No, “backmasking” is NOT just a way to hide your unsightly back hair. “Backmasking” is the process of recording a sound or message backward and inserting it into a forward-playing music track. And it’s not a new idea.

The Beatles were one of the first music groups to popularize the technique. This would later result in a conspiracy theory in which Paul McCartney, The Beatles’ bass player, was believed to be deceased.

In the 1980′s, classic rock groups were indicted by Fundamentalist Christian organizations for allegedly using backmasking to control the minds of their listeners, especially to promote the finer points of Satanism. The seminal example is probably Led Zeppelin’s 1971 masterpiece “Stairway to Heaven,” when the lyrics, according to critics, played backward, sound like the words “Here’s to my sweet Satan…”

By and by, these accusatory claims seem to have fallen by the wayside. I think it’s fair to say the general consensus is: play anything backward, at different speeds, and you’re bound to hear something. You don’t know these messages are there until someone points them out to you. Unphased by so-called “crackpot claims,” a NUMBER OF MUSICIANS, have since experimented with backmasking, including The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Tool, and Boards of Canada–even Lil’ Wayne.

So where have all the rabble-rousers gone? Could there be a sliver of truth to these hopelessly bunk “mind control” claims? Inspired by reader Nadine’s comment about the portrayal of water in music, I intended to find out. Hell, I don’t mind delving into Satanism from time to time to promote water’s good name. Armed with only a dream, a commitment to SCIENCE, and some mp3s, I set out to do exactly that. These are the results of my first journey into the dark arts. Looks like cat’s out of the bag, dear readers… and I’ve only scratched the surface.

Take the 1966 song by The Rolling Stones, “Paint it Black.” Maybe they should have named it “Paint it Blue”(?). I’ll let you be the judge.

The original:
Paint it Black (Excerpt-forward)

Exposed:
Paint it Black (Excerpt-backward)

Run that by me again, e_train?

Sure, since you asked nicely.

Exposed:
Paint it Black (Excerpt-backward)

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of your MIND EXPANDING. That’s how the WaterBoyz do!