Gloomy Sunday
Szomorú Vasárnap, or Gloomy Sunday in English, is a hit song written in 1933 by Hungarian composer Rezső Seress. It’s more commonly known as the Hungarian Suicide song because of hundreds (if not thousands) of suicides that had been inspired by listening to it. The song itself has been has been covered several times, most famously by Billie Holiday, and for the most part is considered an urban legend and a brilliant marketing campaign.
The version that reached radio waves, however, is not the version that was originally written. Rezső Seress originally wrote the song in order to woo his girlfriend, who had recently left him. The song succeeded in bringing them back together for a short time, before she jumped from his apartment window. Rezső had been out at the time. His girlfriend left a note for him—”Szomorú Vasárnap.” The song was changed before release. Rezső Seress himself committed suicide in 1969, jumping out of his window in very much the same manner his girlfriend did.
Posted in Strange & Unknown
October 12th, 2008 at 1:55 am
dude that sucks
October 12th, 2008 at 3:14 am
I don’t get it
October 12th, 2008 at 4:05 am
aha
October 12th, 2008 at 7:12 am
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Qaa4GDBr0k&feature=related
I guess that’s the song the pasta means. (Starts at 1:20)
October 12th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I think it was all just because of the depression during that time, not the song. The song only provoked it.
Sunday, Gloomy Sunday.
October 12th, 2008 at 7:53 am
This is why we should all be listening to wholesome, Christian music, like Norma Jean.
October 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Very well known urban legend, been around for ages now. Whether there is any truth behind it or not it is a very sad song
IMO this is the best version of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QAqJAfBjN8
October 12th, 2008 at 8:44 am
It’s an awesome piece of music. I have the Diamanda Galas version (the creepy one, lolz) on my iPod.
October 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
SUNDAYROLLED!
October 12th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I’m still alive after hearing it
October 12th, 2008 at 10:11 am
The song makes me sad.. But not suicidal.
Oh lookie here! The lyrics are translated to English! :
Sunday is gloomy
My hours are slumberless
Dearest the shadows
I live with are numberless
Little white flowers
Will never awaken you
Not where the black coach
Of sorrow has taken you
Angels have no thought
Of ever returning you
Would they be angry
If I thought of joining you
Gloomy Sunday
Sunday is gloomy
With shadows I spend it all
My heart and I have decided
To end it all
Soon there’ll be flowers and prayers
That are said I know
But let them not weep
Let them know
That I’m glad to go
Death is no dream
For in death I’m caressing you
With the last breath of my soul
I’ll be blessing you
Gloomy Sunday
Dreaming
I was only dreaming
I wake and I find you asleep
In the deep of my heart dear
Darling I hope
That my dream never haunted you
My heart is telling you
How much I wanted you
Gloomy Sunday
Gloomy Sunday
October 12th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I should have included the English link.. Just in case any of you are like me and are curious to know what its saying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hRRIsMNlEY
October 12th, 2008 at 10:19 am
True story yoh. Sheet music can be obtained online.
October 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am
This story actually DOES have some grain(s) of truth to it. See the Wikipedia article; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloomy_Sunday
October 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
The song is creepy, but I’ve yet to kill myself from listening to it! I like the Bjork version.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
this ones also nice:)
October 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I remember reading about this online a few weeks ago
October 12th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Here’s the song that makes you commit suicide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edaJP3Lp0Gg
October 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
It was alright, but I find it hard to believe that a song could drive thousands to suicide.
The one thing that bugs me is the last sentence. How many different ways can you jump from a window?
October 12th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
>.>; *yawn*
October 12th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I have this song on my i-pod. Really.
I’ve never felt like committing suicide over it, but I still like the myths behind the song!
October 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
well…that was bloody morbid =\
October 12th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
A very timely Sunday post.
If you’re in the mood for cheering up, a bunch of versions can be found here, including the one by Billie Holiday:
http://thetorturegarden.blogspot.com/2007/07/gloomy-sunday.html
October 12th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
This sort of reminds me of a similar scene in A Clockwork Orange.
October 12th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
BEWARE! After listening to this song you will DIE…within 50 years or so, give or take.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Artie Shaw’s got the best version of the song.
October 13th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
@Horst- The music at the beginning of that video freaked me out more than the actual song.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Hollaback Girl has this same effect.
October 20th, 2008 at 5:18 am
This is a true story. I’m not sure where or when this happened, but I’m told it’s true:
A man was walking down the street and heard a beggar humming Gloomy Sunday. He immediately gave the begger all of his possessions and jumped off a bridge to his death.
http://www.freewebs.com/qitranscripts/405.htm
November 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
lol @ 29
The image is dissettling to look at. But other than that the song is quite normal. I don’t feel any bad vibes other than the way he is staring at me.