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Torture playlist

Xeni Jardin at 9:25 am Tue, Feb 26, 2008

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Mother Jones has an audio feature up this week -- a compilation of songs believed to be used in US military prisons and on bases...
to induce sleep deprivation, "prolong capture shock," disorient detainees during interrogations–and also drown out screams.

Based on a leaked interrogation log, news reports, and the accounts of soldiers and detainees, here are some of the songs that guards and interrogators chose.

Discuss

58 Responses to “Torture playlist”

  1. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    think they played La Macarena for the genitalia beating sessions?

    Reply
  2. larisa0001 says:
    February 26, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    I can’t imagine what it must be like for the musicians whose songs are used this way. Yipes. Have there been any reactions?

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    October 27, 2009 at 6:04 am

    2 words… JAMES BLUNT

    Reply
  4. Bionicrat2 says:
    February 26, 2008 at 9:45 am

    the Meow Mix song = evil genius

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 9:55 am

    They forgot to inclued la bamba! Hearing that over and over again would drive anyone insane.

    Reply
  6. SacrificialGoat says:
    February 26, 2008 at 9:56 am

    I don’t know why Raspberry Beret by Prince is on here, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know

    Reply
  7. Keneke says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:01 am

    #2: Because a woman out of a burka is an offense against God, dontcha know!

    She wore a raspberry beret/
    The kind you find in a secondhand store/
    Raspberry beret/
    And when it was warm, she wouldn’t wear much more/

    THE FILTHY HEATHENS

    Reply
  8. Tesseract says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:04 am

    The music is all shit, unsurprisingly, and also pretty chilling stuff.

    Imagine yourself being waterboarded, beaten, sleep deprived and god knows what else listening to these tracks. Now imagine your screams being drowned out by them.

    Reply
  9. MonkeyHammer says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:06 am

    The songs on the Torture playlist pic used in the story are all on my iPod. I guess I like to torture myself. 70% of the songs on the list are on my iPod. heh.

    Reply
  10. bcsizemo says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Most of these songs seem kind of weak. Okay, any of the theme songs would probably grate on my nerves after a bit but I doubt they would make me loose it. If they were looking for something more disturbing why not try Aphex Twin or something along those lines? Yeah, I could totally sleep through Come To Dadddy at 100db……

    Reply
  11. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:12 am

    its pretty obvious they needed something in a hurry to drown out the screams and just used whatever was lying around. More evidence the information gained was most likely useless. The picture is crystalizing: bored, unsupervised,sadistic children, whiling away the time before being told what to do next.

    Reply
  12. BadKittyM says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:15 am

    The Sound of Music soundtrack isn’t there? No Disney tunes? Amateurs.

    Reply
  13. knoxvillegirl says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:17 am

    Remember how pissed Springsteen was when Reagan used “Born in the USA” for a campaign song? I think he’ll be a bit more upset now. Rage Against the Machine will be super pissed and Metallica will prob sue the DOD for copyright infringement…

    Reply
  14. xopl says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:25 am

    1. Does this count as public performance? Royalties?

    2. Too bad those RIAA shrinkwrap agreements don’t mention that you can’t use the music to torture people.

    Reply
  15. Landowner says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:25 am

    knoxvillegirl I didn’t think of that. He’s sure to be told too. Well I guess we can all be proud Americans now.

    Reply
  16. brianeisley says:
    February 26, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Ironic that Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” is on the list. They’d probably be apoplectic if they knew about it.

    Reply
  17. neuralien says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:31 am

    @BCSIZEMO: Come to Daddy is pretty mild when it comes to Aphex Twin. If I wanted to torture someone and keep them awake, I’d go with some other Aphex Twin song, like Ventolin (Salbutamol Mix). I personally love this song but I know that a lot of people will find it aggressive and annoying.

    Here’s a link to it on YouTube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG4JqP3AnXo

    Remember to turn your volume down.

    Reply
  18. ccreitz says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:33 am

    The Deicide track works on the same principle as tickling, I guess.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:33 am

    I’d like to recommend: Diamanda Galas, Merzbow, Skinny Puppy, Muslimgauze and Celine Dion.

    Reply
  20. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    why don’t you email them?

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Um, I can think of better Neil Diamond songs they could use to prolong capture shock. Sweet Caroline, anyone?

    “Sweet Caroline
    BAM BAM BAM
    Good times never seemed so good
    I’ve been inclined
    BAM BAM BAM
    To believe they never would”

    BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

    Reply
  22. Battlehobo4000 says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:47 am

    I love a lot of the music on there. SWEET.

    Reply
  23. unstoppable says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:48 am

    Theres at least one prisoner rocking out right now…

    Just kidding, but I think it’s great that we don’t let our prisoners have peace and quiet. Maybe some cold water would be nice for them, too.

    Reply
  24. andyhavens says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:53 am

    The “Meow Mix” ad jingle:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDIkpY6QsQU

    For a couple hours. Oh, yeah. That’s torture.

    Reply
  25. assumetehposition says:
    February 26, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Music soothes the savage beast. Maybe this helps the prisoners vent their frustrations in a controlled environment. Or not.

    Reply
  26. Antinous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    The musicians are too busy trying to get John McCain and Mike Huckabee to stop playing their songs to worry about Guantanamo.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says:
    December 16, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Honestly – I’m surprised that no one mentioned The Butthole Surfers – Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey’s Grave, and Olivia Newton John – Let’s get Physical.

    The first time I played The Shah Sleeps… I couldn’t figure out what speed to play the 45 at, and I had to turn the room lights on ’cause I was scared.

    Reply
  28. Antinous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:17 am

    That’s torture? I sing the Meow Mix theme song in the shower. If they really want to break them, I suggest Sondra Prill.

    Reply
  29. Evan Rappaport says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:17 am

    I agree. The meow mix commercial is inspired by genius.

    Reply
  30. kuanes says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:18 am

    imagine how a deicide track sounds to some arabian dude, though….

    Reply
  31. thordora says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:26 am

    what, no Aqua?

    Most of that list would irritate me to no end. Although they should have used more recent Metallica is they really wanted to hurt someone….

    Reply
  32. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:31 am

    migods! Sondra Prill… the musical equivalent of watching Seinfeld’s Elaine dancing. Was that really neccesary?

    Reply
  33. Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    Mesrop, please try not to sound like the jerks.

    Reply
  34. Tao says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:32 am

    I’m imagining an ironic torture film montage with the Sesame Street theme muting the screams and cries.

    Reply
  35. flyingdutchman says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Heh. Eminem, Rage Against The Machine, Aphex Twin, Deicide…

    Kid’s stuff.

    If I’d want to torture people, Id go for a mix of Abba, Boney M, and…

    Marco Masini.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xFbNiASTIg

    Now *that’s* torture.

    Reply
  36. Maurik says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:32 am

    rofl, how is david gray – babylon a torture track?!

    Reply
  37. scottfree says:
    February 26, 2008 at 3:40 pm

    This is making me rethink my approach to mixtapes now. I usually use different genres just for funnies, but I can see how the alternation of really heavy music and uncannily creepy soft rock could drive anyone positively mad.

    i only have one of these songs on my pod, btw: raspberry beret.

    Reply
  38. EH says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:40 am

    #25: Breaking up the monotony so the prisoner can’t tune out the sound.

    Reply
  39. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 11:41 am

    The Song of Gitmo is out there, just not sung yet. Here anyway. Some precedent and context perhaps?
    http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/music/detail.php?content=dachau

    Reply
  40. Bonnie says:
    February 26, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    It’s just not a torture playlist without High School the Musical.

    Reply
  41. ttcfcl says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    @NEURALEN

    I [i]love[/i] that Ventolin song. Personally I’d chose some shitty speedcore or noisecore.

    Like from The Gerogerigegege: http://youtube.com/watch?v=odIxO9-kFhw

    The Gerogerigegege is japanese for “barf diarrhea (sound of those two occuring at the same time)” So yea…

    That or persistant binaural beats. That would make em go crazy

    Reply
  42. Anonymous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    What’s pretty amusing about this list is that most (if not all) of the artists would likely be pretty taken aback and feel that their art is being abused, or otherwise feel upset that their music is being used this way – but Deicide is probably thrilled!

    Reply
  43. Anonymous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    #28 – You’ve heard Babylon right? I’d consider it torture…

    I bet RATM are spitting that they are included in this awful act…

    Anyway, keep doing stuff like this America – awesome way to get allies.

    Reply
  44. neuralien says:
    February 26, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    @TTCFCL: Oooh, binaural beats. Used properly, those could really mess with your head, quite literally.

    I agree that shitty speedcore and noisecore can certainly be annoying, I don’t think there is any song out there more grating and annoying to the average joe’s ear than Ventolin (Salbutamol Mix) simply because of the sustained, high-pitched tone (well, there might be an electro-acoustics piece somewhere that’s worse…).

    Reply
  45. Anonymous says:
    November 16, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    Yeah we all might ike some of the songs, but we have all been raised around them. Imagine them torturing us with whatever local crap they listen too. They wouldn’t mind it because it’s all they know but we would hate it and probably be willing to cooperate a little more. Now all of a suddon having them listen to pro-American songs, hard rock, and rap doesn’t sound like a cakewalk does it?

    Reply
  46. airship says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    Just make them watch an endless loop of “American Idol” shows.

    Reply
  47. merreborn says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    I could totally see terintino using the meow mix song in a torture scene, ala reservoir dogs:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=XGrwSWqrCbA&feature=related

    Reply
  48. BlueKephra says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    In the Channel4 recreation of torture methods at Guantanamo that they broadcast here in the UK about 2 years ago, they had a naked man standing in the middle of a room , blindfolded ,and with Subhuman by Throbbing Gristle blasting out of a set of headphones.
    I have to say, that since I’ve been listening to TG for over 20 years, that the crap listed in that playlist really would be torture to me.

    Reply
  49. mesrop says:
    February 26, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    Three meals a day, free healthcare, not a bad way to pass a war.

    Reply
  50. Milarepa says:
    February 26, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    From the psychological perspective, this is an excellent tracklist for torturing people because it includes a lot of tracks which serve specific functions. Some are glorifying the USA, some diminish the defeated (prisoner) while yet anotherone just produce auditive ‘overload’ far away from pleasant. Every single one works in another way. I can imagine with some experimentation, this playlist is a horrifying instrument if in the wrong hands.

    I wonder what the artists would say if they knew that their songs are used for torture. Can’t somebody ask them?

    Reply
  51. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    certainly, and waterboarding saves showering.

    There is a price you pay for being an apologist for torture and murder.

    Reply
  52. MBirdsong says:
    February 26, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    I would not consider it torture. Deicide rocks!!

    Reply
  53. Antinous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    I thought that it saved brushing and flossing. And using the neti pot.

    Reply
  54. Songe says:
    February 26, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    L O L @ Ventolin. I remember playing that in a study hall in high school on headphones and having the some girl get up and ask me to turn it down. Horrific garbage music.

    Reply
  55. Irreal says:
    February 26, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    I always thought a weapons grade torture list was supposed to contain a bit more Aphex Twin and speedcore.

    Reply
  56. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    ah ha ha , oh you crazy kids!

    “Around midnight, they took me to the basement. In the basement, the guard opened a door for me, a metallic door. I could not believe my eyes. I looked at him and I said, what is that? He didn’t answer. He just said to me: Enter.

    The Grave

    The cell was about three feet wide, six feet deep and about seven feet high. It was dark. There was no source of light in it. It was filthy. There were only two thin covers on the floor. I was naïve; I thought they would keep me in this place for one, two, maybe three days to put pressure on me. But this same place, the same cell that I later called the grave was my home 10 months and 10 days. The only light that came into the cell was from the ceiling, from the opening in the ceiling. There was a small spotlight and that’s it.

    Life in the cell was impossible. At the beginning–even though it was a filthy place, it was like a grave–I preferred to stay in that cell rather than being beaten. Whenever I heard the guards coming to open my door I would just think, you know, this is it for me that would be my last day.

    The beating started the following day. Without no warning…(long pause as he fights tears) without no warning the interrogator came in with a cable. He asked me to open my right hand. I did open it. And he hit me strongly on my palm. It was so painful to the point that I forgot every moment I enjoyed in my life.

    Torture

    This moment is still vivid in my mind because it was the first I was ever beaten in my life. Then he asked me to open my left hand. He hit me again. And that one missed and hit my wrist. The pain from that hit lasted approximately six months. And then he would ask me questions. And I would have to answer very quickly. And then he would repeat the beating this time anywhere on my, on my body. Sometimes he would take me to a room where I could, where I was alone, I could hear other prisoners being tortured, severely tortured. I remember that I used to hear their screams. I just couldn’t believe it, that human beings would do this to other human beings.

    And then they would take me back to the interrogation room. Again another set of questions, and the beating starts again and again. On the third day the beating was the worst. They beat me a lot with the cable. And they wanted me to confess that I have been to Afghanistan. This was a big surprise to me because even the Americans who interviewed me, the FBI officials who interviewed me, did not ask me that question. I ended up falsely confessing in order to stop the torture. The torture decreased in intensity.”

    Reply
  57. Antinous says:
    February 26, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    From…?

    Reply
  58. Takuan says:
    February 26, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    I’m surprised you don’t know. It’s public record. That would have been Mr.Maher Arar, proud Canadian, sold by racist and incompetent Royal Canadian Mounted Police and CSIS (the “sissie boys” as the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service are known) to Fatherland Security, the FBI, the CIA and ultimately his rendition torturers. Go on,read of his exploits, its all out there. He’s healed up nicely. Mostly.

    Reply

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