Reverse Speech in Song

1. One example of reverse speech in song is "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin. This is a clear example of backmasking because when reversed, a whole paragraph about Satan is revealed, which is relevant to the song because it is an idea opposite of the main idea of the song. The clarity and subject of the reversed speech is too powerful to be accidental or ignored and is a clear example of backmasking.

2. Another example of reverse speech in song is John Lennon’s "Imagine". This is an example of backmasking because when the line "imagine all the people" is reversed, it says "the people war beside me". This song is about peace, and the idea of people warring is the opposite of that. The relevance of this line shows that this is not a coincidence and is clearly backmasking.

3. One confusing example of reverse speech in song is "I’m so tired" by the Beatles. When a line of gibberish is reversed it says "Paul is a dead man. Miss him, miss him, miss him." This is creepy but relevant to the band because of the band member named Paul. The line is very clear and the reversed music also creates a scary atmosphere. However, since Paul is still alive, this line is creepy but does not explain any actual events. While it seems like an intentional example of backmasking, it is unclear because of Paul’s survival.

4. An example of reverse speech in song that I believe is not intentional is Yoko Ono’s "Kiss, Kiss, Kiss". When two foreign words of this song are reversed, it sounds like they say "I shot John Lennon." This is strange because Yoko Ono was John Lennon’s wife and he was shot dead. However, I do not believe that Yoko Ono would intentionally put that reverse speech in her song especially since the actual shooter of John Lennon was caught and arrested. I do not believe that this is actual backmasking.

5. An example of reverse speech in song is "My name is..." by Eminem. This is a clear example of backmasking because when you reverse this song, it amazingly repeats the names of Eminem and Slim Shady. The line is very clear and repeats the artists’ names, clearly proving to be an example of Backmasking.

6. An example of supposed reverse speech in song that is absolute hogwash is the Pokemon rap. Supposedly, when you reverse the "gotta catch ‘em all, gotta catch ‘em all" it says "I love Satan, I love Satan." However, when you listen to it, it is very unclear and cannot even be heard to say that. The absence of the clear reversed speech proves this is certainly not backmasking.

7. A clear example of intentional backmasking in music is Pink Floyd’s "Empty Spaces". This is clear backmasking because when played forward, there is a section of indistinguishable gibberish. However, when this line is played backwards, it plays a congratulatory message for finding the secret message in the song, proving to be intentional backmasking.

8. Yet another example of reverse speech in song is "...Baby One More Time" by Brittany Spears. When one line of this song is reversed, the line "Sleep with me, I’m not too young" can be heard. While the line is very clear and many people would not be surprised by a person such as her to put this reversed speech in a song, I cannot bring myself to believe that anyone would intentionally put such a disgraceful message in a song intentionally. Therefor, I believe that this song is an example of reverse speech, but not intentional backmasking.

9. In addition, "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen is an example of reverse speech in music. When the chorus, "Another one bites the dust" is reversed, it says "It’s fun to smoke marijuana". The line can be clearly heard multiple times and is relevant to the song because if someone does too much marijuana and other stronger drugs, they end up wasting their life away and could die. The line "Another one bites the dust" implies that another person has gone or died. This is a clear example of backmasking.

10. One of the greatest examples of reverse speech in song is "Fire on High" by the ELO. When you reverse the strange, indistinguishable introduction to this song, you hear a message telling you "the music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back, turn back, turn back." This line is not just clear, but is obviously intentional and as understandable as the person adjacent to you speaking. The clarity of the line and the message of the reversed speech itself prove that this is an obvious example of intentional backmasking.

I believe that intentional backmasking in songs is real. However, I do not believe that all reverse speech in music is intentional, or that all of the songs claimed to have reversed messages in them actually do have reversed messages in them.