Posted in: Musicouching by C Jordan on January 22nd, 2009 | 37 Comments
So you thought you knew about music?
The only palindrome hit recorded by a palindrome artist is “SOS” by ABBA
In Britain the BBC banned the 1941 recording by Billie Holiday of the song “Gloomy Sunday”. It was not alone. The song, by various artists over the years has become known as “The Hungarian Suicide Song”
This is one verse from it.
“Sunday is gloomy,
My hours are slumberless
Dearest the shadows
I live with are numberless
Little white flowers
Will never awaken you
Not where the black coaches
Sorrow has taken you
Angels have no thoughts
Of ever returning you
Wouldn’t they be angry
If I thought of joining you?
Gloomy Sunday”
Radio stations from many countries have banned it because of its reputation. People have either quoted it in suicide notes or been found dead with a copy of the music in their hand or the record found on a player in their presence.
The song was composed by Hungarian Rezso Seres, based on a poem by Ladislas Javor, in 1933
Seress said, “I stand in the midst of this deadly success as an accused man. This fatal fame hurts me. I cried all of the disappointments of my heart into this song, and it seems that others with feelings like mine have found their own hurt in it.”
The New York Times, January 14, 1968
“Budapest, January 13. Rezsoe Seres, whose dirge-like song hit, “Gloomy Sunday” was blamed for touching off a wave of suicides during the nineteen-thirties, has ended his own life as a suicide it was learned today.
Authorities disclosed today that Mr. Seres jumped from a window of his small apartment here last Sunday, shortly after his 69th birthday.
Mr. Seres complained that the success of “Gloomy Sunday” actually increased his unhappiness, because he knew he would never be able to write a second hit.”
“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”
“Guitar Groups are out of fashion, Mr Epstein”.
Decca Recording Company rejecting the Beatles in 1962.
Debra. January 22nd, 2009 at 7:22 am
Well done with great detail.
God bless.
Rask Balavoine January 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Another good one. I long for the day when someone includes me in a list of strange facts and publishes it on Triond!
Sharona January 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
Great! I have learned a lot from this one.
Patrick Bernauw January 22nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
That was a great little list, Chris!…
I especially liked the Robert Johnson Story! Gonna blog this with a link etc if I may! (And digg it,too!)
C Jordan January 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Thanks, Patrick feel free. Same goes for anybody else, just don’t cut and paste.
Since Patrick didn’t spam me his site is http://murdermysterygame.blogspot.com/
Lost in Arizona January 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
23 stratocastors?! What was that guy smoking..lol?
Glynis Smy January 22nd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
That was interesting!
Bo Russo January 22nd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Fascinating work,CJ.I was not aware of any of these.
Louie Jerome January 22nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
An interesting read. These were all new to me. I know lots of strange people but none of those mentioned above!
Joie Schmidt January 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Wow… thanks for sharing this unique article.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
s hayes January 22nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Top article, interesting, entertaining, well researched and put together !
nutuba January 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
This is interesting and informative! I enjoyed reading this — nicely done.
Chambo January 22nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
These are some excellent facts. I knew of none of them. Well doen C Jordan. RJ
Clay Hurtubise January 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
The ’suicide song’ is very interesting, thanks for the research and sharing.
Clay
Blue Buttefly January 22nd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Very informative!
papaleng January 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
wow! this is fun, learn lots of things friend.. Nice article.
James DeVere January 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
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Compelling read – is there something
wrong with the images? Always get a
great laugh out of you CJ – Thanks . j
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rutherfranc January 22nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
you were right, never knew this things.. thanks for the share
Betty Carew January 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Lots of things here I didn’t know Great informative article
Jade Brooks January 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
Wow…alot of interesting facts…The Happy Birthday really stuck in my head 10,000. I like this piece.
Inna Tysoe January 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 am
That was interesting.
Thanks for that!
Inna
Poetic Enigma January 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Great article
Very interesting information,
Definately didnt know,
well put together
PR Mace January 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Very interesting. I knew about Happy Birthday and I enjoyed the facts about Elvis. I learned a few new things tonight, thanks.
Bick Parker January 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 pm
My knowledge of music is very limited, or it used to be till I read this article. Nice work, easy on the eye to read.
Lancashire, eh? I’m just next door! Eeh bah gum!
AC Hamilton III January 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Really nice work, full of lots of interesting gems of fact. The last one is very sad about the three young men taken by a mob.
AC
Melody SJAL January 25th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Very intriguing and interesting stuff, thanks, Chris.
Shari86 January 27th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I actually didn’t know any of those facts, except for the Beatles one, much more interesting than your typical ‘Top 10′ or ‘10 Most’ articles that you would find here.
eddiego65 January 28th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Interesting trivia. Great article.
Ruby Hawk January 28th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Very intgeresting and some of it I didn’t know.Black Sunday for one. I knew about Happy Birthday but how are they going chase all of us dodwn who sing Happy Birthday? Interesting facts.
nobert soloria bermosa January 31st, 2009 at 4:04 pm
very interesting-i particularly like the trivia about the ‘happy birthday’ song,thanks
Bozsi Rose February 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
#5 is my favorite. Oh ABBA!
spiritwalker February 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Really good. You got your facts straight. I was born and raised in Mississippi and those were some of the stories I would hear when I was little. Although there is a rumor that a lot of vehicular accidents occur at the crossroads. I have been there and it is eerie. I love Elvis. Thanks for the info on guitars. I never knew the smashed ones were so expensive.
Fegger February 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Interesting collection; and especially how you sort of structured them within the same space…great mix for broad appeal (Big “Who” fan, btw)
Rod Ferrandino March 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
This is what “ten” lists should be be like; I like your slightly warped view. Of course, it could be everything else that’s warped.
chris73 April 28th, 2009 at 4:07 am
About The Who. I ve heard (i can not remember where but maybe even in a bands interview) that once, accidentaly Pete Townsend broke a guitar as he turned his body on a small stage. Fans found it exciting and thats why the continued that kind of show!
Who Fan June 8th, 2009 at 4:37 am
I would check you facts on the Who. My Generation was at Number 2! Substitue Number 5! The list goes on!
C Jordan June 8th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I also like the Who. I was lucky enough to see them in concert while Keith Moon was alive. Of course the Who didn’t smash their equipment up because they did not get to number one! That comment is just a bit of fun. As for what exact number they got to depends on which chart you are looking at. As you confirm, the point is, surprisingly, they never had a number one.