David Gray...remember him? The British Dave Matthews? Yuppies went crazy over his 1998 album White Ladder that included the couples-anthem "Babylon." But these days his music is reportedly making terrorist detainees in Iraq and on US military bases go nuts. US interrogators have reportedly been using "Babylon," which hit Number Eight on the US Adult Top 40 chart, as a form of torture.
"What we're talking about here is people in a darkened room, physically inhibited by handcuffs, bags over their heads and music blaring at them," Gray explained to BBC Radio 4 about the method.
"That is torture. That is nothing but torture. It doesn't matter what the music is – it could be Tchaikovsky's finest or it could be Barney The Dinosaur. It really doesn't matter; it's going to drive you completely nuts.
"No one wants to even think about it or discuss the fact that we've gone above and beyond all legal process and we're torturing people." I can only imagine how pissed Gray was to find out his music was being used to torture people.
"Only the novelty aspect of this story gets it noticed... Guantanamo greatest hits," Gray noted.
Now I'm sure we've all had this happen to us before, where we are listening to music and ask a friend to change the radio station or CD or iPod selection because it's "torturing us." But this is the first time I've ever seen how that statement can apply literally to a situation.
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I wonder what sort of royalties the artist gets for this? Or are the RIAA going to be cracking down on Gitmo?
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Torture, indeed.
Spice girls could have been worse though surely?
Chalky
http://terriblelovesongs.blogspot.com
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I'm going to go ahead and admit I like this song.
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I remember US troops blasting heavy metal at Gen. Noriega to get him out of Panama. I wonder if they used a little Van Halen -- Pan - A- Ma!
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I recall a report about some heavy metal songs(don't recall the songs) being used for the same purposes a year ago or so. "Guantanomo's Greatest Hits", that's so not right, haha. Sad they even have to do shit like this.
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this whole concept is crazy but i coudl think of a bunch of songs that make go crazy when i hear them...anyone else?
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"Kokomo" by the Beach Boys. After one and a half listens i would claw at my ears until they bled.
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Haha. I've not even played the clip because I know I would hate it.
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Well, as Gray says everyone is focusing on the novelty of this and not the fact that we're TORTURING PRISONERS which is something that is wrong. I'm glad to see that even he can see through the stupidness of what song is being played and realizes that's the real issue here.
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Peace
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Peace
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exactly...and i like "kokomo" cuz it reminds me of being a kid and getting driven to tennis practice. my mom would blast that song on 93.9fm...so one man's war is another man's peace which is probably why we have so many problems in the world today anyway (no hard feelings grove).
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getafade > Excellent point. Gray could have been insulted about his music being used to torture, but instead put his anger were it should be: that everyone is focusing on what song was being used for torture instead of the fact that there was torture going on.
That said, I have a few David Gray tracks in my library ("Please Forgive Me", "Alibi") and I don't find them the least bit torturous at normal volume levels.
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I would be pretty heart-broken/enraged if a song I had written about trying to get a lover back... goes to Gitmo, and is used against people that don't even know why they are being held against their will.
I do think that that Umbrella ella ella ella ella ayayayaya song by Rihanna is much worse though. And any of Ashley Simpsons songs make me head straight for the bathroom to puke. "L,O,L,O,L,O,LOVE"
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anything Buffet, most of Springsteen & many an 80s hair band will get the CHANGE THE STATION from me ;)
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Comical headline, yet...
"Saturday I'm running wild,
And all the lights are changing red to green
Moving through the crowd I'm pushing,
Chemicals all rushing through my bloodstream"
...that's my life tied up neatly in a bow. Your government could torture me with this tune anyday, they'd get nothin' but tapping feet and a smile ;)
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David Gray never did it for me - this song included - TIL I SAW HIM LIVE - after that, I am with Colin, he's quite lovely & I'd welcome the torture ;P
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"I'd welcome the torture"
Kinky.
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now come on darlin... you knew that already didn't you ?!? A little light bondage never hurt anyone... I tried to tell my ex this & all 6'4" of him ran away crying like a little girl - what's a greeneyedgirl to do ?!?
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what's a greeneyedgirl to do ?!?
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heheheh... if that is supposed to be W getting the arse whooopin - I am all for it. Wouldn't get any sexual gratification out of it - but it sure would feel good to give him a grand spanking...
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Just trying to tie up both threads of discussion, there!
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flux - that piic is amazing! where is that statue?
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Indeed, it works on so many levels. It's from the Rose Monday carnival parade in Mainz, western Germany. I remembered it doing the blog rounds last year -- I never forget a face, or a smacked arse.