The Hungarian suicide song

[Fausto]

There's a movie I just put on my netflix cue called "Gloomy Sunday." Its a german film from 1999, based around a urban legend of the supposed "Hungarian Suicide song". According to what I've read, the song was written in 1933 and supposedly was so depressing that it inspired several real-life suicides. It is one of the few urban myths that can actually be traced back to an original source, though none of the info from that time that could prove or disprove the myth still exists. Reguardless, the film (a drama as opposed to a horror movie) is said to be very good, and in fact is famous for playing to packed houses and for record periods of time. Has anybody seen it yet? What did you think?   

[D-Man]

I think I heard a recording of Sinead O Connor singing this once...it had the same title anyway. 

I'm surprised she didn't off herself immediately after singing it, seeing as how she's been in disarray ever since she decided to rip up a picture of the pope. 

[Fausto]

I think I heard a recording of Sinead O Connor singing this once...it had the same title anyway. 

Yeah, she did cover it. Actually there have been a ton of covers, mostly due to the popularity of the myth. Bjork did a cover, Elvis Costello did a cover, Sarah Mclachlin, a bunch of other people.....the most famous is the original Billie Holiday cover, although the ending of her version - and thus, most of the covers since - was changed to make the lyrics less pessimistic.

[Fausto]

Finally got this one from netflix. Good movie, kind of a chick flick, but still a good movie. What I learned from Gloomy Sunday:

* Meat rolls are a necessary part of any war effort

* Hot women are aparently such a rarity in Hungary that men who have them are willing to share

* Saving the life of a Nazi is a bad idea, especially if you are Jewish

* Listening to depressing music can be hazardous to your health

* Never p**s off the chef