Hungarian Death Song 'Gloomy Sunday' Causes Suicidal Mentality
Though it is scientifically accepted that listening to music can make us feel happy, sad, optimistic, etc, it remains unproven whether listening to music can give you a drive to commit suicide or not. Up to now, all that we know is that music can reduce stress, help improve memory and can be a form of therapy.
The song “Gloomy Sunday”, composed by a songwriter Rezső Seress, who was struggling to make both ends meet, in December 1932 in Paris and the lyrics was written by László Jávor. The song narrates death and seeing their loved ones in the afterlife. This song of demise became well known not because of its melody and lyrics but because it caused suicides after people listened to it. This cursed song, as others have said, is something that’s not worth listening to. It is considered to be one of the most eccentric songs ever.
It was a rainy Sunday, and Seress was disheartened because his fiancée had just broke their engagement since he was in poverty and his music was not getting any recognition. In short, we can call him a desperate musician. On the same day, he submitted the song to recording companies but they find it too sorrowful and thought that it is not suitable for public music listeners. The song got rejected multiple times but was accepted in the end. The first time the song was played was in Spring 1933.
Here are some incidents related to Gloomy Sunday.
- A young man sitting in a café orchestra in Budapest was asked to perform the song. When the orchestra finished playing, he went home and shot himself after complaining to relatives that he felt severely depressed by the melody of a new song which he couldn't get out of his head.
- One week later, a saleslady was found hanging in her shop and the music sheet of “Gloomy Sunday” was found in her belongings.
- An old man shot himself while the song is playing in his audio player.
- The song’s effect wasn't for Hungarian listeners only. In New York, a young office worker slashed her throat, and it was found in her suicide note that "Gloomy Sunday" should be played in her funeral.
- A teenager jumped off a building, and was known to have been playing the piece in his piano for weeks.
- A college student was found dead in the bathroom after drinking muriatic acid while the song was playing.
- A few weeks later, another New Yorker jumped from the seventh-floor of his apartment after playing the 'deadly' song on his piano which caused him to expire.
- To further signify Gloomy Sunday’s effect to its listeners. It is too haunting that even its composer, Reszo Seress committed suicide in 1968. He died by jumping from a window.
- The girl who rejected Reszo Seress, also committed suicide. Next to her body was a card on which the words “Gloomy Sunday” were found.
- Approximately 200 people committed suicide after listening to this composition.
If you are brave enough to test your curiosity, a music video of Gloomy Sunday has been added on this article for you to listen. I will not be liable for any damages or injury incurred as a result of this music. If you are faint-hearted, then just snoop while wearing your earplugs. Listen at your own risk.