Back Masking

1.) Artist: B 52’s
Song: “Detour through my Mind”
Message: "I buried my parakeet in the backyard. Oh no, you're playing the record backwards. Watch out, you might ruin your needle."
I believe that this particular song is an example of back masking. You can understand much more clearly what they say when the song is played backwards, much more than others.

2.) Artist: Led Zeppelin
Song: “Stairway to Heaven”
Message: “Oh here’s it my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan. He’ll give you give you 666. There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad Satan.”
I believe that this song is also an example of back masking. Some songs the listener cannot understand the backwards message at all, but this one, if played slow enough can be understood.

3.) Artist: The Beatles
Song: “I’m so Tired”
Message: “Paul is a dead man, miss him, miss him, miss him"
I believe that this song is another example of back masking. John Lennon is quoted saying, after smoking marijuana that he experimented with back masking.

4.) Artist: Queen
Song: “Another one Bites the Dust”
Message: "it's fun to smoke marijuana"
I believe that this example is just a coincidence. All members of Queen have denied the claims. Also when it is played it is very hard to understand.

5.) Artist: The Eagles
Song: “Hotel California”
Message: “Yeah Satan, he organized, oh, he organized his own religion. Yeah, when he knows he should, how nice it was delicious, he puts it in a bet he fixes it for his son which he gives away”
I believe that there is too much coincidence between, the history and background of the song, as well as the CD cover for this to be anything but back masking.

6.) Artist: The Electric Light Orchestra
Song: “Fire on High”
Message: “The music is reversible, but time isn't. Turn back! Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!"
When the song is played forwards it is jumbled words that no one can really understand. I believe this is also an example of back masking, Not to mention the message itself seems way to obvious to be anything else.

7.) Artist: Mindless Self Indulgence
Song: “Backmask”
Message: “Respect your parents." / "Clean your room." / "Do your homework." / "Don't stay out too late." / "Eat your vegetables." / "Put away your toys." / "Don't sit too close to the TV." / "Take the dog for a nice walk." / "Hurry up! Get dressed for church."
Clearly, by just looking at the title, one can tell this is an intentional back masking example, especially with the message. It is ironic and makes fun of the general idea of back masking.

8.) Artist: Petra
Song: “Judas Kiss”
Message: “What are you looking for the devil for, when you ought to be looking for the Lord?"
It is said that many Christian rock bands in the 1980s put messages in their songs. If one listens to the message, and looks at the message it is clear that this is an intentional example of back masking.

9.) Artist: Pink Floyd
Song: “Empty Spaces”
Message: “congratulations. You've just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont”
Once again, this is an example of back masking because of its blatant message, it may be hard to understand at first but it is there.

10.) Artist: Tool
Song: “Intension”
Message: “Work hard. Stay in school. Listen to your Mother. Your Father is right."
Lastly, this is an example of back masking because of the clear message. It is said to be the bands non-official response to claims of hidden messages.

Overall I do not believe in reverse speech. I do however believe in back masking-the intentional hidden messages. Some songs, however I believe people try and stretch as an example of back masking.