YES! Hotel California is Evil!
jpur...@vax1.umkc.edu
That about ended my liking of the song.
Jason Purcell
Mr Congeniality Of 1967
Well, playing just about any song backwards won't be aesthetically
pleasing... :) [tounge firmly in cheek]
But to be serious - usually I find that in the few cases where I've
encountered backmasking, I never really liked the song anyways. I.e. -
the backmasking of Def Leppard's "Love Bites". When I worked at Chick-
Fil-A us lowly workers got into I big discussion about it - one kid
actually destroyed his cassette. I just shrugged it off, 'cause I thought
Def Leppard were a pretty awful band (still are, in fact, my opinion of
course...), so I expected as much.
Interesting sidenote: a couple weeks later I was playing the Lead's 'Past
Behind' ep on the radio at work. Not loud or nothing. The manager promptly
told me to turn it off. I never did like him anyways. ;)
Anyways, the point: look at what a band is saying *forwards* in their
music, and you should be able to see where they're coming from. 2) A
certain band may not be totally positive, but they still can make
pretty good points. Christians don't have a monopoly on the truth (though
they have easier access to it! :).
Joshua H
--
ho...@athena.cs.uga.edu * indie-list co-moderator
We have no idea what we're saying.
- Superchunk
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
>>Well, I've heard the backmasking on the back of the Hotel California Record.
>>
>>That about ended my liking of the song.
>>
>>Jason Purcell
WHAT backmasking? I've been to lots of the 'burn your records' seminars,
and none of them talked about backmasking on Hotel California (and they
were pretty thorough in trashing it, too...) What does it say, and where
does it say it. Some guys on my hall have some computer stuff we can use
to check it out (sample it in, reverse the sample, and play it. I freaked
them out with Judas' Kiss...).
JRjr
--
'What did you say, what did you do, when they asked ya, who are you?
Did you tell 'em who you know? Did you hear that rooster crow? How will
you answer? Where will you go? Have you heard that rooster crow?' - REZ
##### vap...@prism.gatech.EDU ######## Jerry B. Ray, Jr. ################
BarryB
>>In article <1993Jan10...@vax1.umkc.edu> jpur...@vax1.umkc.edu writes:
>>>Well, I've heard the backmasking on the back of the Hotel California Record.
>>>
>>>That about ended my liking of the song.
>>>
>>>Jason Purcell
>WHAT backmasking? I've been to lots of the 'burn your records' seminars,
>and none of them talked about backmasking on Hotel California (and they
>were pretty thorough in trashing it, too...) What does it say, and where
>does it say it. Some guys on my hall have some computer stuff we can use
>to check it out (sample it in, reverse the sample, and play it. I freaked
>them out with Judas' Kiss...).
I have an audio digitizer for my computer and I have personally
sampled the "Hotel California" song as well as a few others. The
alleged part in Hotel California is quite questionable at best.
Two friends and I listened to it over and over. It's a long shot
at best. It says something that sounds like "Sitan" followed
buy a bunch of stuff that sounds like nothing. Nobody there was
convinced that it said anything. I am convinced that a bunch of
anti-secular rock finatics are searching really hard and this
is the best that they could come up with in the song. Sorry,
it's just not there...
Most songs that have backmasking in them are obvious because
the backmasking has some characteristic audiable qualities. Several
ones that I've found and sampled and then played backwards:
Soundgarden - UltraMega OK - "665 thru 667"
-------------------------------------------
This is whole song is backwards. When reversed, it has some
funky ryhmns along with the lead singer *clearly* and repeatadly
wailing "Satan is king!...I love you Satan baby!" From the tone
in their voices, I feel it's just a joke. But I didn't find it
very funny.
Last Crack - Burning Time - "Precious Human Stress"
---------------------------------------------------
About half of this song is backwards. The backwards part
clearly says "Inspiration, God gives it". That's more like it! :)
Really, backmasking is no big deal. There's no evidence to suggest
that your brain can actually decode this stuff. Very low level/quiet
lyrics are another matter though...
-BarryB
Rodney CHANG
Ever since I've heard of the word bakmasking, I have never figured out how
my brain could so intelligently listen to something backwards and then
reprocess it to get the meaning. As for those people listening to songs
backwards and trying to see if they contain hidden messages,
I say "Get a life."
p.s. I do like Hotel California, cool bass line. Never listen to the words
though.
Rodney Chang | "Dohhh!!" - Homer Simpson, Springfield Nuclear Sup.
sno...@cs.mcgill.ca | "Dohhh??" - Richard Holden, a nobody.
b7...@musicb.mcgill.ca | ** Les Expos & Nordiques in '93, '94, '95, '96 ... ***
John R Laplante
re: recent discussions about backmasking on Hotel California.
That's not my concern.
As the one who posed the question in the first place, I was more concerned
about the words going *frontwards*. Maybe I haven't been paying attention
closely, but it seems to glorify evil/demonic activity. Not sure how
I got that impression, right now. [NB: I'm NOT "anti-rock" by any means, so
this is not a back-door attempt to slam a musical genre]. Some, in posts
and in email, have likened it to Christian novels about hell.... well,
maybe....
if someone would be so kind as to post the lyrics, it might be useful...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
john r la plante Department of Political Science
jr...@osu.edu THE Ohio State University (is there another one?)
Kyung Blah Bae
Why listen to it backwards??
Kyung
--
****|***********************************************************************
* ----- "It's a dog eat dog world out there, * Kyung Bae *
* | and I'm wearing Milkbone underware!"* b...@eniac.seas.upenn.edu *
****|***********************************************************************
sean walker
Hotel Californ
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
my head grew heavy and my sight grew dimmer
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
and I was thinking to myself,
'this could be Heaven or this could be Hell'
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely face)
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain,
'Please bring me my wine'
He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here since ninteen sixty nine'
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middles of the night
Just to hear them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely face)
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice suprise, bring you alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
'Relax', said the night man,
We are programmed to receive,
You can check out any time you like,
but you can never leave'.
With respect to this song. If I remember correctly it was written about
a satanic church. (Of course, this could have been just a rumour). In any
case IMHO this definately does not glorify evil or really show anything
positive about the "Hotel California".
Stephen Van Egmond
> Well, I've heard the backmasking on the back of the Hotel California Record.
>
> That about ended my liking of the song.
>
So I guess you don't like "Judas' Kiss" by Petra (about 1982ish)... It has backmasking too. It says something like "Why are you looking for the devil when you should be looking for the Lord?" Not exact words, I've forgotten the exact words (I have proof - i.e. from Petra's album covers). There is nothing wrong with backmasking. In reality it is often useless, and always VERY expensive to produce.
It is nearly impossible to "mask" a message in a song. There is FAR too much interference with the music. That is why most backmasking is done by putting something either at the beginning (like in Judas' Kiss) or the end of the song. Besides it is doubtful that the human brain could catch something recorded backwards at such a high speed.
Backmasking has nothing to do with Satanism... or anything else like that. What is backmasked might be, but the process itself is not evil. Assuming so is an insensible act.
I personally do not care for Hotel California because I have a gut feeling that it is connected with the First Church of Satan (i.e. that is what I feel they are singing about). I enjoy the music, but choose not to listen to it. I have no objective proof (as is the case with most of the people who pose opinions on the matter, even though they are too chicken to admit it). I just feel that way, and it is my personal choice to avoid that particular song.
Gavin Hurlbut
gjhu...@1302.watstar.uwaterloo.ca
FELSKE, WAYNE W.
> For those who don't know the lyrics, here they are:
>
> Hotel Californ
>
> On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
> In any
> case IMHO this definately does not glorify evil or really show anything
> positive about the "Hotel California".
>
I would agree. It is however more of the basic mindless lyrics that has
all but been pop music for many years. They work on the music and
then... Oh yeah let's put some words with it.
Doesn't have to make complete sense...as long as it sounds good.
There are many exceptions of course, so don't flame me.
Wayne Felske
fel...@erich.triumf.ca
Christopher A. White
of 'Still Life' by Iron Maiden?
e-mail me if you have.
Topher
--
Christopher A. White | Free Radical Programming
c...@gtech.com | High combat Rock'n'Roll
GTech Corporation, West Greenwich, RI | Software - Break the rules
The opinions expressed are mine alone | and take no prisoners!
Stephen Northcutt - K31
mini computer failure, could comeone send them to me?
providing they are not evil and free of mackbasting of course :-)
================== We Design and Build Fine Networks ===================
Stephen Ray Northcutt (703) 663-4447
Disclaimer: The Public Affairs Officer speaks for this Naval Lab, not me!
jason 'Think!' steiner
>
> There is nothing wrong with backmasking. In reality it is often
> useless, and always VERY expensive to produce.
uh, right on the first count, wrong-wrong-wrong on the second. it
takes a minimal amount of sound equipment, much less than is found
in the average studio. you can do it yourself with a cassette tape
player if you want. i took the easy way out & used a $15 sound sampler
and a cheap (now around $400) computer.
ironically, in the days of reel-to-reel it was even easier.
jason
--
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
`,` "True love is better than anything, except cough drops." `,`
`,` - The Princess Bride (book), by William Goldman `,`
`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,` jste...@anwsun.phya.utoledo.edu ,`,`,`
Richard Pauls
>>
> I would agree. It is however more of the basic mindless lyrics that has
> all but been pop music for many years. They work on the music and
> then... Oh yeah let's put some words with it.
> Doesn't have to make complete sense...as long as it sounds good.
> There are many exceptions of course, so don't flame me.
>
> Wayne Felske
> fel...@erich.triumf.ca
>
Music doesn't even have to have lyrics, and if it does why do you need them
to say something significant? Besides, I think the Hotel California lyrics
are anything but mindless. They are quite purposefully chilling!
Try this one out: Wop bop a lu bop a wop bam boom!!
-Rich
Richard Pauls
> ... There is nothing wrong with backmasking. In reality it is often useless, and always VERY expensive to produce.
>
I dissagree. There is something wrong with backmasking. The artist seeks
to comunicate to and possibly influence the listener indirectly and without
his awareness of this persuasion. Because the scheem is to intentionaly
bypass the intelect and reasoning, it is devious, regardless of the nature
of the message. I say if the artist wants to say something then say it, don't
try to sneek it into my head without my knowing.
-hciR (Rich)
Logan Shaw
>In article <1ivg8d...@iskut.ucs.ubc.ca> FEL...@ERICH.TRIUMF.CA (FELSKE, WAYNE W.) writes:
>> Doesn't have to make complete sense...as long as it sounds good.
>> There are many exceptions of course, so don't flame me.
>
You didn't spell that right. It's like this:
EAAAAAvrybody must get FLAAAMed (Spoken in a Bob Dylan voice, of course)
What I think is interesting about the whole Eagles _Hotel_California_
thing is which song gets all the complaints. Later on the album is a
song called "The Last Resort", which ends like this:
Just like the missionaries did
So many years ago
They even brought a neon sign
"Jesus is coming"
Brought the white man's burden down
Brought the white man's reign
Who will provide the grand design?
What is yours and what is mine?
There is no more new frontier
We have got to make it here
We satisfy our endless needs
And justify our bloody deeds
In the name of destiny
And in the name of God
And you can see them there
On Sunday morning
They stand up and sing about
What it's like up there
They call it Paradise
I don't know why
You call some place paradise
kiss it goodbye
As I understand it, they're trying to say that Christians are avoiding
reality and trying to escape to somewhere new, and they're comparing
Christianity to the American doctrine of Manifest Destiny.
Of course I still have the CD because it has "New Kid in Town" and "Life in
the Fast Lane" on it.
Just my $1/50...
Adios,
Logan
--
____-____
___---___
____-____
____-____
Logan Shaw
>
>> ... There is nothing wrong with backmasking. In reality it is often useless, and always VERY expensive to produce.
I'm not exactly sure why it's "VERY expensive to produce". It seems to me
you'd just take a sampler (or a tape), record something, play it back the
wrong way 'round, then mix it in when you master just like any other sound
effect you do.
>I dissagree. There is something wrong with backmasking. The artist seeks
>to comunicate to and possibly influence the listener indirectly and without
>his awareness of this persuasion. Because the scheem is to intentionaly
>bypass the intelect and reasoning, it is devious, regardless of the nature
>of the message. I say if the artist wants to say something then say it, don't
>try to sneek it into my head without my knowing.
>-hciR (Rich)
I'm curious about this - anyone know of research that shows whether on not
backmasking can have an influence on someone? Based on what I learned in
Linguistics 306 here at UT, I'd guess that your brain wouldn't easily be
able to parse backwards sound very well. Heck, it's difficult enough to
just to parse things if the words are reversed, like this:
tape source the of limitations reveal can disc compact the,
however, resolution high its of because, recording original the
of sound the, possible as closely as, preserve to attempted have
we.
I personally have listened to Petra's backmasking experiment ("Judas Kiss")
zillions of times without being able to decipher what it means. Even after
I've heard it backwards, I still cannot correlate words with each other
backwards and forwards.
But, I have to agree that I wouldn't be pleased with someone's attempt to
slip something into my brain, even if it had practically no chance of
succeeding. :-)
mark.d.wuest
> And you can see them there
> On Sunday morning
> They stand up and sing about
> What it's like up there
> They call it Paradise
> I don't know why
> You call some place paradise
> kiss it goodbye
>
>As I understand it, they're trying to say that Christians are avoiding
>reality and trying to escape to somewhere new, and they're comparing
>Christianity to the American doctrine of Manifest Destiny.
Well, this is my favorite song on the album, both because of the words
and the Joe Walsh influence.
In the not-so-distant past, it was considered socially acceptable to call
yourself a Christian. In fact, though people often trash the Roman
Catholic Church for their historical conversion-at-knifepoint techniques,
the treatment of American Indians by people who *claimed* to be Christian
(to claim otherwise was asking for trouble in our culture at the time)
was little better.
I realize this is a controversial point, and that everything is not cut-
and-dried. What *is* cut-and-dried is that most of what passes for
Christianity in the western world today doesn't remotely resemble the
selfless love for God and others Jesus demanded of anyone who claimed
to be his disciple. *I* think it's a shame that many people who think
they are going to paradise are kissing it goodbye, too.
Mark
--
Mark Wuest | *MY* opinions, not AT&T's!!
m...@violin.att.com (Sun Mailtool Ok) |
m...@cheshire.att.com (NeXT Mail) |
Chris S. Arnold
Its been a little while since I've seen a show dealing with backmasking, but I do know they definitely talked about HOTEL CALIFORNIA. I can't remember if they talked about backmasking, but what they did point out was that on the cover of the album in one of the windows of the hotel was the face of (.. I forget his name..) the head of the Satanist church.
--
----- __ . ------------------------------------------
| |/ __ ___ KENROB and Associates, Inc. -- OKC,OK
| /--- / \ | / | Instrument Approach Procedures Automation
|________/| |_/ \___|__/____/ ctrcsa%ia...@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
Stephen Van Egmond
There is absolutely no evidence that the human brain can comprehend a message backwards. The scheme would not influence you unless your brain could figure it out. Often the artists put the backmasking in the music for the fun of it, or to play practical jokes on twits who look for it.
Backmasking probably was started as an accident. Nevertheless, if your subconcious mind can not decipher the message, what damage can it do. And besides, you can almost always tell when backmasking has been used as there is a strange sythesized sound which is just something backwards, usually at high speed.
The messages in the backmasking is seldom harmful anyways. And for the bands whose backmasked message is harmful, usually so are the forward lyrics, so if you are concerned about being influenced, you wouldn't be listening to it anyways.
Gavin Hurlbut
gjhu...@1302.watstar.uwaterloo.ca
Christopher A. White
>In the not-so-distant past, it was considered socially acceptable to call
>yourself a Christian. In fact, though people often trash the Roman
>Catholic Church for their historical conversion-at-knifepoint techniques,
>the treatment of American Indians by people who *claimed* to be Christian
>(to claim otherwise was asking for trouble in our culture at the time)
>was little better.
Yeah, try going to a school who's team is named the "Crusaders." Makes for
some really uncomfortable discussions with Middle Eastern peoples.
>I realize this is a controversial point, and that everything is not cut-
>and-dried. What *is* cut-and-dried is that most of what passes for
>Christianity in the western world today doesn't remotely resemble the
>selfless love for God and others Jesus demanded of anyone who claimed
>to be his disciple. *I* think it's a shame that many people who think
>they are going to paradise are kissing it goodbye, too.
Perhaps this would be a good place to quote the lyrics from "Holy Smoke"
by Iron Maiden - nnnyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Jim Vestal
> Really, backmasking is no big deal. There's no evidence to suggest
> that your brain can actually decode this stuff. Very low level/quiet
> lyrics are another matter though...
>
> -BarryB
On Allies first album, the song Don't You Worry has some backmasking, I
actually discovered it by accident one day shortly after buying the tape.
Basically all they do is chant the words "Don't You Worry", if I remember
correctly.
Also I believe that one of the Randy Stonehill songs has some backmasking in
it too. I think it's off of his Between The Glory and the Flame album.
Jim
Horst Hogenkamp
Does anyone you know of any song where the backward
message is evil and the forward message is not?
All backward messages I know of reveal nothing new with respect
to the forward messages of the same song and/or group/artist.
Horst
.
Mark Wuest
.raeh ot drah os ton si gniksamkcaB ?eeS
.eb yam esac eht sa ,daer rO
kraM