The Hungarian Suicide Song

"Gloomy Sunday" is a song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933, as "Vége a világnak" ("End of the world"). Lyrics were written by László Jávor, and in his version the song was retitled "Szomorú vasárnap" ("Sad Sunday"). The song was first recorded in Hungarian by Pál Kalmár in 1935. His version immediately became popular in Hungary, but became associated with a high number of suicides, reportedly including that of Jávor's ex-fiancee, and several people who jumped into the Danube holding copies of the sheet music.



It became well known throughout much of the English-speaking world after the release of a version by Billie Holiday in 1941. Lewis's lyrics referred to suicide, and the record label described it as the "Hungarian Suicide Song". There is a recurring urban legend that claims that many people committed suicide with this song playing. The BBC banned Billie Holiday's version of the song from being broadcast, as being detrimental to wartime morale, but allowed performances of instrumental versions. However, there is little evidence of any other radio bans; the BBC's ban was lifted by 2002.



Όσοι μεγάλοι και σπουδαίοι κι αν το έχουν πει, βεβαίως η καλύτερη εκτέλεση παραμένει αυτή της αγαπημένης μας Διαμαντώς.



Αν θες πάντως να εντρυφήσεις ακόμα περισσότερο, υπάρχει και η ομώνυμη ουγγρική ταινία: Budapest in the thirties. The restaurant owner Laszlo hires the pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona who inspires András to his only composition. His song of Gloomy Sunday is, at first, loved and then feared, for its melancholic melody triggers off a chain of suicides. The fragile balance of the erotic ménage à trois is sent off kilter when the German Hans goes and falls in love with Ilona as well. (Πάρ' την από εδώ)

Και επειδή ο μύθος συνεχίζεται, η Bjork το τραγούδησε στην κηδεία του Alexander McQueen. Και επειδή σίγουρα σε έχει πάρει από κάτω και θέλεις να κόψεις τις φλέβες σου, βάλε λίγο μπιτάκι να ισιώσεις. (Και όλα αυτά ξεκίνησαν επειδή πέτυχα μια διασκευή του Matt Elliott στο youtube.)