According to numerous witnesses and declassified reports, video evidence, and testimony from prisoners, guards and soldiers, the CIA used music to torture detainees in a number of different ways.
In some cases, songs would be played in repetition for hours or days on end, as to drive the prisoner to insanity. Music was also used to prevent detainees from sleeping, which is another way of creating delirium and vulnerability in the detainees.
Some songs were chosen because they were annoying, while others were chosen because they may have been offensive to the prisoner’s culture or religion. Some of the songs are annoying and could understandably be considered torture, specifically the Barney & Friends theme song, and the Meow Mix commercial.
Some of the artists who have had their songs used for torture have been very opposed to US foreign policy, especially Rage Against The Machine. In some cases, bands have even sued the US government for using their music in Guantánamo torture. For example, the Canadian electro-industrial band Skinny Puppy famously sued the US government after learning that their music was being used to torture people at Guantanamo Bay.
Below are some of the songs that have been identified most often as being used by the US military in their torture programs.
1. Deicide: **** Your God
2. Dope: Die MF Die, Take Your Best Shot
Bruno Godinho · Dope- Die MotherF*cker Die
3. Eminem: White America, Kim, The Real Slim Shady
Juan Rojo · Good Bye America (Eminem- The Real Slim Shady Remix)
4. Barney & Friends: theme song
SAYMYNAME · Barney Theme Song(SAYMYNAME's Bacon Trap Remix)
5. Drowning Pool: Bodies
6. Metallica: Enter Sandman
Metal Head0 · Metallica - Enter sandman
7. Meow Mix: commercial jingle
Meow Mix Official · Classic Meow Mix Jingle
8. Sesame Street: theme song
Stones · Sesame Street theme song
9. David Gray: Babylon
10. AC/DC: Shoot to Thrill, Hell’s Bells
Bob Spencer Music · Shoot To Thrill - AC:DC
11. Bee Gees: Stayin’ Alive
M-Mars · Bee Gees ♫ Stayin' Alive
12. Tupac: All Eyez On Me
2Pac · All Eyez On Me (ft. Big Syke)
13. Christina Aguilera: Dirrty
Christina Aguilera · Dirrty (feat. Redman)
14. Neil Diamond: America
Neil Diamond · America (From "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack)
15. Rage Against the Machine: unspecified songs
Muggie · Rage Against The Machine - All Songs
16. Don McLean: American Pie
17. Saliva: Click Click Boom
18. Matchbox Twenty: Cold
19. (hed)pe: Swan Dive
(Hed) Planet Earth · Swan Dive
20. Prince: Raspberry Beret
This torture technique is nothing new and has also been used during protests and stand-off situations. In some cases, they don't even use music but instead will just play loud noises on repeat for hours. This is often part of a sleep deprivation strategy, which includes keeping lights on subjects for hours or even days at a time.
When the United States invaded Panama in December 1989, General Noriega took refuge in an embassy on December 24th, which was immediately surrounded by U.S. troops. For about a week, the military blasted rock music, including Van Halen's song "Panama." They also played episodes of The Howard Stern Show for extended periods of time.
Musicians are becoming increasingly frustrated with their music being used by politicians and government agencies. In 2020, a large group of musicians signed a letter asking politicians to stop using their music for campaign rallies and other government purposes, unless they have direct consent from the artist. Torture is technically banned by the Geneva convention, but many governments get around this international law by simply not classifying their actions as torture. This is much the same way that police agencies use weapons on protesters that are capable of killing people, but still refer to them as "less than lethal" weapons.
