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Playing an annoying song over and over to get someone to spill their guts might sound like a gag from a Mel Brooks movie, but it’s actually become a standard practice. An article by an NYU musicologist in the Journal of the Society for American Music details how music was regularly used in interrogations on bases in Iraq and Afghanistan as a method of inducing disorientation to get suspects to talk without inflicting physical force. Here are some of the songs used by military and law enforcement entities to get their suspects to sing.
1. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”
It should stand as no surprise that a large majority of the songs used in Guantanamo Bay consisted of seemingly patriotic ditties like Springsteen’s most famous American anthem. One Spanish citizen accused of being linked to the terrorist network Al-Qaida claimed his interrogators played this song the majority of the time during his entire two year stay in the Cuban prison. However, Clive Stafford Smith, the legal director of the UK human rights charity Reprieve, noted that it may not have been the most patriotic choice since “the message of the song is harshly critical of American policy, condemning the war in Vietnam and describing a veteran’s efforts to find work.”
2. Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty”
Mohammed al Qahtani, the man many believe was the “20th hijacker” of the Sept. 11 attacks, got one of two wake-up calls during his stay in Guantanamo Bay: dripping water on his head or an earful of Aguilera’s sexually charged lyrics. This was combined with other interrogation techniques, such as prolonged strip searches and invasion of space by a female. He would admit he met with bin Laden, but later deny this admission. Days later, many of these interrogation methods were halted after military lawyers raised questions about their efficacy.
3. Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made for Walking”
One of history’s most tragic standoffs also featured one of history’s most famous musical standoffs. Cult leader David Koresh’s battle with the FBI in 1993 featured a back and forth barrage of ballad bombardments. Koresh wore down his followers by blasting his own failed pop songs at eardrum-busting levels. When the FBI moved in and cut the power to the compound, they fired back with Nancy Sinatra’s depressing girl power pop ballad along with a monotonous mix of Tibetan chants, cavalry bugle beats and 1950s-style Christmas carols for nearly seven weeks straight. FBI officials said they rejected the idea of using Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” because of fears that some of the cult members might actually like it.
4. AC/DC’s “Shoot to Thrill” and “Hells Bells”
Heavy metal songs have long been a favorite tool of military interrogators. They’re loud, often repetitive and (as any parent with steadily reduced hearing can attest) can even create feelings of physical pain or discomfort to the ears and head. Troops used “long range acoustic devices” to blast the Australian metal group’s ballads throughout the region to increase the vulnerability of Iraqi insurgents. The LRADs, developed by the American Technology Corporation, have also been used to repel pirate attacks in Somalia and throw sound at bystanders at stores and conventions for product displays.
5. Anything by Barry Manilow
The work of the world’s most famous lounge lizard might be Jack Bauer’s first choice of music in an interrogation room. Actually, the military didn’t use Manilow’s music to get their suspects to sing. The New Zealand town of Christchurch recently blasted the crooner’s tunes throughout their central mall district to drive away the local punks who had been littering the area with graffiti, drinking in public and doing drugs. It sounds like a perfect plan because after all, he may write the songs that make the whole world sing, but they also make young kids’ heads explode.
6. Barney the Dinosaur’s “I Love You”
The Guardian newspaper in London called this sugary lump of fear inducing madness the most “overused” song in the U.S. interrogator’s arsenal. Interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, however, used the sappy kids’ show theme song as “futility music” to convince detainees of the futility of maintaining their silence. One United Kingdom human rights group protested President George W. Bush’s visit to England by blasting the song in his general direction. Now that’s a second strike.
Danny Gallagher is a freelance writer, humorist, reporter and piano man living in Texas. He can be found on the web at dannygallagher.net, on MySpace at myspace.com/dannygahatesmyspace and on Twitter at twitter.com/thisisdannyg.
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Comments (71)
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When trying to get Manuel Noriega out of his compound, the US forces used a number of songs, including Jethro Tull’s “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die”. As a Tull fan, I’ve never been sure whether to feel that my favourite band has been insulted or complimented!
posted by Jon. on 6-25-2009 at 1:16 pm
I’d love to see an article about the musical artists’ reactions to having their music played for torture reasons.
posted by c on 6-25-2009 at 1:21 pm
Seeing that the musicologist was from NYU reminded me that back when I was at NYU – 1992-1994 – they would play Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” LOUD from the jukebox to clear out the cafeteria when they were closing up.
It worked. Every time.
posted by INTPLibrarian on 6-25-2009 at 1:39 pm
I second that. Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” has gotta be akin to water torture.
posted by KS on 6-25-2009 at 2:13 pm
A little hole-in-the-wall chinese place I used to frequent had one ambient music cd and looped it constantly. Unfortunately it was Kenny G covers of popular songs. Track one was “My Heart Will Go On.” One particular night there, they must have hit the “repeat track” button instead of “repeat disc” and played that same song eight times before my friend and I tore out of there. Oddly enough the closed up about a month later, but I think it was for health violations in the kitchen, but I like to think it was for mental health violations.
He and I also had a theory about humming certain infectious tunes (for us it was the theme from “I Dream of Jeanie”) on a crowded elevator in a busy part of town and see whether other passengers would spread the song to their coworkers.
posted by wreck on 6-25-2009 at 2:19 pm
Two things:
1) Friends of mine who were in fraternities were often subjected to similar “hazing” rituals, including being locked in a steamy bathroom with “Mambo #5″ or “How Bizarre” on repeat.
2) I have heard (no idea if it’s true) that Feliz Navidad has been proven to stick in your head the longest.
posted by Liz on 6-25-2009 at 2:34 pm
This article really made me laugh! I can see how some songs played over and over and over would wear someone down. I know it did my mother!!!
posted by Hyacinth on 6-25-2009 at 2:58 pm
How about the tecnique used by Droz (Jeremy Piven) in PCU. Just put on “Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band, hit repeat, and lock the doors. Guaranteed to kill the party.
posted by Ian on 6-25-2009 at 3:12 pm
@ Ian
Except in Anchorman, where it became a singalong fave.
posted by Jonny on 6-25-2009 at 3:24 pm
If I were being interrogated, I am certain I would break if my captors were to play “Poker Face” of anything by Katy Perry. Talk about repetitive…..
posted by John on 6-25-2009 at 3:31 pm
make that or rather than of….
posted by John on 6-25-2009 at 3:32 pm
In a media class in college we watched DVDs of a British ad campaign that used the same song over and over and over again with a tag line similar to “We’ll stop playing this song if you buy more Heineken.” I wish I could remember what song it was, though. I definitely remember that it was Heineken. Anybody remember this one? I think that the ads had dozens of different variations with different people singing the song.
posted by Kristen on 6-25-2009 at 3:49 pm
Play James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” and you would get me talking, I can barely make it through that song once.
posted by Nic on 6-25-2009 at 3:58 pm
@ C:
I know Trent Reznor has heard that Nine Inch Nails songs were used for interrogation purposes during the Bush administration and was furious. He wrote on the nin website that he was trying to see what legal recourse he had to stop the use of his music in this manner.
posted by Christina W. on 6-25-2009 at 4:01 pm
Yeah, on number 3, the song has a verse referring to matches/arson. Kinda ‘ironic’ considering the outcome.
posted by 1 Lucky Texan on 6-25-2009 at 4:19 pm
Despite being a huge Disney fan (mainly their theme parks) I would suggest the “It’s a Small World” tune. I never been a fan of the ride, mainly from the repetious song by the Sherman brothers. They may not understand it, but it will get annoying, quick.
posted by Bihner on 6-25-2009 at 4:24 pm
As I recall it, when Panamanian strong man Manuel Noreiga took refuge in a church in order to avoid being arrested by US authorities, they played a wide variety of music in order to coax him out- most prominently Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”. They stopped when the Vatican objected.
posted by harold on 6-25-2009 at 4:30 pm
huh. i would’ve thought that a britney spears song or that “cant get you out of my head” by Kylie Minogue song would’ve been here.
posted by omfgjeannie on 6-25-2009 at 4:32 pm
Mickey (You’re so fine)
Toni Basil
posted by jAcKeDuP on 6-25-2009 at 4:50 pm
Hey! I like heavy metal :/ (lol)
posted by KaeleaMajere on 6-25-2009 at 5:08 pm
I always thought anything by Anaal Nathrakh, particularly “When Humanity is Cancer” on loop would drive anyone insane. It already sounds like tortured screaming over machine noise, which to anyone but the most extreme of metalheads would be terrifying.
posted by Jen on 6-25-2009 at 5:22 pm
MacArthur’s Park and that blasted cake left out in the rain! I want to biotch-slap somebody every time I hear it. Oh….and “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.” Really, really bad stay-in-your-head properties. *shudder*
posted by SerenityNoow on 6-25-2009 at 5:32 pm
All they have to play is “It’s a Small World” over and over. I don’t know how the Disney workers stand it. Even “Zip-a-de-do-da” would send me up the walls after a few minutes!
posted by Ramona on 6-25-2009 at 5:49 pm
i would think more torturous than the barney song would be lamb chop’s \the song that never ends
posted by haley on 6-25-2009 at 6:03 pm
Oh yeah, the Barney song would surely do it!
RT
http://www.anon-tools.tk
posted by John Davis on 6-25-2009 at 6:29 pm
Sussudio.
posted by Joe Maz on 6-25-2009 at 6:33 pm
“I would like to hear you scream in pain.”
” Play some rap music. ‘
–The Last Boyscout
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 6-25-2009 at 7:46 pm
During a (brief) extended stay at my in-laws’ home before my husband and I were married, my father-in-law would blast “I will always love you” by Whitney Houston at 6AM and proceed to sing at the top of his lungs . . . with the German Shepherd howling along with him . . .to get us up in the morning. At our wedding, my father-in-law and I danced to that song, as well. I haven’t spoken to him in a few years. This would be high on the list of reasons why ;)
posted by Lori on 6-25-2009 at 8:27 pm
Did Guantanamo Bay obtain a public performance right from RIAA? This a is blatant piece of piracy by the US military, and must be prosecuted :-) Also, I dare say Bruce Springsteen would not grant permissions for this usage of his music, and may sue :-)
posted by jeremy on 6-25-2009 at 8:41 pm
As a retired US Army interrogator, I must pipe in and say I used “No Where to Run to” quite effectively.
posted by J on 6-25-2009 at 8:53 pm
Copacabana by Barry Manilow is a triumph of songwriting and instrumentation. Some may disagree, but I’m serious.
posted by Tyrone on 6-25-2009 at 9:08 pm
Do you think the US army got a license to use it – I mean doesn’t the RIAA go all bat crazy when people use the songs without paying royalties?
What exactly are the royalties on using a song or album for torture?
posted by Television Spy on 6-25-2009 at 9:19 pm
Don’t know if the attached will play, but I’d bet this one would be a contender for the list
posted by Anon Emous on 6-25-2009 at 10:33 pm
All I have to say is, Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant.
posted by Rachel on 6-26-2009 at 12:23 am
I have a record entitled “Slavic Gusle Music of the Seventh Century.” Extremely nasal, monotonous singing/intoning of traditional Bosnian epic poetry to the accompaniment of scratchy one-stringed instruments. It’s a good thing it’s not easily available, because I firmly believe that listening to the entire album at one go would induce permanent insanity.
ReCaptcha: Bach rabies
posted by VM on 6-26-2009 at 2:13 am
The number 6 song is favorite song of my niece..
posted by Justin Guarini on 6-26-2009 at 3:45 am
Two words: \Hampster Dance.\
posted by Travis on 6-26-2009 at 6:13 am
No love for ‘Wannabe’ by The Spice Girls?
posted by DD on 6-26-2009 at 7:03 am
I used to work at Disneyland. That song played over the loudspeakers while waiting in line for the Teacups ride (”A Very Merry Unbirthday” from Alice in Wonderland) used to drive people nuts. The guests may have to wait in line 45 minutes, but they let the workers have a break after 20 minutes……
posted by Melissa on 6-26-2009 at 7:11 am
At the siege of the Alamo, Mexican forces played the song “Dueglo” (meaning “no quarter”) continuously to un-nerve and intimidate the men defending the Alamo.
posted by Gordon Daily on 6-26-2009 at 8:49 am
I read somewhere that they also would play the Meow Mix commercial soundtrack endlessly. Imagine hearing that one constantly….’Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow’, ‘Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow’, on and on. Yikes!
posted by Vic on 6-26-2009 at 8:58 am
I remember reading an article last year about a judge somewhere in the Midwest. He had determined that noise violators be locked in a room for several hours and be forced to listen to obnoxious songs as punishment. Barney was high on the list.
As personal torture, I used to babysit for this family with kids who literally had a shrine to Barney. You were not allowed to let the tape stop. There was no rewinding. You took it out, and put the next one in. I wanted to shoot myself after every job there.
posted by Hastings on 6-26-2009 at 9:03 am
RE: AC/DC Troops used “long range acoustic devices” to blast the Australian metal group’s BALLADS…
Ballads? Are you freakin’ kidding me?
posted by Mike on 6-26-2009 at 9:24 am
I believe one of the other popular songs used against Noriega was “Panama” by Van Halen.
This situation was also parodied in an episode of The Drew Carey Show if I recall correctly.
posted by Chris on 6-26-2009 at 9:53 am
@ Jon- He came out right before “Torture” by the Jackson 5 could be played.
posted by Sara in AL on 6-26-2009 at 10:10 am
Ever heard Dolly Parton singing \I will always love you?\. It’s not great, but it’s much, much more tolerable. The lady sings with a sweet voice and doesn’t have to yell it out at the top of her lungs.
Why don’t performers sing any more? On American Idol all they do is scream random notes up and down and up and down the scale.
posted by Sam Saturday on 6-26-2009 at 10:17 am
How about anything by the Spin Doctors.
posted by Bronky on 6-26-2009 at 11:02 am
Two words. Chocolate Rain.
posted by Phil on 6-26-2009 at 11:51 am
or I’m Blue by Eiffel someone or other (the da ba dee da ba die song) made me nuts every time it came on (I worked for a cable company at the time and we had a tv in the office tuned to a music station)… THAT was torture in its truest form!
posted by kristi on 6-26-2009 at 1:18 pm
How about Minnie Ripperton’s – Loving You… Loving you is easy cause you’re beautiful..la…la la la la, la la la la, do uh do do do ah ah ahhhaaaahhhhaaaa (head explodes)
posted by Todd on 6-26-2009 at 2:33 pm
A radio station once played “Barbie Girl” for 24 hours during a radio-thon to raise money for charity. It was funny, but only because I could change the channel.
posted by DH on 6-26-2009 at 3:07 pm
I think it’s quite funny how a lot of people can recognize the fact that on intense repeat, at loud volumes, and over long periods of time “our” (meaning western music- using equal tempered tuning) can drive you crazy!
[Side note: If anyone can show me music that is being used where non-western tuning is applied, please do: I'm interested!]
So, would it be an insane stretch to postulate that over shorter periods of time (think of the accumulated, though!) the same effect to a lesser extent is realized upon all of us? Even if it’s at “normal” listening levels and not on repeat? The overall effect could be/is probably minuscule- depending on your sensitivity. But, combine it with all the other things working against our mental and physical health. It all stacks up (somewhere).
I realize some songs probably work better than others and I would contend that it’s all about what chords and note combinations are used. And I’m not saying Equal tempered tuning is “EVIL”: it can still make beautiful music (IMHO). I would be interested to see if the songs that work best for disorientation are very dissonant or encompass a large number of tritones. It would seem to me the answer would be yes; also to clarify, I am not talking about whether the song is perceived as “happy” or “sad” by the listener, but the actual musical notes: Harmony Vs. Dissonance.)
Looking around “Westernized” cities, it makes you wonder. Or maybe it is just me? Naw, I’m not that unique! =]
Also, don’t you worry your pretty little heads, I understand I’m just as crazy as all of you. In reality probably way more so, according to most that actually hear what I’m saying. Oh, and sorry to those who don’t realize they’re not balanced in a natural sense of the word, yet and you’re sitting there reading this going (???)… Not that I’m some know it all I just see some very big “societal problems” that appear very intentional. Oh, don’t bother calling me paranoid- I know and it sucks!)
I’ll quit trying to explain myself now: Flame away. =]
Something to think about.
Take care,
-Jer
posted by Jer on 6-26-2009 at 5:09 pm
The “town” of Christchurch? It’s a city of over 350,000 people–the second largest city in New Zealand. It has more people than the hamlet of St. Louis, the quaint village of Tampa, or the obscure rural municipality known as Cincinnati.
posted by RT on 6-27-2009 at 1:32 am
One of the radio stations around here played Barbie Girl over and over again until 10 random women dropped their bras off to the radio station.
I’ve also heard they played “They’re coming to take me away” by dr demento in mental institutions to drive people sane again… in some cases it was believed to have driven people crazy in the first place.
posted by Erika on 6-28-2009 at 10:25 am
I surprized “Feelings” isn’t on the list. It’s one of the least missed songs of the 70s.
P.S. I am a Fanilow.
posted by BeamMeUp on 6-29-2009 at 9:15 am
I work in a large metropolitan area and the neighboring McDonald’s discovered that if they played classical music over their outside speakers after dark, the homeless people vacated the area and no longer pestered their patrons. Don’t ask me how they figured that one out–but it sure worked.
posted by Judy on 6-29-2009 at 8:08 pm
Convenience store owners have been blasting classical music outside their stores to chase away kids hanging around outside.
posted by chieromancer on 7-1-2009 at 12:39 am
I would confess all of my major and minor transgressions, as well as commit any number of heinous acts, if subjected to enough Yanni. And if I was made to watch his performances, complete with the hair flip, I would request execution.
posted by alicia on 7-1-2009 at 12:01 pm
Roxanne by Sting. Blech!
posted by Lisa on 7-1-2009 at 12:49 pm
Another for Whitney Houston
posted by Eromanga on 7-1-2009 at 8:31 pm
Barney might be overdoing it. I bet they didn’t think about the psychological effect of that song on the torturers. And people wonder why we’ve had problems with abuse in these prisons? Blame it on Barney!
posted by jennie on 7-2-2009 at 2:26 pm
try playing “like a virgin” in a nun seminary/moanstery… if one single nun taps her food or gets carried away by the music,its an evidence that even inside their big walls, someone’s still open minded about such topic & isnt a ‘v’ anymore…right??
posted by tagashing on 7-5-2009 at 2:18 pm
my picks for this would have to be “party all the time” by eddie murphy , “don’t worry be happy” by bobby mcferrin , “kokomo” by the beach boys, and anything by oasis!
posted by bob-o on 7-18-2009 at 1:12 pm
heh i love these boots were made for walking
posted by Gallardo on 7-23-2009 at 6:00 pm
They forgot USC’s “Fight On.”
posted by Tommy on 8-8-2009 at 12:49 pm
Totally agree with John about Pokerface and anything by Katy Perry. I thought I was the only one who felt that way! So annoying!!
posted by Michelle on 8-21-2009 at 12:08 pm
I hate that Britney Spears song Womanizer it is so annoying.
posted by Kari on 8-25-2009 at 1:16 pm
There was some other shopping mall that had a problem with heathen teenagers and they used a frequency that only children can hear and cranked it into speakers at ear shattering levels. Apparently teens think think it’s funny to have their ringtones set to that frequency because their teacher’s can’t hear it, but it appears as though it is not a sound they enjoy hearing for prolonged periods of time. As a matter of fact after hearing it for any extended time it tends to make their heads want to implode, all the while, the adults can peacefully go about their shopping without hearing the annoying sound at all.
posted by Angela on 9-23-2009 at 10:06 am
At an after-school program we did a fundraiser called “Stop the Bop” where the Mmmmbop song by Hanson was on repeat and in everyone room until $100 was raised, it back fired a little because the kids started to like the song while the staff were sick of it.
posted by jbus on 10-15-2009 at 12:38 pm
I’m not surprised that Barney is on the list. That song was torture for me as a kid (which is when it was supposed to appeal to me)… and even now, I still want to rip my hair out just seeing that goddamn purple dinosaur!
posted by Bee on 10-25-2009 at 11:50 am
When I first saw this link on twitter, the first thought came into my mind was about Bruce Springsteen Song “Born in the USA”. And it is at no.1 on the list. Not Surprised at all.
posted by vaibhav on 11-17-2009 at 9:00 am