Laura Wright 
Gloomy Sunday is called the “Hungarian Suicide Song,” but is this a marketing ploy, or something more?
Accusing music of foul influences is not a new trend. Songs have been maligned and ridiculed for as long as we’ve enjoyed music. Most have been needlessly defamed, but some do make us question. This song, however, is blamed by many for at least 19 suicides.
Gloomy Sunday was originally created by Hungarian composer Rezs? Seress in 1933. In Hungarian, the title was End of the World. The lyrics came along shortly after, by László Jávor, who changed the title to Sad Sunday. The song was not recorded until 1935, when Pál Kalmár sang for the first recording.
The song Gloomy Sunday was recorded in English in 1936. The men responsible for the English lyrics and translation were Hal Kemp, Sam M. Lewis, Paul Robeson, and Desmond Carter. The song became fairly popular, but Billie Holiday’s version in 1941 really made it successful.
The English lyrics, as created by Lewis, referred to the act of suicide and the record label added Hungarian Suicide Song onto the title.
The Hungarian tune continued to remain popular, but a sinister trend emerged. It became associated with many suicides. It is also suggested that Jávor’s ex-fiancee was among those who flung themselves into the Danube, clutching the sheet music for the song. Rumors also stated the Hungarian authorities banned all public performances of the song, due to the rise in suicides.
As it gained infamy, the song gained popularity. It was soon translated into Russian, French, and Japanese by 1936. There are many legends of suicides and radio stations refusing to play the song, but it’s difficult to authenticate such claims.
From general press information, this song was associated with 19 suicides in Hungary and America during the 1930s. This is where the legend begins. Many suspect the figures are actually just the Hungarian suicides that occurred during the decade. Some believe it’s merely a coincidence as Hungary had such rampant poverty and famine during this era. No scholarly or formal studies were ever conducted to verify any of the claims.
Another incredible coincidence is that the song’s original composer, Rezs? Seress, committed suicide in 1968. It had been nearly 4 decades since he authored the piece. He tried flinging himself out of a window in Budapest, but survived. He then choked himself in the hospital with a piece of wire.
Billlie Holiday’s version of Gloomy Sunday was banned by the BBC during the war, but allowed instrumental versions. The ban was lifted in 2002. The BBC stated the song was damaging to morale during war.
More on Gloomy Sunday:
- Gloomy Sunday was featured in the Discovery Channel’s Dark Matters: Twisted But True.
- Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod was a German film in 1999 that discussed the song’s origins.
- The Kovak Box was a 2006 film that also utilized the song.
Are you brave enough to listen?
