Backmasking Assignment

Backmasking, or backwards/reverse speech, is the reversing of records or sound files of songs and lyrics in order to obtain different, or sometimes even demonic, words in the song. Many people believe that reverse speech is a real world psychological phenomenon, while others dismiss the idea. In my opinion, the allegedly perceived "alternate" lyrics are simply the result of the human brain making connections to actual words through meaningless gibberish, the same way that a cloud in the sky may resemble a human face if a person were to look at it (although the shape was not formed intentionally). This type of phenomenon is known as pareidolia. Although the theories and conceptions behind backmasking may be interesting, the "overt and covert speech" phenomenon just seems to implausible to be anything other than a cult-like belief or pseudo science.

In the early 1990's, there was a prevalent hysteria that surrounded backmasking, with many believing that certain songs were "cursed" or "demonic." Around that time, comedian/musician Weird Al Yankovic made a song that served as satire for the hysteria, titled "Nature Trail To Hell." In the song, there is a line where speech is audible, but the words have been reversed. When played backwards, you can hear, unmistakably, Weird Al say "Satan eats Cheez Whiz." Knowing that there would be people who would reverse the track, Weird Al intentionally inserted these words for a comedic value.

"Nature Trail to Hell" is also parodying the Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven," which contains one of the most notorious examples of backmasking of all time. When reversed at a specific point in the song, the following lyrics can be heard: "Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is satan. He'll give those with him 666, there was a little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan." This specific example became famous because the reversed lyrics could be understood easier than many other backtracked songs. When asked about this in an interview, Robert Plant (vocalist and tambourine man of the band) completely refuted the accusations and expressed disappointment with the listeners. Although convincing, I do not believe that the demonic references were intentional or occurred as a result of any kind of "psychological phenomenon."