Hello friends! In today’s “Around the world” series, we will visit the European country Hungary and will learn about a creepy story of a song called “Gloomy Sunday.”
The poet with a broken heart
The year was 1935, a somber Sunday veiled in clouds. László Jávor, a Hungarian poet, felt an urge to craft a song for his lost love. Inspired by Rezső Seress’s (Hungarian pianist and composer) song “Vége a világnak”, which means “The world is ending”, Jávor penned his own version named “Szomorú vasárnap,” which means, “Sad Sunday”, channeling the pain of his loss and the urge for self-destruction.
The theme of Jávor’s version, describes the protagonist’s pain as he wants to end his life following his lover’s death. Recorded in Hungarian, the song gained popularity, but fate had a cruel twist. Jávor wouldn’t have thought that for whom the song had been written would say goodbye to him forever. Jávor’s former beloved bid a final farewell through suicide after the song’s release, leaving behind a note echoing “Gloomy Sunday.” But at this time who would know, this incident is just a prelude to a series of countless ominous events that were going to happen in the future.
The Gloomy Sunday
Then in 1936, an English rendition titled “Gloomy Sunday” emerged. This version of the song was recorded by Hal Kemp, and penned by Sam M. Lewis. Linked to the song were whispers of suicides, fueling an urban legend. The record label described the song as the “Hungarian Suicide Song”. Later in 1941, the song became an instant hit in English-speaking society when Billie Holiday sang it.
After the release of the song, many people noticed there had been an increment in the number of suicides. Reportedly, over 200 deaths globally were tied to the haunting melody of “Gloomy Sunday”, with chilling incidents reinforcing its ominous reputation.
According to some stories, a government official, was found slumped over the lyrics of Gloomy Sunday, ending his life soon after this song’s release.
Another tale narrates a girl found attempting suicide by trying to poison herself with the song playing on the gramophone in her room.
Shockingly, a young man publicly took his life when a band performed the Gloomy Sunday tune in a Budapest restaurant.
The eerie incidents cast a dark shadow, leading to bans on public performances. The BBC and Hungarian government took action due to the escalating tragedies. Yet, the most tragic was Rezső Seress’s fate. In 1968, haunted by his creation, he met a similar end, perpetuating the song’s haunting legacy.
“Gloomy Sunday” stands as a chilling reminder of its creator’s tragic burden, casting a haunting spell that remains unparalleled in the realm of music history.
Despite its unsettling and eerie nature, the haunting reality persisted, casting a chilling shadow of truth.
The eerie incidents cast a dark shadow, leading to bans on public performances. The BBC and Hungarian government took action due to the escalating tragedies.
Yet, the most tragic was Rezső Seress’s fate. In 11th January 1968, a Hungarian man jumped to his death from the eighth floor of a building. Everyone got stunned when they got to know that, It was Rezső Seress, the original songwriter. It is said, haunted by his creation, Rezső held himself guilty throughout his life for writing this song. Finally he met a similar end, perpetuating the song’s haunting legacy. Ironically the writer has never been able to write another hit after “Gloomy Sunday’.
“Gloomy Sunday” still stands as a chilling reminder of its creator’s tragic burden, casting a haunting spell that remains unparalleled in the realm of music history.