The Torture Playlist
Music has been used in American military prisons and on bases to induce sleep deprivation, "prolong capture shock," disorient detainees during interrogations—and also drown out screams. Based on a leaked interrogation log, news reports, and the accounts of soldiers and detainees, here are some of the songs that guards and interrogators chose. Read about the guards here.
UPDATE (March 4): Listen to investigative reporter Justine Sharrock explain why the Meow Mix jingle, Neil Diamond, and the Barney theme song all lend themselves to "no-touch torture." Plus: How Metallica reacted when they found out how their music was being used. —By Gary Moskowitz
NOTE: The specific song or songs by Rage Against The Machine are unspecified.
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I would tell them where Jimmy Hoffa is buried if they played the Barney song more than once...
Wow that's the best they could find? Snooze fest ...
I am sure there is more to
I am sure there is more to it than that - just have to wait and see.
I don't get it: I think Rage Against the Machine would flip out if they knew their music was used to torture people. They don't need the artists' permission to use the songs for these purposes?
Julie K - No, they DON'T need permission to use them for this since it's non-commercial use. How would the artists even hear about it outside of Mother Jones?
I'm puzzled by the David Grey selection - I've slept through it more than once.
I suggest that they level
I suggest that they level Guantanamo Bay, but they keep one small cell and they put Bush in there … and they blast some RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE,” he said to whoops and cheers
One of the best ideas yet
One of the best ideas yet
wow the barney one is very effective
i confess
Jim Henson is rolling over in his grave.
Are they sure it won't backfire? "If their music is this bad, surely victory over the infidels is right around the corner."
Hmmm.. interesting subject...
Never knew music can become such an evil tool... i guess it's all about ears that are being so close to brain...
councils have used this
councils have used this technique on hoons for years lol
Wow. I love making mixes for my friends, but next up is a torture playlist for my enemies? Hmmm...
Alan
"Good music in a dumb world."
www.goodmusicinadumbworld.blogspot.com
I think 1/3rd of these would
I think 1/3rd of these would keep me sane through the other 2/3rds...
I'm listening to some of those tracks for fun now. Thanks!
great
The songs of the playlist used in the story are all on my iPod. I guess I like to torture myself.
Oh the irony of playing the Deicide song "[deleted] Your God," which, of course, is referring to the Christian sense of "God" (which, of course, is the same God as that of the Muslims when you get down to it).
Ah, ignorance.
It's missing TroutFace by Captain Beefheart.
Gotta love the inclusion of the Eminem "White America" track with: "And piss on the lawns of the White House and replace it with a Parental Advisory sticker"
Nope, look what psyops did in south america. They jammed ac/dc until the enemy surrendered.
most songs by phillip glass on repeat are also very effective
I would gladly be torture with those songs. They should use Celine Dion, this will make them talk faster.
What? No Barry Manilow and Celine Dion? they're forced to listen to the theme song from Titanic day after day...
if any of you idiots believe this for a second, you are insane. you think the troops and personnel who work in the prisons just go about their daily work with music blasting so loud it would drive detainees crazy?
No wonder the US isn't getting anywhere with torture. The predictably lame playlist is out of its league -- this is a job for "The Pina Colada Song".
"most songs by phillip glass on repeat are also very effective"
I was just thinking the same thing. For example, "Two Pages (for Steve Reich)" in fast forward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po0ELeXFQuc
Or Tony Conrad's "Four Violins":
http://www.amazon.com/Early-Minimalism-Vol-Alexandria-Gelencser/dp/B0000...
However, I don't think any minimalist could be as disturbing as Eminem's "Kim".
Julie, I wish that Rage would go to Gitmo and TRY to stop the Marines from playing it. You leftist sissies just don't get it. What's sad is that by the time you do it will be too late. Enjoy your latte.
military needs all the tools we can get rock on...HOOOOYAAAAAAA
First, they say water boarding is not torture. Sure, whatever. but Neil Diamond? c'mon that's just taking it too far. anyone else ever notice how much that meow mix cat sounds like axl rose?
NOOOOO PRINCEEE!!!! AHHHHH I give you win!!!! *Cries*
I would say that this was
I would say that this was priceless.
Honestly, the barney theme song is more disturbing than Deicide's F**k Your God.
No Yoko? I thought this was supposed to be torture! The first couple of songs on Yoko/Plastic Ono band or disc 2 of Fly are recommended...
I think 1/3rd of these would keep me sane through the other 2/3rds...
The torture for me would be if I couldn't get up and DANCE to this stuff!!!! I'd be thrashing and headbanging like the good Amurkin gal that I am!!!
merzbow or masonna would be much more effective
WHERE IS THE SUN RA ARKESTRA IN ALL THIS?!
That stuff's been known to cause post traumatic stress and dementia.
The Barney Theme song, Meow Mix and Sesame Street themes are pretty sadistic. I was half expecting 'Stuck in the Middle With You'.
curious they would choose 'bulls on parade' by rage...
that song is against the very idea of the corporatist imperialism torture system that these soldiers are participating in, and protecting.
But you wouldnt put a decent human in charge of "torture" or special rendition, nor anyone that would understand irony (much like the GOP). No, you put special inbred agent Lynndie "thumbs up" England in charge. see the nice photos here--
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/iraqis_tortured/
9-11 sucked. i watched it before my own eyes. and i didn't understand why it was happening. When 9-12 happens, i will be sad, but i will understand why. We will deserve it.
i guess that when we pray "kill them all and let a Norse god sort em out" that we're really only wishing that both sides die quickly. Call it eugenics or natural selection--war's main goal is to kill off the world's stupid. And only the stupid would sign up to get involved in this. Yes kill and torture all of them BOTH sides.
this is torture? AC\DC? Metallica? Bee Gees? loool. I'd like to be tortured with this :)). maybe add some Poison or Iron Maiden :)
