufficiently to glean carefully through the prisoners to find the few innocents when more than 3000 innocents were brutally killed in the 9/11 attacks.
loseitbonkers,
I would like to know specifically what article of the Genevea Convention is being violated with using music as an interrogation technique?
As one of those American Soldiers who is apparently ordered to torture, I want to know exactly what article of the convention using to music to interrogate is violating, so I can avoid following an illegal order.
Before you start painting us all as war criminals, I want to see some documentation or some legal precedent.
For the most part these aren’t that bad, except maybe Metallica due to the hard beats that would make your ears bleed if played loud enough
Music taste aside, if they really want to torture people they should play loud dance/house/techno music, the repetitive beats and ear-bleeding poor melody would drive them insane
Listening to some of these songs would make ME hate America…not sure that’s the point of the torture…
Seque: It doesn’t bother you enough that innocents are being tortured? Shame on you. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, “You either believe in basic human rights or you don’t”.
I guess you don’t. Being suspected of terrorism is a far cry from being a terrorist. Don’t believe me? Ask the Canadian citizen who was kidnapped and sent to Gitmo.
I haven’t even touched on the fact that torture, mental or physical, does not provide information that is trustworthy. As Jamie stated “Forced to listen to the Gibb brothers for hours on end would make me confess to absolutely anything.” That is actually a true fact – remember the repetitive music is just the first part of “interrogation”. The tip of the iceberg.
The Oompa-Loompa songs FTW… friggin creepy little orange bastards haunt my dreams
If it’s not already been done, the torture of terror suspects (necassary or not?) would be a good topic for your view.
Janeane Garofalo is on the list? But I thought she LOVED our enemies. She says so whenever she’s on Bill Maher’s show. Still, she’s torture for ME to listen to. Christina Aguilera? Metallica? Yeah, those would be torture even at normal volumne for just a short time.
No way, there is no problem with freely expressing that you condone the use of your music for torture of anti-American murderers.
I am all about people having rights and I think its wrong to torture others. However, as a method for interrogation, sometimes the only way we can get information out of a person that will save other people from extreme harm or death, it is necessary to use torture to get that information. The utilitarian in me says, sacrifice the rights of that individual for the benefit of the whole (i.e. other people being more than just one person).