Oct. 30, 2007
So, it's Halloween Eve, otherwise known by citizens of Detroit as Devil's Night. Seems like a pretty appropriate time to throw together a list of music influenced by the Devil himself. Let's skip over the obvious numbers like Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" or Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil," and dissect the songs that Christian fundamentalist groups really find freaky. These are the tunes that sneak praises of the evil overlord into our unsuspecting subconscious minds by means of subliminal messages recorded backwards into the record's grooves. Essentially the theory is that when a message is reversed, it's undetectable by the left hemisphere of a person's brain, but their right side can decipher it and save it for usage later. (Rettelswen GMA eht ot ebircsbus.) If you remember, this was a big deal in the '80s, when several rockers were taken to court under the premise that their music caused listeners to commit unspeakable crimes. Judas Priest's singer Rob Halford had the perfect response to the accusations, explaining that if this was his actual intention, he would have embedded the message, "Buy this album."
At the same time, if artists aren't responsible for the messages that we hear when we spin our turntables the wrong way, then where are they coming from? Are they simply imagined? Is it coincidental that some of these lyrics are more meaningful backwards than forwards? Are these sentences just phonetic coincidences or is this the work of... hmmm... could it be... Satan?!!! Here's a top ten list of scariest shout-outs to the man downstairs, complete with samples. Feel free to post your thoughts, comments, and experiences with the occult below.
1. Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"
Originally: "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now/It's just a spring clean for the May Queen/Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run/There's still time to change the road you're on."
Backmasked Message: "Oh here's to my sweet Satan/The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan/He will give those with him 666/There was a little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan."
Devilish Relation: In 1971, Jimmy Page bought the home of devout Satanist Aleister Crowley. Some conspiracists believe that Page's guitar skills improved so much over the course of the Zep albums because he sold his soul to the devil.
2. The Eagles "Hotel California"
Originally: "...And she showed me the way/There were voices down the corridor/I thought I heard them say."
Backmasked Message: "Yeah, Satan had us/He went and organized his own religion/Well, he knows he should."
Devilish Relation: Urban legend has it that the High Priest of the Church of Satan, Anton LeVey, appears in one of the windows on the Hotel California album jacket. Also, the letters in "the Eagles" can be rearranged to spell "Gales Heet," otherwise known as Hell's winds. The lyric, “They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast" is suspected to be a reference to Satan as well.
3. Yoko Ono "Kiss Kiss Kiss"
Originally: "Kiss kiss kiss/Kiss..."
Backmasked Message: "Six Six Six, Satan"
Devilish Relation: Yoko Ono's acting debut was in the 1965 sexploitation film Satan's Bed.
There's also another shocking message that starts the track:
Originally: "Anata daiteyo"
Backmasked Message: "I shot John Lennon."
Devilish Relation: Mark Chapman killed John Lennon after Double Fantasy was released, explaining that Lucifer's demons ordered him to do so.
4. AC/DC "Back in Black"
Originally: "...back/Well I'm back in black/Yes, I'm back in black!"
Backmasked Message: "I Love Satan, alright/And Satan knows I love him."
Devilish Relation: Original singer Bon Scott wore a pentagram on his necklace and sang the song "Highway to Hell."
5. Cheap Trick - "Gonna Raise Hell"
Originally: "I never lose/To me its no mys...(tery)"
Backmasked Message: "Satan holds the key to the lock."
Devilish Relation: These guys are about the least likely rockers to be Satanic with the exception of maybe the Cars, who coincidentally recorded two songs that seemingly say the word "Satan" when their choruses are reversed: "Candy-O" and "Shoo Be Doo."
6. Electric Light Orchestra - "Eldorado"
Originally: "Here it comes, another lonely day/Playing the game/I'll sail away on a voyage of no return to see."
Backmasked Message: "He is the nasty one/Christ, you're infernal/Oh, it is said/We're dead men/Everyone who has this mark will live."
Devilish Relation: In response to accusations of embedding Satanic messages in their work, ELO released an entire album titled Secret Messages, which incorporated lines like "Thank you for listening" and "You're playing me backwards."
7. Styx - "Snowblind"
Originally: "Try so hard to make it so."
Backmasked Message: "Oh, Satan moves through our voices."
Devilish Relation: In Greek mythology, Styx is the name of an underground river of hate that leads to Hades (also known as the underworld or hell).
8. Notorious B.I.G. "Hypnotize"
Originally: "And I just love your flashy ways/I guess it's why..."
Backmasked Message: "Hail Satan/I said, he'll reach out, for you're Satanic."
Devilish Relation: On an episode of South Park, Butters summons the ghost of Biggie Smalls by saying his name in front of a mirror three times. When he appears, Biggie demands that Butters take him to Los Angeles for a Puff Daddy-style Halloween party held by Satan.
9. Rush "2112: Grand Finale"
Originally: "We have assumed control/We have assumed control/We have assumed control."
Backmasked Message: "Rush is with Satan/Rush is with Satan/Rush is with Satan."
Devilish Relation: Rumor has it that Rush is an acronym for "Ruled Under Satan's Hand."
10. The Rolling Stones "The Tops"
Originally: "...for the rest of your sweet loving."
Backmasked Message: "...and I live for the Devil."
Devilish Relation: Their 1967 album was titled Their Satanic Majesties' Request, and Mick sings from Satan's point of view in "Dancing with Mr. D" and "Sympathy for the Devil." The latter is also said to be the unofficial anthem of the Church of Satan.
*Runner-Up: Weird Al Yankovic - "Nature Trail to Hell"
Originally: Unintelligible.
Backmasked Message: "Satan eats cheese whiz."
Devilish Relation: None. That was intentionally added by Al, who was surely just trying to be funny. Even Satan can't digest that crazy processed goo.
At the same time, if artists aren't responsible for the messages that we hear when we spin our turntables the wrong way, then where are they coming from? Are they simply imagined? Is it coincidental that some of these lyrics are more meaningful backwards than forwards? Are these sentences just phonetic coincidences or is this the work of... hmmm... could it be... Satan?!!! Here's a top ten list of scariest shout-outs to the man downstairs, complete with samples. Feel free to post your thoughts, comments, and experiences with the occult below.
1. Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"
Originally: "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now/It's just a spring clean for the May Queen/Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run/There's still time to change the road you're on."
Backmasked Message: "Oh here's to my sweet Satan/The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan/He will give those with him 666/There was a little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan."
Devilish Relation: In 1971, Jimmy Page bought the home of devout Satanist Aleister Crowley. Some conspiracists believe that Page's guitar skills improved so much over the course of the Zep albums because he sold his soul to the devil.
2. The Eagles "Hotel California"
Originally: "...And she showed me the way/There were voices down the corridor/I thought I heard them say."
Backmasked Message: "Yeah, Satan had us/He went and organized his own religion/Well, he knows he should."
Devilish Relation: Urban legend has it that the High Priest of the Church of Satan, Anton LeVey, appears in one of the windows on the Hotel California album jacket. Also, the letters in "the Eagles" can be rearranged to spell "Gales Heet," otherwise known as Hell's winds. The lyric, “They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast" is suspected to be a reference to Satan as well.
3. Yoko Ono "Kiss Kiss Kiss"
Originally: "Kiss kiss kiss/Kiss..."
Backmasked Message: "Six Six Six, Satan"
Devilish Relation: Yoko Ono's acting debut was in the 1965 sexploitation film Satan's Bed.
There's also another shocking message that starts the track:
Originally: "Anata daiteyo"
Backmasked Message: "I shot John Lennon."
Devilish Relation: Mark Chapman killed John Lennon after Double Fantasy was released, explaining that Lucifer's demons ordered him to do so.
4. AC/DC "Back in Black"
Originally: "...back/Well I'm back in black/Yes, I'm back in black!"
Backmasked Message: "I Love Satan, alright/And Satan knows I love him."
Devilish Relation: Original singer Bon Scott wore a pentagram on his necklace and sang the song "Highway to Hell."
5. Cheap Trick - "Gonna Raise Hell"
Originally: "I never lose/To me its no mys...(tery)"
Backmasked Message: "Satan holds the key to the lock."
Devilish Relation: These guys are about the least likely rockers to be Satanic with the exception of maybe the Cars, who coincidentally recorded two songs that seemingly say the word "Satan" when their choruses are reversed: "Candy-O" and "Shoo Be Doo."
6. Electric Light Orchestra - "Eldorado"
Originally: "Here it comes, another lonely day/Playing the game/I'll sail away on a voyage of no return to see."
Backmasked Message: "He is the nasty one/Christ, you're infernal/Oh, it is said/We're dead men/Everyone who has this mark will live."
Devilish Relation: In response to accusations of embedding Satanic messages in their work, ELO released an entire album titled Secret Messages, which incorporated lines like "Thank you for listening" and "You're playing me backwards."
7. Styx - "Snowblind"
Originally: "Try so hard to make it so."
Backmasked Message: "Oh, Satan moves through our voices."
Devilish Relation: In Greek mythology, Styx is the name of an underground river of hate that leads to Hades (also known as the underworld or hell).
8. Notorious B.I.G. "Hypnotize"
Originally: "And I just love your flashy ways/I guess it's why..."
Backmasked Message: "Hail Satan/I said, he'll reach out, for you're Satanic."
Devilish Relation: On an episode of South Park, Butters summons the ghost of Biggie Smalls by saying his name in front of a mirror three times. When he appears, Biggie demands that Butters take him to Los Angeles for a Puff Daddy-style Halloween party held by Satan.
9. Rush "2112: Grand Finale"
Originally: "We have assumed control/We have assumed control/We have assumed control."
Backmasked Message: "Rush is with Satan/Rush is with Satan/Rush is with Satan."
Devilish Relation: Rumor has it that Rush is an acronym for "Ruled Under Satan's Hand."
10. The Rolling Stones "The Tops"
Originally: "...for the rest of your sweet loving."
Backmasked Message: "...and I live for the Devil."
Devilish Relation: Their 1967 album was titled Their Satanic Majesties' Request, and Mick sings from Satan's point of view in "Dancing with Mr. D" and "Sympathy for the Devil." The latter is also said to be the unofficial anthem of the Church of Satan.
*Runner-Up: Weird Al Yankovic - "Nature Trail to Hell"
Originally: Unintelligible.
Backmasked Message: "Satan eats cheese whiz."
Devilish Relation: None. That was intentionally added by Al, who was surely just trying to be funny. Even Satan can't digest that crazy processed goo.