Backward messages in Music
There’s backward masking in which people THINK they hear a message that makes sense both when played forwards and backwards. This is usually the claimed by crazy religious fanatics – yep the West had them too.
Then there’s backmasking which is completely legit. Artists intentionally record messages backwards for listeners to find. Here are some of the more well known and slightly more family friendly ones.
The B52s in Detour Thru your Mind - ”I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no, you’re playing the record backwards. Watch out, you might ruin your needle”
The Beatles in Free as a Bird – “Turned out nice again!”
The Bloodhound Gang in Lift your Head up High - ”Devil child will wake up and eat Chef Boyardee Beefaroni”
Weird Al Yankovic in I Remember Larry - “Wow, you must have an awful lot of free time on your hands.
and in Nature Trail to Hell – “Satan eats Cheez Whiz”
The White Stripes in The White Stripes - “Get out of my Mind”
Steve Vai in Whookam – “He leaves an extended message that begins with “There is a god; the universe is not without a creator, sustainer and protector. He is the ocean of bliss.”
Tool in Intention – “Listen to your mother. Your father is right. Work hard. Stay in school. Listen to your mother. Your father is right. Listen to your mother. Your father is right”
Tenacious D in Karate – “Eat Donkey Crap”
Soundgarden in 665 – “Santa, I love you baby. MyChristmas king. Santa, you’re my king. I love you, Santa baby. Got what I need.
(An obvious parody of the backmasking scare’s focus on satanism in music)
Slipknot in Iowa – “Don’t look at me”
Pink Floyd in Empty Spaces - ”Hello, hunters. Congratulations. You’ve just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont.” (voice in background) “Roger! Carolyne is on the phone!” “Ok”
Ozzy Osbourne in Bloodbath in Paradise – Your mother sells whelks in Hull” ( a parody of a certain vulgar line from The Exorcist)
Oasis in D’you know what I mean - All my people right here, right now… d’you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah”" (ever the intellectuals, these guys!)
Marilyn Manson on Tourniquet – “This is my lowest point of vulnerability”
Linkin Park on Announcement Service Public – “You should brush your teeth, and you should wash your hands.” (notice the track title has been mentioned backwards as well)
and now for an example of backmasking.
Check out this video and these lyrics
Eminem in Not Afraid - ”I miss my family can’t live with things I’ve lost. The more I lie, the windiness. My open arms, the devil fell. I’m still good yeah I’m still good. Hey I’m your friend hey I’m your friend. It hurts again it hurts again. And you’re fine, and you’re fine.”
Just sounds like patriotic Geman music to me!
About the Author
Nabeel Nabeel Mohan is Editor-In-Chief at Kuwait Music. As a science fiction buff, he loves robots and space aliens and if ever the world were to be taken over by robot space aliens, he would be the first to betray the human race.
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Hahaha .. Love the last bit about German music , lol
yeah he totally sounds like that