Welcome back to music, ghost stories, the podcast that tunes into the eerie connections between music and our lives. I'm your host, Donny. And this is a special Halloween episode that is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. Join us as we delve into the chilling topic of'torturous tonalities. Today, we unveil how music, a universal language of joy, can be twisted into an instrument of psychological manipulation. Get ready for a hair raising journey of how the United States central intelligence agency, the CIA has adapted music as one of their strategies. Let's start by examining the history. This isn't something new that the U S developed. As a matter of fact, it said that the U S had adapted this style of torture from Chinese methods during the Korean war. A trick, but definitely no treat. And as if those echoes from the past weren't enough. The us. continued to experiment with the Erie Alliance of sound as heard here. But it was in the early two thousands of MITs, the barbed wire and shadowed confines of Guantanamo bay. That music took on a more sinister role. While there isn't much official documentation. The stories and firsthand accounts from former detainees have gradually come to light. One account comes from Binyam. Mohammed. Uh, former detainee who survived torment. Through the use of music. Quote,“plenty lost their minds. I could hear people knocking their heads against the walls. And the doors, screaming, their heads off. Throughout my time, I had all kinds of music, and irritating sounds, mentally. Disturbing. And quote. Volume levels reached unimaginable Heights. 90 decibels for up to eight hours, 95 decibels for four hours, and even a mind billowing hundred decibels for two hours. Imagine a subway train. Or worse, factory machinery. Operating at full throttle. We speak a lot on music, ghost stories on how music can elicit immediate emotional responses. These songs were selected to induce anxiety, stress, confusion, and fear. Including songs like"enter Sandman" by Metallica. They also chose music that could really get stuck in your head. Like the Meow mix commercial jingle. Here's what the composer of the Sesame street song had to say. When he found out that his music was being used as a form of torture. Yet, the psychological impact goes far beyond the momentary discomfort. It becomes a never ending haunting. Pushing some detainees into the abyss of sensory overload and hallucinations. In a nightmarish twist. A nonprofit called zero DB emerged to confront this abuse, with voices like Tom Morello, from rage against the machine behind their battle cries. The industrial rock band, skinny puppy, even dared to send a bill for over half a million dollars in royalties to the United States military for the spine chilling use of their music as a literal weapon. The United nations has also weighed in, stating that the subjecting of detainees to loud music for prolonged periods is a violation of the convention against torture. In conclusion, music, is a language of the soul. It can bring comfort, joy. And healing to our lives. But the use of music for psychological manipulation is a dark chapter in its history. It's a stark reminder that even within the harmonious notes, Uh, sinister tune can still be composed. As we wrap up this exploration We are reminded to cherish the profound connection between music and spirituality. Music can transcend the boundaries of language. Culture, and emotion. Offering solace. and insight. when we need it most."Thanks for joining us on this haunted Halloween episode of music, ghost stories. May your musical journeys be filled with harmony and light. until next time. Keep listening.