The Torture Playlist

Music has been used in American military prisons and on bases to induce sleep deprivation, "prolong capture shock," disorient detainees during interrogations—and also drown out screams. Based on a leaked interrogation log, news reports, and the accounts of soldiers and detainees, here are some of the songs that guards and interrogators chose. Read about the guards here.

UPDATE (March 4): Listen to investigative reporter Justine Sharrock explain why the Meow Mix jingle, Neil Diamond, and the Barney theme song all lend themselves to "no-touch torture." Plus: How Metallica reacted when they found out how their music was being used. —By Gary Moskowitz

— By Justine Sharrock

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451 Comments

Fri Feb. 22, 2008 12:00 AM PST

NOTE: The specific song or songs by Rage Against The Machine are unspecified.

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Justine Sharrock is a former Mother Jones staffer. Her book Tortured: How Our Cowardly Leaders Abused Prisoners, American Soldiers, and Everything We're Fighting For, will be out in June. For more of her stories, click here.

Comments

Submitted by TomJ (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 9:32 AM PST.

I would tell them where Jimmy Hoffa is buried if they played the Barney song more than once...

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Submitted by Fast Asleep (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:12 AM PST.

Wow that's the best they could find? Snooze fest ...

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I am sure there is more to

Submitted by diet plan (not verified) on Thu Oct. 1, 2009 8:37 PM PDT.

I am sure there is more to it than that - just have to wait and see.

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Submitted by Krotpong (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:26 AM PST.

Weak...

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Submitted by JulieK (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:33 AM PST.

I don't get it: I think Rage Against the Machine would flip out if they knew their music was used to torture people. They don't need the artists' permission to use the songs for these purposes?

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Submitted by Di (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:36 AM PST.

Julie K - No, they DON'T need permission to use them for this since it's non-commercial use. How would the artists even hear about it outside of Mother Jones?

I'm puzzled by the David Grey selection - I've slept through it more than once.

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Submitted by XJK (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:44 AM PST.

I'm so proud to be an American...

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I suggest that they level

Submitted by Marketing Dissertation (not verified) on Wed May. 13, 2009 12:03 AM PDT.

I suggest that they level Guantanamo Bay, but they keep one small cell and they put Bush in there … and they blast some RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE,” he said to whoops and cheers

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One of the best ideas yet

Submitted by Laser Eye Treatment (not verified) on Thu Oct. 1, 2009 8:39 PM PDT.

One of the best ideas yet

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Submitted by licurgo (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 11:36 AM PST.

wow the barney one is very effective
i confess

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Submitted by Postername (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 12:05 PM PST.

Jim Henson is rolling over in his grave.

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Submitted by Hmm (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 12:30 PM PST.

Are they sure it won't backfire? "If their music is this bad, surely victory over the infidels is right around the corner."

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Hmmm.. interesting subject...

Submitted by lawn fertilizer (not verified) on Tue Jun. 16, 2009 11:45 PM PDT.

Never knew music can become such an evil tool... i guess it's all about ears that are being so close to brain...

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councils have used this

Submitted by asbestos removal (not verified) on Thu Oct. 1, 2009 8:40 PM PDT.

councils have used this technique on hoons for years lol

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Submitted by Alan (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 12:43 PM PST.

Wow. I love making mixes for my friends, but next up is a torture playlist for my enemies? Hmmm...

Alan
"Good music in a dumb world."
www.goodmusicinadumbworld.blogspot.com

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I think 1/3rd of these would

Submitted by prolapsed hemorroids (not verified) on Mon Jul. 27, 2009 3:01 AM PDT.

I think 1/3rd of these would keep me sane through the other 2/3rds...

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Submitted by Bill (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 1:01 PM PST.

I'm listening to some of those tracks for fun now. Thanks!

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great

Submitted by Aleon (not verified) on Thu May. 14, 2009 3:03 AM PDT.

The songs of the playlist used in the story are all on my iPod. I guess I like to torture myself.

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Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 1:12 PM PST.

Oh the irony of playing the Deicide song "[deleted] Your God," which, of course, is referring to the Christian sense of "God" (which, of course, is the same God as that of the Muslims when you get down to it).

Ah, ignorance.

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Submitted by ashley (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 1:29 PM PST.

LOL this is awesome

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Submitted by fasjhjfhasfhsd (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 1:55 PM PST.

Where be the list?

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Submitted by beefheart (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 2:01 PM PST.

It's missing TroutFace by Captain Beefheart.

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Submitted by Colin (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 2:04 PM PST.

Gotta love the inclusion of the Eminem "White America" track with: "And piss on the lawns of the White House and replace it with a Parental Advisory sticker"

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Submitted by wundtim (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 2:13 PM PST.

Nope, look what psyops did in south america. They jammed ac/dc until the enemy surrendered.

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Submitted by meh (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 2:27 PM PST.

most songs by phillip glass on repeat are also very effective

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Submitted by AlxD (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 2:38 PM PST.

I would gladly be torture with those songs. They should use Celine Dion, this will make them talk faster.

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Submitted by skyywise (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 3:22 PM PST.

What, no "Freebird"?

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Submitted by Shrike (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 4:28 PM PST.

What? No Barry Manilow and Celine Dion? they're forced to listen to the theme song from Titanic day after day...

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Submitted by american j (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 4:47 PM PST.

if any of you idiots believe this for a second, you are insane. you think the troops and personnel who work in the prisons just go about their daily work with music blasting so loud it would drive detainees crazy?

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Submitted by WNLD (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 4:47 PM PST.

The Meow Mix jingle!!

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Submitted by jr (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 4:50 PM PST.

No wonder the US isn't getting anywhere with torture. The predictably lame playlist is out of its league -- this is a job for "The Pina Colada Song".

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Submitted by Brandon (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 5:23 PM PST.

"most songs by phillip glass on repeat are also very effective"

I was just thinking the same thing. For example, "Two Pages (for Steve Reich)" in fast forward:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po0ELeXFQuc

Or Tony Conrad's "Four Violins":

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Minimalism-Vol-Alexandria-Gelencser/dp/B0000...

However, I don't think any minimalist could be as disturbing as Eminem's "Kim".

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Submitted by Get a clue (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 5:24 PM PST.

Julie, I wish that Rage would go to Gitmo and TRY to stop the Marines from playing it. You leftist sissies just don't get it. What's sad is that by the time you do it will be too late. Enjoy your latte.

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Submitted by cassandra (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 6:03 PM PST.

sounds vaguely like my ipod

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Submitted by usarmyvet (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 6:04 PM PST.

military needs all the tools we can get rock on...HOOOOYAAAAAAA

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Submitted by shane (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 6:40 PM PST.

First, they say water boarding is not torture. Sure, whatever. but Neil Diamond? c'mon that's just taking it too far. anyone else ever notice how much that meow mix cat sounds like axl rose?

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Submitted by steven d (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 7:20 PM PST.

NOOOOO PRINCEEE!!!! AHHHHH I give you win!!!! *Cries*

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I would say that this was

Submitted by mike geary (not verified) on Sat Apr. 18, 2009 7:03 AM PDT.

I would say that this was priceless.

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Submitted by Jack (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 7:30 PM PST.

Honestly, the barney theme song is more disturbing than Deicide's F**k Your God.

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Submitted by Johnny Bacardi (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 7:45 PM PST.

No Yoko? I thought this was supposed to be torture! The first couple of songs on Yoko/Plastic Ono band or disc 2 of Fly are recommended...

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Submitted by Sean (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 8:15 PM PST.

I think 1/3rd of these would keep me sane through the other 2/3rds...

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Submitted by Jinx! (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 8:28 PM PST.

The torture for me would be if I couldn't get up and DANCE to this stuff!!!! I'd be thrashing and headbanging like the good Amurkin gal that I am!!!

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Submitted by O) (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 8:52 PM PST.

merzbow or masonna would be much more effective

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Submitted by P.R.B. (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 9:39 PM PST.

WHERE IS THE SUN RA ARKESTRA IN ALL THIS?!

That stuff's been known to cause post traumatic stress and dementia.

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Submitted by revdoug (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:14 PM PST.

'Ahab the Arab'

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Submitted by Royce Christian (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:22 PM PST.

The Barney Theme song, Meow Mix and Sesame Street themes are pretty sadistic. I was half expecting 'Stuck in the Middle With You'.

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Submitted by Proloman (not verified) on Tue Feb. 26, 2008 10:22 PM PST.

curious they would choose 'bulls on parade' by rage...

that song is against the very idea of the corporatist imperialism torture system that these soldiers are participating in, and protecting.

But you wouldnt put a decent human in charge of "torture" or special rendition, nor anyone that would understand irony (much like the GOP). No, you put special inbred agent Lynndie "thumbs up" England in charge. see the nice photos here--
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/iraqis_tortured/

9-11 sucked. i watched it before my own eyes. and i didn't understand why it was happening. When 9-12 happens, i will be sad, but i will understand why. We will deserve it.

i guess that when we pray "kill them all and let a Norse god sort em out" that we're really only wishing that both sides die quickly. Call it eugenics or natural selection--war's main goal is to kill off the world's stupid. And only the stupid would sign up to get involved in this. Yes kill and torture all of them BOTH sides.