The Hungarian suicide song.

[jimslip]

I was watching QI last night and they were talking about the Hungarian suicide song, (Gloomy Sunday) a song so miserable that that since the 1930's has driven hundreds to commit suicide. They said the BBC had banned it until 2000. It is fucking depressing and I had to turn it off after 20 seconds or so. Anyway here's the background and below is the song, but play with caution, preferably on a ground floor and far away from any railway tracks!!wink!



Gloomy Sunday, play at your own risk!



Personally I think this song is MUCH worse!

[andy at handiwork]

Beautiful rendition by one of the all time great voices, Billy Holliday. Its the sort of song she did so well. Have a listen to 'Solitude'.

[frankthring]

Totally agree Andy. I am not a big lover of blues but Billie Holliday was
divine. I cannot speak for other versions, Jim, maybe its particularly
depressing in hungarian, but Ms Holliday`s superb voice makes the song
seem no more "down" or dispiriting than most blues songs (and I like the
slightly jaunty little orchestrals between each verse).
The other song you give us is so appallingly fake bonhomie that its vomit
inducing ! By the end I wanted to machine gun the singers.
Far worse than "Gloomy Sunday" , I would have thought, are a large
number of country `n western songs which seem to have death, failed
romances and suicide as their themes....and that western-style catawailing
is a far cry from Ms Holliday`s smooth-as-chocolate harmonies.

[jimslip]

This is the actual Hungarian version, which is REALLY gloomy, Frank I think you'd agree that the song could be adopted by the CBA chain of supermarkets in Hungary to uplift the mood of their staff?!wink!

[Jonone]

[Arginald Valleywater]

Didn't the lead singer of the associates top himself??

[Meatus]

've never gone for any of that stuff, yes i know it is a fact people have commited suicide whilst listening to this, but i've never found any song depressing. I know some people say things like "Radiohead, Leonard Cohen etc etc that Slit your wrist music". But i don't think so, i don't think any song or piece of music is in fact depressing. Its just how you are feeling or the state of mind you are in whilst listening to a piece. Obviously if you are low or depressed then that is going to make you even more low listening to a sombre or reflective piece of music. But i doubt the actual song could be described as depressing!