Stuff They Don't Want You To KnowIn 1933, a composer named Rezső Seress created one of the world's most infamous tunes -- a melancholy, mysterious piece known as "Gloomy Sunday." Over the following decades, this song became notorious for the sinister effects it had on anyone who listened to the song in full. Join the guys for a special end-of-the-year episode as they explore the story of the original recording -- where it came from, who wrote it, and, most disturbingly, why.
Fellow conspiracy realists gather around the figurative fire and the darkness. We are so pumped to bring you one of our first show wide collaborations in the world of fiction. You guys remember this one. Blew me Sunday. Absolutely. We did this one for the Atlanta Fringe Audio Festival some years back and did really great collab with the whole team. You did characters, you wrote the thing. It's really cool, creepy story, did a bunch of cynthy, weird sound design and stuff. I really hope everyone digs it if they haven't heard already. I don't want to say anything about this. I just want you to listen to it and away we go from UFOs to psychic powers and government conspiracies. History is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the stuff they don't want you to know. Hello, welcome back to the show. My name is Matti, my name is Noel, they call me. Then we are joined with our super producer Paul deck End to give it up for him. And as always, the most important part of the show is here. You are you, and that makes this stuff they don't want you to know. It's our very last episode of the year, and we can't thank you enough, but I guess we're gonna We're gonna try, because this is not the normal episode. Finally made it through Y two K y'all seventeen times. I guess, Wow, why two K or why not two K? Two K? Or not two K? That is the two quick two K. So we you know that we hang out and when we're not in the studio, we're actually friends. We do things, we work on projects in secret in the dark. This is not just a gig for us, no, not at all. And this particular thing that you're about to listen to is a piece that was written by our very own mister Ben Bolin, and he presented it to us, and we essentially got every single human being that works in our office and would give us the time of day to come into the studio and record apart. And it was super fun because we did like a table read where we all like, literally we have a table at work. We sat around said table and did the lines, ran lines. It was a lot of fun and we did it after hours. There was a little whiskey and pizza involved. Yeah, and we generated this thing what we are about to present to you. We did it for a local audio radio play festival. I guess you could call it. It's part of a It was our entry into something called the Fringe Festival. And the Fringe Festival is a theater festival that takes place around the world. Was begun in Edinburgh, but it has a sister festival in Atlanta. And we wanted to make a radio play because we're fans of surprise, surprise, creepy stuff. And we did this outside of work completely as something called We called our outfit sorrow Bread and I can't remember why we thought that was a good idea. I think it's because it's the bread you use to sop up your tears and then you get yeah, see, we were in a dark place. It had to do with a lyric from the it's from a song that plays a role in the episode or in this story, from an urban legend of summernown which some of you may recognize. And we also had a lot of help from our recurring stuff they don't want, you know, family member Lauren vogelbaumb So you'll hear each of us and a lot of your podcasters from other shows you enjoy, hopefully enjoy popping in here and there. We do hope you enjoy this foray into fiction or is it? And we do have to note that as this was made outside of work, there are a lot of beeps that you're going to hear a lot of and a Jeff and in this there are a lot of beeps, and we we want to thank personally super producer Paul for im it's very raw. Yeah, so we wanted to figure out some way beyond the typical thank you that we wanted that we usually try to do, some way to thank you, specifically you for checking out our show and sticking with us through this absolutely insane year. And we also realized that, you know, we could have made a whole fresh thing, but we worked really hard on this and we never shared it with you guys, so we figured why not, you know, and we keeps us from staying up till five in the morning making another one of these, and it gives you something that in your feet that you haven't heard before. So it's a win win, And let us know if you like it. We sure I hope you do, because we have other stuff similar to it already in the works. Yes, So what follows is a present to you and we'll see you next time. Those same fifty witnesses probably saw you drive away too. What Neil, where are you? They give me jack yack, Hello Neil. Neil isn't here, Joe, but he will be suit many people bear suit. Let me tell you a secret. No, no, remember, no, let me go, Let me go, not again. Hi, this is Joe. I'm away from the phone right now. If you could leave of your name and number, I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Hey, Joe, it's Kate. Sorry to call so early, just wanted to make sure you're still on to fill in for Paul today. We're recording at the usual time and thanks again. Man, you're a lifesaver. Hello, this is Joe. Hello, Hello God. Okay, Well, at least I can still grab a few more minutes of sleep. And looks like you gotta go, baby. Yeah, I love you. I'll call you later. And that's the way it was until it wasn't. Good night from the witless News Jane. And that's a rap on the live feed. We are good to go to the prerecorded stuff. Good guys, Hey, Kate, have you heard from Joe yet to He's supposed to be here though. I called him, well, let's give him a sack if that's okay with you. Oh, Sherry's probably just running late or something. Traffic, right, what are you guys covering today? Anyway? We're going to do music in the mind, you know, like how it affects your mood, minor keys. Music is torture. Torture, right, It's pretty common, even a kind of psychological warfare, like picture the CIA holding a prisoner in some unmarked black site, playing the same song over and over again for hours or days, occasionally stopping to ask a question, usually the same question over and over. Paul was pretty into it before he went on vacation or whatever. It's all he talked about right before he left. You know how he gets right. When's he supposed to be back anyway? I'm not sure next week. He was a little bit vague. Surprise, Yeah, weird guy. But so what kind of music are you guys talking about anyway? Like opera or mariachi or pop? I could see pop songs, something with like auto tune. Wouldn't be surprised if they give every genre a shot. The most common one, apparently, is the Barney theme song like the Purple Dinosaur. I hate that guy. There's something just sort of unsettling, kind of creepy about that whole show. Hey, guys, sorry, I'm late, dude, Shoe, Are you okay? I just sit down, take a breath. I was in traffic. You know that intersection by North and the Highland, the one that always gets clogged up when people are trying to make a left. Yeah, So I'm sitting there and stuck waiting on the light. You know, it was busted. It was just blinking red and people are honking their horns like crazy, but it's bumper to bumper. Nothing's moving right. And then this guy in the car in front of me, he gets out and just he walks out and he leaves the door open and in the car it's still running. And he goes over to this car in front of him, and he's moving slow, you know, like a zombie or something. And he pulls out a gun. I know, dude, he pulls out a gun and he shoots into the other car like point blake, And he turned and looked at me, like directly at me, and he holds the gun up to the side of his head and blaw him and he blew his brains out right there on the street and saw it. I saw it. Jesus, What did he do? I ran and drove off. I mean he didn't stay for the cops. I don't know, Neil, I couldn't. It wasn't I was afraid to stay there. Dude. I don't mean to be a or anything, but you know you have to call the cops. I mean you know this, right, I can't Okay, yeah, I can't explain why. But this guy, when he looked at me, he said something like something about dreaming or I was only dreaming or vergay vilts something. And does this make any sense? Do you? Guys? I had this dream last night, and I keep having these dreams over and over. Look, why don't we just record this next segment tomorrow. You should go home, call the police and let them know that you're a witness. Look, Kate, I appreciate it, I do, but right now, the only thing that I want to do is record. There has to be at least fifty other witnesses, fifty other people around. You know, they don't need me. Those same fifty witnesses probably saw you drive away too. What You're right, someone had to have seen you. No, it's just what you said. Just now, Neil. Can we just record the show? Guys, I will call the police, I promise, Are you sure? Yeah? Yeah, let's let's do it please, all right, man, whatever you got it? Okay, levels are good, give me just one sack. There's our blinking little light and we are rolling. Welcome back to Science on the Mind. I'm Kate, and today we've got a special guest for you, Joe Campbell, who will be filling in for Paul. Hey, everybody, thanks for having me on the show. Kate, Thanks for coming. Listeners. You've probably heard Joe on a few of our other shows, but here's something you might not know about him. In addition to being great in front of and behind the mic, Joe's also a musician, and that, Sir, makes you a perfect host for today's episode. Today we're talking about music, but not just any kind of music. We're talking about music as a weapon. Oh good, Oh sorry, guys, I have no idea what just happened there. I never heard anything like that before. Can you talk into the mic real quick? Yeah? Testing? Testing? Testing? Oh okay, Kate, now you ah sure? Sound check? Sound check? Jeez, I have no idea. This everything seems okay, Just to hold on one second, Jesus, Ah, Welcome to the show, everybody. I'm Kate and this is Science on the Mind. Today we're joined by a very special guest, Joe Campbell, who's filling in for Paul. Hi. Everybody, thanks for coming. Oh listeners, you've probably heard Joe on a few of our other shows, but here's something you might not know about him. Joe's also a musician, and that, Sir, makes you a perfect host for today's episode. Today we're talking about music. But this isn't some Pitchfork review, right right, No, we're talking about a different kind of music, a use of music. You could say. We're talking about music as science, applied science, music as a tool, as a weapon, even exactly. Let's start with a story, Joe, you recently sat down with Professor Hans Weissbaum, a music historian, to look at the role music plays not just in history, but in the human mind. So, doctor Weisbaum, let's start at the beginning. What do you wish more people knew about music? Ah? Good question, on sank you How to start? Well, Human beings have as vo multiple ways of encountering our reality. Because these medium's senses five, Right, we have five senses. That's a common misconception. Research plus ZV at any rate have more than five. There are five basic historical senses. Sight, of course, is the most important for current civilization, on smell, on taste, so to being extraordinarily intertwined on touch, which can be passed into multitudinous sub senses. And most importantly, we have our sound hearing. Yes, but didn't you say that vision was the most important sense to our current society. Yes, but remember civilization is not a constant thing. It is a fragile light on Sometimes it goes out only for a new society to arise in its place. Today, sight is the most important sense, but for the majority of human history, sound was our primary experience. It informed us in vital ways. We cannot touch a thing and know its history or future. We cannot taste a thing and immediately know if it will nourish or negate us. Yes, yeah, but so yes sound. Early human predators hunted at night, and even now the average unaided human eye cannot see in darkness. So we listened, we heard, and as we heard, we survived. The first communication man made was the world around him thus through sound. Music is a result of that. Music precedes art, music precedes language, and music at its base is only an arrangement of sound in some curated order. The oldest reserves of human knowledge were likely songs, So in a vay you could say the study of music is the oldest of human pursuits. Oh be a shuttle's sorry, you guys know what's going on today? Look it's it's already past five, and this isn't going live until next week. And we can always roll live if we have to. Why don't we just knock off early? Yeah, Joe, Uh yeah, sure, I guess. I mean I'm not gonna say no to leaving early when I meet up at the spot. Sergeant Clark denies any connection between the recent spate of murder suicides. At this time, we have no indication that the events you mentioned are related. We do, however, warnt everyone to be vigilant and alert your local authorities that you see an act of violence. We will follow up on these separate investigations and issue updates as they are available. Thank you for your time. No further questions spoken like a true want to be mayor sounds like you weren't the only one to see something strange. So wait, where is Paul exactly? He's on vacation I think for two weeks. I mean, what does he just save up all year? Does he never take any normal people vacation time? Nope? Sometimes Paul just disappears super professional. I'm sure there's a reason, and I mean we do sort of pay him to be a weird guy. You know, was it last time Area fifty one, a competitive eating contest, an underground gun show that turned him into an n aray not all over again? I forget. Maybe he has family stuff. I mean, he is a pretty private person, at least from what I hear around the office. He's an apt is what he is, and our bosses let him get away with it. Who else could just off without telling anyone for weeks at a time. Okay, Okay, he does this like maybe once a year. Janis said he told her through a text message the Sunday before right all class that one. Wait, so he just ghosted you guys, didn't record ahead or anything like that. We have a few episodes in the can, but I mean, come on, we have to make a weekly show. We can't just go into reruns. He knows that, then where is he and why are you always on his side? Look, it's just convenient that he doesn't have a problem pulling a Houdini whenever he wants. You'll stroll right back in, expecting to get all the credit for shows he didn't even make. And you guys are gonna let him. Oh, come on, Kate, happens you know that. Okay. Look, I'm not as close with him as you guys are, but I remember him seeing something about the music episode. He seemed to think he'd be back in time to record it. I mean, that's why I was so surprised when you ask me, Aboard, I do appreciate it, though, No, of course we appreciate it. I'm sorry, man, it's just frustrating. I mean, I'd like to take a vacation once in a while too, and I'm sure Neil feels the same way. But here we are with half a host and apparently there's a suicide epidemic or whatever. Wait, yeah about that? Maybe you think they're bad at this point? Suicide Here you go, guys, anything to eat? I'm good? But hey, Carlo, what was that on the news? Probably the suicide epidemic, that's what they're calling it. It's all over the radio. Don't you guys listen to the news. We heard something, but yeah, it's like a across the city. People are killing each other and themselves. You seriously haven't heard about this. It's like close to eleven people or something. I gotta go, Hey, hang on, man, wait a second, Hey, harn't me. I'm on the way back. I hope you're doing okay. Today was just look. I'll see you in a bit, ring me if you want me to pick anything up on the way home. Green light, gotta go, love you bye. So why an't the police saying anything? Why isn't the news, the lamestream news that is covering this. There's a blood bath out there, people, And don't act for a second like Uncle Sam doesn't know what's going on. But we've seen the light, while some of us have, but we've been expecting this, those of us with our eyes open, that is, for a long long time. Now, let's go to the phones, y'all. Don't go. Swoman means not all. Hey, where is everybody? It's like a ghost town. Nobody's in the office. And traffic was pretty late too. Yeah, did you did you catch the news this morning? You know, I hate listening to the news right before a show. I haven't even turned on my computer. Why what's up? Hang on? Hello? Hello, Hey, Hey, what's up? Man? Dude? Hello? Ground control to Major tom Ah Oh okay, yeah, yes, but well, have you seen Joe? No? No, sure, urgent? Okay, okay, okay, we'll see you. That was Paul. Looks like he's back in town. Sounded wasted and is Captain Mystery planning on joining us at work today. He said he needs to meet us outside of the office. Well, you guys have fun, he asked for both of us. He said it was urgent. Showing up for your job sounds pretty urgent to me. He sounded pretty shaken up. He's our friend, he's your friend, Neil, Fine, fine, fine, Then he's a guy who needs help. I get it. Okay, I get it. Maybe he got fired or something. But what would you want us to do if you needed help? We're still waiting on Joe, even if apparently everyone else took the day off. He said, Joe's not coming. How the hell would he know? Just come with me, please? Fine where While we cannot respond to any inquiries regarding an ongoing investigation. We will provide updates as soon as possible. At this point, we have issued a citywide warning and allocated additional resources to local schools, government offices, and financial centers. What about state level warning? How do you respond to the news of governor's disappearance? Again? We are in the process of several unrelated investigations, and we will provide updates as they appear. At this time, we are asking citizens to use extreme caution when out late or alone in unfamiliar areas. If you see anything suspicious, please contact your local police department immediately. This is the most crowded I've ever seen this place. There he is the prodigal podcaster returns. Good to see you, man, It's all a little worried. Hey, what's up? Look like six pounds of a four pound bay Neil case. Thanks for coming. I owe you both an apology. That's all right? Sure do Hey, you guys want anything now? Jamison on the rocks? Three? Jamison's Please? Where's Carla? She hasn't been in today, sick or something. I guess I'll be right back with those drinks, guys. So what is it now? Paul planning to grace us with your presence at the office one of these days. Apology not accepted, by the way. You guys, remember when we first tried to start this show, it seemed like a bad idea. There's so much noise out there. Who the fucker we add to? But now here we are millions of people tune in each week. And then it seemed like such a good idea. We used to toast to how lucky we were, how smart we were. But we were wrong. Everyone was wrong. All right, are you okay? Man? I mean, where the fuck have you been? Hungary? Who the hell goes to Hungary? No one anymore? It'll be just like that here. Soon. We have to get out of here, out of the city. It's not going to be safe here much longer. We have to get out of here. God, you're so melodramatic, do you know that? No, it's ridiculous. You disappeared Paul in April and everyone just pretended, Oh, he's on vacation. Now you show up drunk and you expect us to just leave the city. What does that even mean? Are you crazy? Are you insane? Okay, you're right, you're right. I am drunk. I had to go. Okay, I had to see to see it for myself. Just humor me, okay, please kneel, okay, okay. It was the music. When we first started prepping for this piece on music in the Mind, I dug through everything I could find, interviews, archival recordings from the Congressional Library, declassified documents from interrogations at black sites, you know, the usual stuff. So one thing stayed with me, this legend, I guess you'd call it. Back in the thirties, there was this guy, a composer named Rezzo Series. He's kind of a two bit, you know, just one of a hundred thousand other would be songwriters, dreaming of being a European Stephen Foster or something. He moved to Paris and his life spiraled down with his parents died. He went bankrupt. But she said she went to Hungary. Yes, listen, that's where he ended up. Then his girlfriend fiance maybe she left. He tried to kill himself, but instead he wrote a song and it was a success. You've probably heard of it. Gloomy Sunday. Yeah, that Billie Holiday song, right, Yeah, but that wasn't her. That was a cover song Bingo. Yes, but the one we hear the ones we've always heard. Those are all covers, but the original record, the original pressing the Suicide started right after its release. A man jumps from a fifth story window in downtown Antwerp. A woman slits her child's wrists in a Berlin bathtub. Then she slips into the water and slices her own throat. More and more deaths. No motive, no explanation, no commonality except for this one thing, this song that makes people kill them. Sellars, yes, but the record sells so fast that it just goes into repressing almost immediately. The song's sad. Sure, blame the c minor key, I guess. But most people, most people are fine. Most are especially Resso. He's making money hand over fist, more than he's ever made in his life, until the cops ask him to visit the morgue. His ex had joined the trend. She drank acid her suicide. Note two words gloomy Sunday. All of a story, but it's true. I went to hungry, all the way to that little town where Rezzo ran. When his ex died, he withered away in a piano bar, and he didn't listen to that original pressing for years, but you did listen to him. Yes, in nineteen sixty eight, he jumped from a window, but he survived. Doesn't hungry already have a high suicide rate In the hospital, he strangled himself with a wire same night. Bullsh It's true. I found it. I found one of the original pressings. Why are you still alive? Because I haven't listened to it. There's a thumb drive copy in my apartment, but the original record, it's someone took it. So you traveled halfway across the planet to find some first record and lost it on the way back. I didn't say I lost it. I said someone took it. That's what's going on. Someone else found the record and they're putting it back on the air. People don't just wake up one day and decide to kill their family. Joe Campbell didn't. Just didn't. What what are you even saying? Joe's dead? Oh? Come on, you don't listen to the radio, you either, Kate, We are making shows all day. Who wants to listen to more of that? No one except for Joe. When's the last time you saw him here? Actually yesterday? And since then? I mean we texted him. Maybe he didn't get it, but listen to yourself. Paul, this is ridiculous. I know you've got a lot on your plate, but you probably should have taken a real vacation instead of Wait of what is that Carla? We have to get out of here. Now, how are you talking about? Now? Come on, here are the closest soundproof place we can find. Get to the office. Do not turn on the radio. Those people and Carla, what was she saying? Was it the song? Yeah? Yes, I think so. They were chanting like it was a cult or something. Yeah, they must have it on the satellite radio. Now who the hell are they? I don't know. Did you see Neil got to his car? I think? But my phone isn't working mine either. Oh, they're outside here. Take this a gun. I'm going out there to block the main door and look for Neil. Kate, don't let anyone in unless you're certain it's one of us. Kate, Run, run, Joe. What happened to your head? Joe? Joe? What are you? Joe? Piece of you? Remains here to keep your right. I don't want to I don't want to hurt you. Stop stop, I will shoot. Oh gut, it should be dead. Here we are you know he was right, most grand out there in the whole way, there really was a lesser, But it didn't compose the song so much as and inscribe it. It still so long since we used human tongues. At each time the light figures another thousand languages take its place. He wasn't arrected lesso, No, none of you are. And what he did have unmacable language. And do you know what he did? You do you know what he did? Found us, your lesser, found the old works, the sigils. He called to us out there in the dark. And when one of you hails us, a light gleams across the castles of the Abyss, a gateway. And all he wanted, all he wanted was fame. Can you imagine? Can you not? His death would end it. But the dark is long and deep and endless. And though we are patient, what are you? We are are legion, were the emptiness behind the stars. We are the dark, and we hunger Nil nil Nil is gone. You killed him, kill kill. You do not know death. You will never know death now, But you are industrious. Now. A single spell can touch millions of you. And the time for bargaining has pass'd. Now you and your kind shall serve a different purpose. We shall make new beverlim We shat the light, every glimmer show feast into the last stary sirens who will carry the blood starge who will get the grace through the darkness? And a giant state states. Let me tell you the seed based on the murder suicide epidemic. With no further news from Boston or New York. Now, let's cut live to Sergeant Clark from the Atlanta Police Department or m as embarracked yarlock guess he basna Vega avilagnak. Hello, everyone, if you can hear me, I'm filling in for our usual hosts who couldn't make it today. I'm filling in for everyone. In fact, maybe you two. It's July first, and I haven't seen another person for the last two weeks. Everyone's gone, all the real people anyway, without so much as a see you next time. There's something taking over. If you're hearing this and you're outside, please just listen closely. You are in danger. Go indoors, whatever you can get, whatever place you can find. If you're hearing this, then stay on this channel. The others aren't safe. I don't know how much time I've got here, but as long as that little red light keeps flickering, we're going to repeat this message. Get indoors, don't turn on the radio, and if you can hear me, listen, something is happening to people. They're not themselves. We may be the last ones left. Stay on this dial and I'll keep you as updated as I can until that little red light goes out. Let me tell you a secret. Bobby La bar Vitra Vitras a Sorrow Bread production featuring Noel Brown as Neil Lauren Voge. Obama is Kate, Matt Frederick is Paul. Jed Drummond is Hans Vice Band. Kristin Conger is Sergeant Clark. Joe McCormick is the news anchor. Lawrence Brouse is Carla. Christian Sager is the morning host. Jonathan Strickland as the server. Story by Zo Seras, concept by Sarah Bred, Sound designed by Noel Brown, Voice direction by Noel Brown and Jed Drummond. Produced by Sara Bred a division of Elimination of Global Eliminit. And that's the end of this classic episode. If you have any thoughts or questions about this episode. You can get into contact with us in a number of different ways. One of the best is to give us a call. Our number is one eight three three stdwy TK. If you don't want to do that, you can send us a good old fashioned email. We are conspiracy at iHeartRadio dot com. Stuff they don't want you to know is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
