# Help the US military more effective wager psychological warfare: pick the music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824 "2004-11-27T02:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/1 "2004-11-27T02:24:39Z")
The scenario: One of Osama bin Laden’s most trusted henchmen is holed up in an Afghanistan cave and won’t come out. The US military, believing he has valuable information, doesn’t want to kill him–not just yet. As a trusted (and highly paid) Pentagon consultant, you’ve been asked to design a psychological warfare operation that will drive the SOB out of the cave and begging to be taken prisoner. Your job: pick the music line-up that will weaken his resistance, play with his mind, and ultimately break him. Real albums or no, the choice is yours. Carnac’s Magic Pix (I suck but will give it a whirl): 1. Debbie Boone “You Light Up My Life” 2. “American Idol Goes Disco, Volume 5” 3. Kenny G and Michael Bolton: Duets 4. Anything by KC and the Sunshine Band 5. The Monkeys Unplugged Your turn. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/2 "2004-11-27T02:26:05Z")
**Help the US military more effectively wage psychological warfare: pick the music** :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/3 "2004-11-27T02:30:19Z")
“IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIiiiIIIIII will always luuuuurve youuuuuUUuUuUUUUUU”… That’d have me surrendering in seconds. Although it’s great fun, I suspect the Beach Boys _Pet Sounds_ would be pretty unbearable on the seventy-second consecutive hearing. And maybe specially prepared looped tapes, to take you through the classic crooner gear-change modulations, over and over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/4 "2004-11-27T02:41:41Z")
Anything by Don “No Soul” Simmons. Yup, that’d do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/5 "2004-11-27T02:44:48Z")
It’s A Small World After Aaaalll, It’s A Small World After Aaaalll, It’s A Small World After Aaaalll, It’s a Small, Small world… ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/6 "2004-11-27T03:11:30Z")
“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard and they’re like, it’s better than yours hell right, it’s better than yours I could teach you, but I’d have to charge.” I actually liked this song the first time I heard it. It’s good in small doses. But I think it would become a very dangerous psychological weapon after the fiftieth straight replay. Also, “Chopsticks.” ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/7 "2004-11-27T03:16:14Z")
**Believe** by Cher. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/8 "2004-11-27T03:21:11Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > **Believe** by Cher. Re-read the OP - he said the military doesn’t want to kill him yet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/9 "2004-11-27T03:25:17Z")
This is the song that never ends… It just goes on and on, my friend… ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/10 "2004-11-27T03:27:21Z")
You might as well break out the “big guns”, the Bee Gee’s “Shadow Dancing” on repeat should be VERY effective. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/11 "2004-11-27T03:29:26Z")
[Today’s Billboard Top 40 Tracks](http://www.billboard.com/bb/charts/airplay/adult.jsp). ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/12 "2004-11-27T03:38:55Z")
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train. The 97th time he hears those guys babble about fried chicken and soy lattes, he’ll be compelled to run out of the cave with an axe and smash the speakers to bits. Just be ready with a tazer or something and you’re all set. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/13 "2004-11-27T04:18:37Z")
Amateurs. Put on a rotation of Khanate’s _Things Viral_, Merzbow’s _1930_, Ulver’s _Nattens Madrigal_, Earth’s _Earth 2_ and Anaal Nathrakh’s _The Codex Necro_. Most people wouldn’t even make it through one cycle. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/14 "2004-11-27T04:21:09Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > You might as well break out the “big guns”, the Bee Gee’s “Shadow Dancing” on repeat should be VERY effective. [nitpick]_Shadow Dancing_ was done by Andy Gibb, not the Bee Gee’s. Although I think they did do some backing vocals on it. [/nitpick] And, doggone it, why do so many people have it in for the Bee Gees? They’ve done some wonderful music. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/15 "2004-11-27T05:08:19Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > [nitpick]_Shadow Dancing_ was done by Andy Gibb, not the Bee Gee’s. Although I think they did do some backing vocals on it. [/nitpick] And, doggone it, why do so many people have it in for the Bee Gees? They’ve done some wonderful music. Wonderful music? You have a career is PsyOps, my friend. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/16 "2004-11-27T05:10:38Z")
Two words: Wayne Newton Wait, hold the press: William Shatner ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/17 "2004-11-27T05:16:24Z")
Celine Dion, _My Heart Will Go On (My Voice Sinks Boats)_ ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/18 "2004-11-27T05:25:35Z")
Joy Division if you want to give him nightmares. (Now don’t get me wrong, I like Joy Division, but I can’t count the number of times I’ve had nightmares related to their songs.) Otherwise, I’ve got a CD of Pat Boone singing heavy metal classics… ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/19 "2004-11-27T05:59:59Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > “IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIiiiIIIIII will always luuuuurve youuuuuUUuUuUUUUUU”… > > That’d have me surrendering in seconds. Surrendering? Psshaw. I’d be slitting my throat after I slit both my wrists before she even gets to “will”! And why don’t we have a damn pukey smiley yet??? :mad: My secondary picks (although completely unnecessary with **GorillaMan** ’s pick above): **Bananaphone** , Raffi **Achy Breaky Heart** , Billy Ray Sucksass **Party All the Time** , Eddie “Shoulda Stuck to Acting/Obscene Comedy” Murphy ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824/20 "2004-11-27T06:00:39Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Wonderful music? You have a career is PsyOps, my friend. 😉 Not likely. You have to get people to believe what you want them to, after all, and I seem to be failing miserably here. 😉 And I never said _all_ their music was wonderful, but they have put out some very good stuff. I like it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-us-military-more-effective-wager-psychological-warfare-pick-the-music/276824.md?page=2)