Backmasking - Remember the Hype?

[BenAdam]

Anyone recall the backmasking (also called backward masking) hype of the 80's?

 

[Andry]

?siht ekil naem uoY

 

[BenAdam]

?siht ekil naem uoY

Yes stuff like that, but with Led Zepplin and even some Christian "rock" groups

 

[JimB]

Sure, I remember. I’m one of the few in this forum old enough to remember. IMO, it’s just the same scaremongers who see a devil under every rock (pun intended). When you played a rock song backward (as you could do on an LP turntable) you were supposed to hear an evil, subliminal message. People who were listening for them claimed they heard sinister messages in albums by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin and others. It created a little cottage ministry for preachers trying to prove rock music was of the devil and sold more than just a few books for some more ambitious ministers. There were those who claimed that they even heard satanic messaged in backmasked Christian rock songs by Larry Norman, Love Song, Mylon and few others. It kept kids listening to and quartets selling Southern Gospel music (which itself is bad enough when played forward).

It’s just the same crowd that claims Harry Potter is making Wiccans out of children and the Proctor & Gamble logo is actually a satanic symbol.

~Jim

 

[BenAdam]

Jim,

You may recall that one week on TBN they ran HOURS of this stuff. Someone sent an anonymous letter to either CCM or Charisma Mag written in the fashion of a Screwtape letter talking about how they were able to get secular music played on christian tv.

 

[JimB]

Maybe we would do better (and make more progress) if we dealt with life’s real issues: pregnancy in teens, starving children, child and spousal abuse, homelessness, rage, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc.

Someone has said there are a thousand people hacking at the branches of evil to one chopping at the root.

~Jim

 

[Andry]

Maybe we would do better (and make more progress) if we dealt with life’s real issues: pregnancy in teens, starving children, child and spousal abuse, homelessness, rage, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc.

Someone has said there are a thousand people hacking at the branches of evil to one chopping at the root.

~Jim

This is where I think too many believers are fighting the wrong battles, protecting the wrong issues, and actually building the wrong kingdom – just like Peter would have done when he tried to prevent Jesus from being captured, because he would have supported Jesus to get the Romans out of Israel, and build a natural kingdom, as the saying goes in Acts 1:6, “Restore the kingdom of Israel of this time…” but that would've been the wrong kingdom.

 

[he4rty]

Its an Oldie but a Goodie

I have heard it said that if you play a country and western record backwards, You get your wife back your kids back and your dog back

 

[robbymac]

Yes, I DO recall the backward masking hysteria of the 80's. My college roomie and I did a radio broadcast on it one day ("radio" meaning: only those in the college's student centre actually heard anything), where we hatched the following clever evangelistic plot:

"Hey everybody, as we all know, Van Halen will do anything for $$money$$, so why don't we all take up a collection, and BRIBE Van Halen to backwards-mask THE GOSPEL onto their next album!!"

"Think of it -- with backwards masking, THOUDANDS AND THOUSANDS of people will get saved in bars, dances, and high schools, AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT..."

Then we said we were going to play Amy Grant's "Thy Word" backwards, but instead we played Resurrection Band's "White Noise" forwards.

A little over the top, I'll admit, but so was the theory that backwards messages on LP's were creating unsuspecting satanists at every high school dance.

It's all about our choosing this day whom we will serve, right?

 

[oliveplants]

The Petra record at the time DID have backmasking on one song - Witch Hunt, I think. The secret message said something like "Why are you looking for the devil; you should be looking for the Lord." hehe

 

[BenAdam]

Yes, I DO recall the backward masking hysteria of the 80's. My college roomie and I did a radio broadcast on it one day ("radio" meaning: only those in the college's student centre actually heard anything), where we hatched the following clever evangelistic plot:

"Hey everybody, as we all know, Van Halen will do anything for $$money$$, so why don't we all take up a collection, and BRIBE Van Halen to backwards-mask THE GOSPEL onto their next album!!"

"Think of it -- with backwards masking, THOUDANDS AND THOUSANDS of people will get saved in bars, dances, and high schools, AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT..."

Then we said we were going to play Amy Grant's "Thy Word" backwards, but instead we played Resurrection Band's "White Noise" forwards.

A little over the top, I'll admit, but so was the theory that backwards messages on LP's were creating unsuspecting satanists at every high school dance.

It's all about our choosing this day whom we will serve, right?

that is too good Robby, playing Rez band as Amy Grant backwards, I am laughing my butt off....

 

[BenAdam]

The Petra record at the time DID have backmasking on one song - Witch Hunt, I think. The secret message said something like "Why are you looking for the devil; you should be looking for the Lord." hehe

They had it on More Power to Ya, right before Rose Colored Stainglassed Windows I believe.

 

[NacDan]

I remember it all too well. A buddy of mine had a reel to reel (and no, I'm not entirely sure what that is....) and could play the music backwards just by putting the reels on in reverse order.

We did all the classic satanic songs, especially, "Stairway to Heaven" and "Another One Bites The Dust".

I never could make out the "message" in Stairway to Heaven, but I always thought the message was pretty clear in the normal direction. Wasn't really sure why the backwards masking was necessary...

Another One Bites the Dust, however, was a different story. Backwards it said: "Decide to smoke marijuana, marijauana, marijuana"...So now I only listen to PRE-Dust Queen records.

The majority of the songs we listened to backwards to hear the message we either couldn't really make out, or could only make it out if we knew what we were supposed to be hearing.

Danny

 

[Andry]

I remember it all too well. A buddy of mine had a reel to reel (and no, I'm not entirely sure what that is....) and could play the music backwards just by putting the reels on in reverse order.

We did all the classic satanic songs, especially, "Stairway to Heaven" and "Another One Bites The Dust".

I never could make out the "message" in Stairway to Heaven, but I always thought the message was pretty clear in the normal direction. Wasn't really sure why the backwards masking was necessary...

Another One Bites the Dust, however, was a different story. Backwards it said: "Decide to smoke marijuana, marijauana, marijuana"...So now I only listen to PRE-Dust Queen records.

The majority of the songs we listened to backwards to hear the message we either couldn't really make out, or could only make it out if we knew what we were supposed to be hearing.

Danny

If people want to decide for themselves or just curious.... http://jeffmilner.com/backmasking.htm

 

[BearerBob]

The funny thing, is that now that it's easy to play a song backwards, no one is doing it. I suspect it had more to do with the the way the records were being played than the actual tracks themselves.

 

[robbymac]

They had it on More Power to Ya, right before Rose Colored Stainglassed Windows I believe.

The album was More Power To Ya, but the song was Judas Kiss. Randy Stonehill also included "We will reign with Him forever" on his Glory And The Flame album.

 

[robbymac]

I remember it all too well. A buddy of mine had a reel to reel (and no, I'm not entirely sure what that is....) and could play the music backwards just by putting the reels on in reverse order.

We did all the classic satanic songs, especially, "Stairway to Heaven" and "Another One Bites The Dust".

I never could make out the "message" in Stairway to Heaven, but I always thought the message was pretty clear in the normal direction. Wasn't really sure why the backwards masking was necessary...

Another One Bites the Dust, however, was a different story. Backwards it said: "Decide to smoke marijuana, marijauana, marijuana"...So now I only listen to PRE-Dust Queen records.

The majority of the songs we listened to backwards to hear the message we either couldn't really make out, or could only make it out if we knew what we were supposed to be hearing.

Danny

As a teenager, I remember listening (with a whole bunch of other teenagers) to a taped sermon on the evils of backmasking, and they played a HYMN backwards, and of course, it was equally gibberish.

BUT, according to the loud and passionate preacher on that tape, even backwards, hymns "obviously" sounded more holy.

My only thought at the time was that this preacher would probably make a terrible worship leader.

 

[Diatheke]

Sure, I remember. I’m one of the few in this forum old enough to remember. IMO, it’s just the same scaremongers who see a devil under every rock (pun intended).

It’s just the same crowd that claims Harry Potter is making Wiccans out of children and the Proctor & Gamble logo is actually a satanic symbol.

~Jim

Agreed - too many people worry about what the devil instead of doing something productive.
There is enough real evil in the world without having to go and look for more - people like that really drive me nuts.

 

[BenAdam]

The album was More Power To Ya, but the song was Judas Kiss. Randy Stonehill also included "We will reign with Him forever" on his Glory And The Flame album.

ooo I was so close... great album, Petra's best in my estimation.

 

[NacDan]

As a teenager, I remember listening (with a whole bunch of other teenagers) to a taped sermon on the evils of backmasking, and they played a HYMN backwards, and of course, it was equally gibberish.

BUT, according to the loud and passionate preacher on that tape, even backwards, hymns "obviously" sounded more holy.

My only thought at the time was that this preacher would probably make a terrible worship leader.

Someday when I'm able, I'm going to produce either on film or a drawing of Jesus reading the KJV while listening to Southern Gospel, cause we all know that's what he did.

Danny