Hey, uh that Merry Christmas. This isn't how we start shows. It's not, it's not. But this is a special occasion because this episode is coming out on Christmas Day, two thousand nineteen. That's right, Merry Christmas to you, Ben as well. I apologize for missing that when you introduced the show. Um, you know, it's morning hopefully where you are. Maybe maybe there's a tree somewhere near you. Maybe not, maybe it's got lights on it. That's a chair of at some point for some reason. Okay, there we go. Oh, I just got it. You're talking about Christmas trees. I was. I can't believe it's been a weird day, man. Yeah. Or maybe you're just outside and it's a lovely morning and you were just talking about regular trees. I'm not a I'm not a Christmas expert. Well they were regular trees until you know, someone murdered them and then dressed up their corpse. Right. Well, the weird thing is, you know you put the tree in water so it's still alive and so services will return the trees. Really, I don't know. It just sounds like a nice thing to tell people at Christmas to recycled Christmas tree farm, So we wanted to wish everyone the best from Paul Mission Controlled decond UH two D Noel Brown, Matt Frederick, and myself. We we hope that you and your loved ones are having a wonderful end of the year, whether or not you celebrate Christmas specifically, whether you celebrate hanukoh, whether you celebrate some other commemoration, that we as a species have almost made it to the end of twenty nineteen. We we wanted to share with you an oldie, but a goodie. Uh. For for a while, Matt, you and I would work with our team to do radio shows fiction horror stories, right, and this one in particular we made a little while back. It's called Oh you read it already, It's called to See You Next Time? And oh man, why I like this? How would you describe this one? I would say, a recording that never should have been is replayed and terrible things happened, right, Yeah, this is uh. We worked assiduously on this one, and we hope that if you haven't heard it before, you take you lend us your ears. It's it's a little bit different. It features uh, it features an Avengers level cavalcade of our peers and colleagues. You know we have let's see. Astute listeners will notice Jonathan Strickland shows up in a scene absolutely in Voguel bombs there. Our colleague Nol did a great job doing the production on this, and he is also in there. Um, I honestly haven't listened to it in a while. You're I'm I'm gonna be listening while you are listening, So we're actually going to list along. But you know we we do sincerely hope you enjoy it, and we hope it it creeps you out just a little bit. Let us know what you think. This is sort of I don't think of it as like our gift to you. So thanks for listening to the show. We are so close to entering a new year with new strange adventures and maybe if you like this kind of stuff, we can do more of it in the future. Yes, all right, and really really really enjoy that last part of the end with h with the bad scary thing that happens that it's so great, it's so great. Just prepare yourselves. It's gonna get creepy. And Merry Christmas. Those same fifty witnesses probably saw you drive away to what Neil, where are you? Gave me your Hello Neil. Neil isn't here, Joe, but he move me soon. Many people here soon tell your 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 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 life saver. Hello. This is Joe. Hello, Hello, God. Okay, Well, at least I can still grab a few more minutes of sleep. And it 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. And that's a wrapper on the live feed. We are good to go to the prerecorded stuff. Good guys, Hey, Kate, have you heard from Joe yet. He's supposed to be here though I called him. Let's give him a sack if that's okay with you. Oh shere, he's probably just running Later 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 cea A 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 mariotchi or pop? I could see pop songs, something with like auto tune. Wouldn't be surprised if they gave every genre 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, 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. 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 then the car's still running, and he goes over to this car in front of him, and he's 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 blame him and he blew his brains out right there on the street. And saw it. I saw it, Jesus, What did you 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, 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 to 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 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, you know, Like, 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 is also a musician, and that, Sir, makes you a perfect toast 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. They're never heard anything like that before. Can you talk into the mic? Real quick? Yeah? Testing? Testing, testing, okay, Kate, now you shure sound check sound check? Jeez, I have no idea the scene. Everything seems okay. Just to hold on one second, jesus A. 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 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 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 raw music plays not just in history, but in the human mind. So, Dr Bisbaum, let's start at the beginning. What do you wish more people knew about music? Good question, on sank you Ah, how to start? Well, human beings have, as we know, multiple ways of encountering our reality because these mediums senses five, right, we have five senses. That's a common misconception. Research prows that v at any rate have more than five. There are five basic historical senses. Site, 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 substances, and most importantly, we have sound here. 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 ah, nourish or negate us. Yes, yes, but sound, 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. Ziffer communication man made vic world around him us 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 vey, you could say the study of music is the oldest of human pursuits. Again, make a I'm 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? Joe? Uh, yeah, sure, I guess. I mean I'm not going to say no to leaving early when I meet up at the spot. M Sergeant Clark denies any connection between the recent spade of murder suicides. At this time, we have no indication that the events you mentioned are related. We do, however, warrant everyone to be vigilant and a learn your local authorities if 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, we 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 we do sort of pay him to be a weird guy, you know, Uh huh? What was it last time? Are competitive eating contest and underground gun show that turned him into an n are 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 act, 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. Janni 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 a head 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, and he'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, cag happens. You know that. Okay, Look, I'm not as close with him as you guys are, but I remember him saying something about the music episode he's seen to think he'd be back in time to record it. I mean, that's why I was so surprised when you asked 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 There 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 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. H Hey, harn'st 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 aren'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. 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 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. 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 he said, Joe is 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 warners? 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're asking sit as sense to use extreme caution when out light or alone in unfamiliar areas. If you see anything suspicious, please contact your local police department immediately. The most crowd had I've ever seen this place? There he is, the prodigal podcaster returns. Good to see you, man, It's all a little worried. We Hey, what's up? Look like six pounds of the four pound bay Neil Kate? Thanks for coming. I owe you both on apology. That's all right, sure do Hey, you guys want anything? Jamison on the rocks three? Jamison's please? Where's Carla? She hasn't been in today? Sicker 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 off this one of these days? Apology not accepted by the way, you guys, remember when we first tried to start this show. It seems like a bad idea. There's so much noise out there, who the fucker we to add to it? 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 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? Okay, 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 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, you 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. Uh. Yeah, that that Billie Holiday song? Right? Yeah, but that wasn't herd 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 recording, the 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 her and slices her own throat. More and more deaths, No motive, no explanation, no commonality, except for this one thing, this song. Song that makes people kill themselves. 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 asked 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 Hungary, all the way to that dip little town where Rezzo ran. When his died, he withered away in a piano bar. And he didn't listen to that original pressing for years. But you did listen to it. Yes, in nineteen he jumped from a window, but he survived. Doesn't Hungry already have high suicide rate in the hospital. He strangled himself with a wire same night. It's true, I found it. I found one of the original pressings. Then 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? Um, I mean we texted him. Maybe you 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 of what okay? Is that Carla? We have to get out of here. Now, how are you talking about? Now? Come on, how are we the closest soundproof place we can find? Get to the office. Do not turn on the radio. Those people in 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 gun. I'm going out there to block the main door and look for Neil. Kate, don't let any one 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 has gone? All the piece of him remains in year, just enough to keep the lights on. You could say, I don't want to I don't want to hurt you. Stop stop, I will shoot. Oh gut, it should be dead. There we are. You know he was right almost your friend down there in the way. There really was a lesson, but he didn't lose the song so much as inscribe it. It's been so long since we used human tongues, and time the like figgers, another thousand languages take its place. He wasn't talented as all, no, none of you are, But he did have an ackable language. And do you know what he did? You do you know what he did? He found us your assel round 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 chasms of the abyss, a gateway. And all he wanted, all he wanted was fain. Can you imagine? Can you He thought his death would end it. But the dark is long and deep and endless, and we are are patient. What are you where our legion? Beyond 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. At the time for bargaining has passed. Now you and your kind shall serve a different purpose. We shall make new neverlin we shat the light every glimmer. We shall feast until the last star is silence. Who will carry the world into the star age? Who will bear the new? Was the darkness? Get a giant states, let's me too, you sEH. 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 um as embarrack yarlock is he basnak Vega Vilagnacs. 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 one, 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, m 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 one's 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. You're Bobby much Peter Peter. A sorrow Bread production featuring Noel Brown as Neil Lauren Vogue, Obama's Kate, Matt Frederick as Paul. Jed Drummond is Hans Vice Baud, Kristen Conger is Sergeant Clark. Joe McCormick as the news anchor, Lawrence Brouse is Carla. Christian Sager is the morning host, Jonathan Strickland as the Server. Story by Zzo Seras, Concept by sorrow Bread, Sound designed by Noel Brown, Voice direction by Noel Brown and Jed Drummond. Produced by Sorrow Bread, a division of Illumination

Hey, uh that Merry Christmas. This isn't how we start shows. It's not, it's not. But this is a special occasion because this episode is coming out on Christmas Day, two thousand nineteen. That's right, Merry Christmas to you, Ben as well. I apologize for missing that when you introduced the show. Um, you know, it's morning hopefully where you are. Maybe maybe there's a tree somewhere near you. Maybe not, maybe it's got lights on it. That's a chair of at some point for some reason. Okay, there we go. Oh, I just got it. You're talking about Christmas trees. I was. I can't believe it's been a weird day, man. Yeah. Or maybe you're just outside and it's a lovely morning and you were just talking about regular trees. I'm not a I'm not a Christmas expert. Well they were regular trees until you know, someone murdered them and then dressed up their corpse. Right. Well, the weird thing is, you know you put the tree in water so it's still alive and so services will return the trees. Really, I don't know. It just sounds like a nice thing to tell people at Christmas to recycled Christmas tree farm, So we wanted to wish everyone the best from Paul Mission Controlled decond UH two D Noel Brown, Matt Frederick, and myself. We we hope that you and your loved ones are having a wonderful end of the year, whether or not you celebrate Christmas specifically, whether you celebrate hanukoh, whether you celebrate some other commemoration, that we as a species have almost made it to the end of twenty nineteen. We we wanted to share with you an oldie, but a goodie. Uh. For for a while, Matt, you and I would work with our team to do radio shows fiction horror stories, right, and this one in particular we made a little while back. It's called Oh you read it already, It's called to See You Next Time? And oh man, why I like this? How would you describe this one? I would say, a recording that never should have been is replayed and terrible things happened, right, Yeah, this is uh. We worked assiduously on this one, and we hope that if you haven't heard it before, you take you lend us your ears. It's it's a little bit different. It features uh, it features an Avengers level cavalcade of our peers and colleagues. You know we have let's see. Astute listeners will notice Jonathan Strickland shows up in a scene absolutely in Voguel bombs there. Our colleague Nol did a great job doing the production on this, and he is also in there. Um, I honestly haven't listened to it in a while. You're I'm I'm gonna be listening while you are listening, So we're actually going to list along. But you know we we do sincerely hope you enjoy it, and we hope it it creeps you out just a little bit. Let us know what you think. This is sort of I don't think of it as like our gift to you. So thanks for listening to the show. We are so close to entering a new year with new strange adventures and maybe if you like this kind of stuff, we can do more of it in the future. Yes, all right, and really really really enjoy that last part of the end with h with the bad scary thing that happens that it's so great, it's so great. Just prepare yourselves. It's gonna get creepy. And Merry Christmas. Those same fifty witnesses probably saw you drive away to what Neil, where are you? Gave me your Hello Neil. Neil isn't here, Joe, but he move me soon. Many people here soon tell your 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 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 life saver. Hello. This is Joe. Hello, Hello, God. Okay, Well, at least I can still grab a few more minutes of sleep. And it 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. And that's a wrapper on the live feed. We are good to go to the prerecorded stuff. Good guys, Hey, Kate, have you heard from Joe yet. He's supposed to be here though I called him. Let's give him a sack if that's okay with you. Oh shere, he's probably just running Later 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 cea A 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 mariotchi or pop? I could see pop songs, something with like auto tune. Wouldn't be surprised if they gave every genre 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, 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. 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 then the car's still running, and he goes over to this car in front of him, and he's 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 blame him and he blew his brains out right there on the street. And saw it. I saw it, Jesus, What did you 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, 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 to 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 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, you know, Like, 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 is also a musician, and that, Sir, makes you a perfect toast 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. They're never heard anything like that before. Can you talk into the mic? Real quick? Yeah? Testing? Testing, testing, okay, Kate, now you shure sound check sound check? Jeez, I have no idea the scene. Everything seems okay. Just to hold on one second, jesus A. 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 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 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 raw music plays not just in history, but in the human mind. So, Dr Bisbaum, let's start at the beginning. What do you wish more people knew about music? Good question, on sank you Ah, how to start? Well, human beings have, as we know, multiple ways of encountering our reality because these mediums senses five, right, we have five senses. That's a common misconception. Research prows that v at any rate have more than five. There are five basic historical senses. Site, 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 substances, and most importantly, we have sound here. 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 ah, nourish or negate us. Yes, yes, but sound, 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. Ziffer communication man made vic world around him us 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 vey, you could say the study of music is the oldest of human pursuits. Again, make a I'm 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? Joe? Uh, yeah, sure, I guess. I mean I'm not going to say no to leaving early when I meet up at the spot. M Sergeant Clark denies any connection between the recent spade of murder suicides. At this time, we have no indication that the events you mentioned are related. We do, however, warrant everyone to be vigilant and a learn your local authorities if 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, we 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 we do sort of pay him to be a weird guy, you know, Uh huh? What was it last time? Are competitive eating contest and underground gun show that turned him into an n are 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 act, 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. Janni 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 a head 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, and he'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, cag happens. You know that. Okay, Look, I'm not as close with him as you guys are, but I remember him saying something about the music episode he's seen to think he'd be back in time to record it. I mean, that's why I was so surprised when you asked 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 There 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 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. H Hey, harn'st 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 aren'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. 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 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. 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 he said, Joe is 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 warners? 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're asking sit as sense to use extreme caution when out light or alone in unfamiliar areas. If you see anything suspicious, please contact your local police department immediately. The most crowd had I've ever seen this place? There he is, the prodigal podcaster returns. Good to see you, man, It's all a little worried. We Hey, what's up? Look like six pounds of the four pound bay Neil Kate? Thanks for coming. I owe you both on apology. That's all right, sure do Hey, you guys want anything? Jamison on the rocks three? Jamison's please? Where's Carla? She hasn't been in today? Sicker 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 off this one of these days? Apology not accepted by the way, you guys, remember when we first tried to start this show. It seems like a bad idea. There's so much noise out there, who the fucker we to add to it? 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 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? Okay, 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 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, you 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. Uh. Yeah, that that Billie Holiday song? Right? Yeah, but that wasn't herd 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 recording, the 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 her and slices her own throat. More and more deaths, No motive, no explanation, no commonality, except for this one thing, this song. Song that makes people kill themselves. 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 asked 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 Hungary, all the way to that dip little town where Rezzo ran. When his died, he withered away in a piano bar. And he didn't listen to that original pressing for years. But you did listen to it. Yes, in nineteen he jumped from a window, but he survived. Doesn't Hungry already have high suicide rate in the hospital. He strangled himself with a wire same night. It's true, I found it. I found one of the original pressings. Then 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? Um, I mean we texted him. Maybe you 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 of what okay? Is that Carla? We have to get out of here. Now, how are you talking about? Now? Come on, how are we the closest soundproof place we can find? Get to the office. Do not turn on the radio. Those people in 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 gun. I'm going out there to block the main door and look for Neil. Kate, don't let any one 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 has gone? All the piece of him remains in year, just enough to keep the lights on. You could say, I don't want to I don't want to hurt you. Stop stop, I will shoot. Oh gut, it should be dead. There we are. You know he was right almost your friend down there in the way. There really was a lesson, but he didn't lose the song so much as inscribe it. It's been so long since we used human tongues, and time the like figgers, another thousand languages take its place. He wasn't talented as all, no, none of you are, But he did have an ackable language. And do you know what he did? You do you know what he did? He found us your assel round 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 chasms of the abyss, a gateway. And all he wanted, all he wanted was fain. Can you imagine? Can you He thought his death would end it. But the dark is long and deep and endless, and we are are patient. What are you where our legion? Beyond 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. At the time for bargaining has passed. Now you and your kind shall serve a different purpose. We shall make new neverlin we shat the light every glimmer. We shall feast until the last star is silence. Who will carry the world into the star age? Who will bear the new? Was the darkness? Get a giant states, let's me too, you sEH. 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 um as embarrack yarlock is he basnak Vega Vilagnacs. 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 one, 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, m 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 one's 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. You're Bobby much Peter Peter. A sorrow Bread production featuring Noel Brown as Neil Lauren Vogue, Obama's Kate, Matt Frederick as Paul. Jed Drummond is Hans Vice Baud, Kristen Conger is Sergeant Clark. Joe McCormick as the news anchor, Lawrence Brouse is Carla. Christian Sager is the morning host, Jonathan Strickland as the Server. Story by Zzo Seras, Concept by sorrow Bread, Sound designed by Noel Brown, Voice direction by Noel Brown and Jed Drummond. Produced by Sorrow Bread, a division of Illumination