Thursday, October 22, 2009
Music / News / The War Musicians Demanding the Names of Torture Songs
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 11:06 AM
A coalition of musicians—including Billy Bragg, David Byrne, Bonnie Raitt, members of Pearl Jam and R.E.M.—have filed a Freedom of Information Act to learn the names of the songs used as aural torture in Guantanamo in 2002. What, exactly, they plan to do with this information isn't clear.
From the Washington Post:
"Sound at a certain level creates sensory overload and breaks down subjectivity and can [bring about] a regression to infantile behavior," said Suzanne G. Cusick, a music professor at New York University who has studied, lectured about and written extensively on the use of music as torture in the current wars. "Its effectiveness depends on the constancy of the sound, not the qualities of the music."Played at a certain volume, she said, "it simply prevents people from thinking."
Cusick, the NYU music professor, has interviewed a number of former detainees about their experiences and says the music they most often described hearing was heavy metal, rap and country. Specific songs mentioned include Queen's "We Are the Champions" and "March of the Pigs" by industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails.Another former prisoner, Binyam Mohamed, told Human Rights Watch that he had been forced to listen to the rapper Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady" for 20 days.
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1
Fuck, I already listen to R.E.M. too much, I can't imagine listening to them under this circumstance. I bet Michael Stipe is pissed off.
2
If they think the government is going to pay them royalties on their songs, they're out of their minds.
4
I'm trying to imagine circumstanes under which listening to "The Real Slim Shady" would NOT be considered torture...
6
No one should be forced to listen to Nine Inch Nails. People who listen to them intentionally should be drafted into the military.
7
Maybe the bands just want to release a compilation album "Music to Break You: Best Torture Songs of 2002"
8
#3 try "shiny happy people".
In college, I joked that my friends should leave that playing up a bit loud on repeat to annoy their contentious neighbors. They did it for a whole day. It wasn't a pretty situation afterwards. I didn't actually think they would do it, heh.
In college, I joked that my friends should leave that playing up a bit loud on repeat to annoy their contentious neighbors. They did it for a whole day. It wasn't a pretty situation afterwards. I didn't actually think they would do it, heh.
9
Because it's the fucking government, Will. Or haven't you realized yet that they think the rules don't apply to them?
10
They should just switch to using royalty-free music from indie Internet bands. Most of that stuff is awful enough to break anyone.
11
Sounds like they're going to sue under copyright law. Does playing to an audience of one naked, dog-bitten, mutilated, genitally-electrocuted Iraqi count as a public performance? Let's ask Antonin Scalia, anti-piracy blowhard and pro-torture wanker.
17
It's time to get your game on gentlemen.
It's not nice to fool with mother, and may I Reznor.
Send Trent a box of chocolate frogs and let's all jump on ther Nine Inch Nails Trail to year Zero again...
Editorial Director... That way... well... maybe I should incite a riot.
And another thing...
Do minutes used in the ether net and internet accompany billable time forwarded in intenet law and hidden trap doors?
I have this idea that precise pinpoit calculation of map co-ordinates, rooms and projected audio waves are transferred by secret account and rumour and innuendo.
Is it time for (WHASS UP YET?!!!)
It's not nice to fool with mother, and may I Reznor.
Send Trent a box of chocolate frogs and let's all jump on ther Nine Inch Nails Trail to year Zero again...
Editorial Director... That way... well... maybe I should incite a riot.
And another thing...
Do minutes used in the ether net and internet accompany billable time forwarded in intenet law and hidden trap doors?
I have this idea that precise pinpoit calculation of map co-ordinates, rooms and projected audio waves are transferred by secret account and rumour and innuendo.
Is it time for (WHASS UP YET?!!!)
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