Can you name this song?
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SporksAgainstForks commented 49s ago"Same search: https://www.watzatsong.com/en/name-that-tune/799528.html"
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Kirbman commented 7min ago"Wow, you can remember the first century? You must be very old."
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julombie commented 7min ago"My pleasure 😄"
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LePetitDeL'époque answered 12min agoTodd Wolf Band - Light of Day
G23M08
49 days ago
wtz_fan
51 days ago
AxelBR
* Introduction. That is my two cents.
* Part 1 of 12: A recap. That is what we know.
* Part 2 of 12: The MTS pilot
* Part 3 of 12: Connection Europa
* Part 4 of 12: The power grid harmonics
* Part 5 of 12: I want my MTV
* Part 6 of 12: The 'Daria' series - Get out of my neck!
* Part 7 of 12: Daria Soundtrack
* Part 8 of 12: The Daria-Spice Girls Theory
* Part 9 of 12: The Duran Duran Version (low speed)
* Part 10 of 12: The Alvin Version (high speed)
* Part 11 of 12: The Lyrics
* Part 12 of 12: Authenticity
* Summary: Heuristic Conclusions
Introduction. That is my two cents.
As Michael Corleone said: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"
Two events caused a stir on the Internet on December 1st, 2023:
* The date was the deadline for Google to delete inactive Gmail accounts;
* On the same date, WhatZatSong (WZS) sent an email to its community - "Join the Global Hunt: Help Uncover the Mystery Pop Song!" - calling for participation in this thread.
In an attempt to recover the Gmail account with more than 15 thousand new emails in the Inbox, in a good part of such emails, the sender was WZS - and for some reason, a single email in spam was the "Global Hunt" email from WZS.
It has rekindled curiosity about WZS's activities. After successfully recovering all Gmail accounts, it was possible to dedicate some time to researching this enigma without necessarily presenting a solution, instead presenting some help to the community by compiling more credible information. This is the reason for this comment.
Part 1 of 12: A recap. That is what we know.
The original poster that ignited this riddle is @carl92 on October 2021, maybe between the 5th and 7th.
But this was not the first post generated by @carl92.
On August 10, 2017, a sample of the song "Sinking Stone" by the band Souvenir was posted and answered on the same day by @sadtoon.
Souvenir is an indie pop/electropop band formed in 1999 in Pamplona, Spain - and "Sinking Stone" was released in 2011.
These are the most relevant comments posted by @carl92 sorted chronologically:
1. "that's all I have. I don't remember its origin."
2. "I rediscovered this sample among many old files in a DVD backup."
3. "I was learning audio capture, and this was a leftover."
4. "it sounds somewhat familiar to me (or maybe I'm mistaken with a similar song)."
5. "I thought it wasn't a too obscure one."
6. "I tried in www.aha-music.com "
7. https://voca.ro/1gmRXbzDCSV8
8. "It could be from the 90s but not from the 00s because the file is from 1999 (date in the filesystem)."
9. "There are other audio files in other directories,..."
10. "but they are not related to this file."
11. "I think this song isn't going to be identified, but it's OK. I'm not obsessed with it..."
12. "it sounded like a typical popular 80s song."
13. "I insist on the 80s because, in particular, the clap-like sound on 3rd second reminds me of two mid-80s songs: Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face" and John Farnham's "You're the Voice."
14. "It seems with this song the lyrics route doesn't lead to anywhere."
15. "I'm from Spain."
16. "almost any station could have aired it... But they usually play hits, popular music, and it seems this is an obscure song."
17. "I can't say for sure it was recorded from radio because I don't remember its origin."
18. "It sounds like a typical pop song."
19. "I would say almost any station could have aired it."
20. "I can't say for sure it was recorded from radio because I don't remember its origin;"
21. "I've lost interest in the song... I'm not checking this often."
22. "I don't remember the source of the file."
23. "I would take a look at the cassettes I had back then,"
24. "but I don't have them anymore."
25. "English singing bands in Spain are rare,"
26. "more so in the eighties."
In December 2021, @carl92 posted a last message not comfortable revealing more details about the location where the sample recording happened.
This information could help to identify a local TV/FM station.
The WZS member @carl92 abandoned the thread, leaving spam proposals without rejection.
There are some clues, but we can't confirm them all. What we are supposed to know.
Part 2 of 12: The MTS pilot
Some people analyzed the 17.25-second snippet and found the 15.73427 kHz (9/572 MHz M/N based) H/1H pilot signal for Multichannel Television Sound (MTS) audio.
The MTS is a method to add three more audio channels to the old monoaural audio on Systems M and N using empty portions of the television signal.
The MTS allowed up to a total of four audio channels.
The most common application was to broadcast two stereo (L+R) channels.
Optionally, the third audio channel is for the Second Audio Program (SAP) to broadcast other languages or stress alerts accessed through the SAP button on the remote control.
The fourth PRO channel was only used by the broadcasters.
The MTS was developed by the American industry group Broadcast Television Systems Committee (BTSC) to attend mainly the American continent market:
1. From North America to Northern and Western regions of South America, including Canada, United States, Mexico, and Central America: NTSC-M - where Canada, United States and Mexico adopted the MTS feature;
2. Eastern regions of South America: Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay with PAL-N, Brazil with PAL-M - where Argentina and Brazil both adopted the MTS feature;
3. Most of, if not all, these countries have the mains electricity frequency at 60 Hz (US standard);
Part 3 of 12: Connection Europa
Europe was a more complex issue: European countries adopted the PAL System, and the exceptions were France and the former Soviet Union countries adopting SECAM.
However, due to protective standards for the national industry, there were a lot of system variations, mainly on frequencies, among these countries:
1. UK and Ireland - PAL-I;
2. Western Europe, including Spain - PAL-B (lower band) and -G (higher band);
3. France and Monaco - SECAM-L;
4. Eastern Europe (most of) - PAL-D (lower band) and -K (higher band);
5. Former URSS countries - SECAM-D (lower band) and -K (higher band);
6. Most of, if not all, these countries, including Spain, have the mains electricity frequency at 50 Hz (British standard) - contrary to those mentioned by @AesterDrees.
Few countries in the world have both frequencies (50 and 60 Hz):
1. Japan (Asia): 60 Hz from South to Tokyo and 50 Hz from Tokyo to North;
2. Saudi Arabia (Asia);
3. (British) Guyana (South America): conversion to 60 Hz ongoing;
4. Liberia (Africa);
5. North Korea (Asia).
This is a challenge for the Spanish TV Recording Theory if the MTS pilot signal information is correct.
The same applies to MTV Europe, which has been forced to re-broadcast via local TV stations in several European countries.
Before leaving the thread, @carl92 made the original 17.25-second sample available at the Vocaroo site:
https://vocaroo.com/1gmRXbzDCSV8
Using the Audacity software with spectrographic analysis, it is possible to confirm the MTS H/1H pilot signal is there (15734 Hz) at -51.1 dB level.
So, it is a System -M (or -N) original recording made for MTS compliance TV broadcast:
1. No 19 kHz pilot: it is not an FM radio recording - this signal is a standard worldwide for FM broadcasting;
2. There is also a level drop for frequencies of 16 kHz and above - meaning the source of the recording was regular TV audio channels ranging from 50 Hz to 15 kHz - SAP channels (60 Hz to 12 kHz) were not used;
3. The absence of other pilot signals is also revealing if we make some assumptions:
a. Spain is the correct location;
b. The PAL-M/N MTS H/H1 pilot signal is present;
c. A Spanish PAL-B/G TV set was unable to filter out an MTS H/H1 pilot with a frequency different from the expected one - the pilot signal was considered part of the audio;
d. Then, the program source could be a set-top box receiver (cable or satellite, out of Spain standard) sending a PAL-M/N MTS pilot to a TV set not fully complied - it reinforces the International TV/MTV Europe Theory;
Part 4 of 12: The power grid harmonics
Knowing the frequency of the power grid is helpful since the humming it causes can be detected in the recording, adding more details to the original location.
The Audacity has a Filter Curve EQ tool and a Nyquist Measure RMS Analyzer - they are used to make a selective narrow band around the 50 Hz and 60 Hz frequencies - the set-top boxes have switched power supplies with filtering on these frequencies, so it is necessary to measure higher harmonics, and these are the results:
a. 100 Hz (H1 of 50 Hz): -40 dB RMS, diff: +5 dB RMS;
b. 120 Hz (H1 of 60 Hz): -45 dB RMS, freq. diff: +20 Hz;
c. 150 Hz (H2 of 50 Hz): -38 dB RMS, diff: +11 dB RMS;
d. 180 Hz (H2 of 60 Hz): -49 dB RMS, freq. diff: +30 Hz;
e. 200 Hz (H3 of 50 Hz): -46 dB RMS, diff: +3 dB RMS;
f. 240 Hz (H3 of 60 Hz): -49 dB RMS, freq. diff: +40 Hz;
The differences of 5 dB more for the 50 Hz H1 harmonic and 11 dB more for the 50 Hz H2 harmonic (with triple the frequency, 150 Hz, mainly due to the harmonics of the three-phase grid) are indications, but not conclusive evidence of a 50 Hz supply, which reinforces the theory of the European power grid, including Spain.
Instrumental sound and the human voice would not be able to maintain such a level distinction in such a narrow frequency bandwidth (from 20 Hz to 40 Hz) because their waveforms generate a lot of harmonics.
Part 5 of 12: I want my MTV
MTV Europe officially launched in August 1987 as part of the worldwide MTV network, served all regions of Europe, being one of the few TV channels focused on the entire European market:
* 1987 - 5 countries;
* 1988 - 10 countries;
* 1992 - 28 countries;
* 1994 - 36 countries;
From 1997 to 2001, MTV Networks Europe began to open local divisions of the MTV channel in some countries.
In September 2000, i.e., after the sample recording, according to @carl92, the network launched MTV España but broadcasts from London, UK.
Part 6 of 12: The 'Daria' series - Get out of my neck!
The animated series 'Daria' was released on MTV at the time: it ran from March 1997 to January 2002 on MTV network.
The entire series had 65 episodes in 5 seasons, and from March 1997 to August 1999, MTV aired the first 39 episodes in 3 seasons.
S: Season; Ep: Episodes; 1st: First aired; Lst: Last aired.
S: Pilot; Ep: 1; 1st: Unaired.
S: 1; Ep: 13; 1st: March 3, 1997; Lst: July 21, 1997.
S: 2; Ep: 13; 1st: February 16, 1998; Lst: August 3, 1998.
S: 3; Ep: 13; 1st: February 17, 1999; Lst: August 18, 1999.
The 'Daria' series had considerable importance for the music market because MTV mixed famous pop artists with groups and bands still unknown to the public for promotion.
Part 7 of 12: Daria Soundtrack
These are the characteristics of the 'Daria' soundtrack:
1. In 1997, MTV was in search of an unknown band for the adult animated sitcom 'Daria' theme song;
2. The best example was Daria's theme song ("You're Standing on My Neck") written and performed by Splendora, an American all-female alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1993 - the band released one studio album, In the Grass (1995), before disbanding in 2002;
3. The information that "the show had no original score" is not entirely correct:
a. MTV asked Splendora to write and record a theme song for the show;
b. Splendora created original themes for the two Daria TV movies and some background music;
c. Splendora recorded a demo, building these songs around phrases the producers asked them to include in the lyrics;
d. The song titled "You're Standing on My Neck" (by Splendora) was chosen as the show's theme, with elements of the song acting as incidental music for the show;
e. The characters also sang original songs with lyrics related to the episode's story, similar to American musical films;
4. More than 600 pop songs in Daria's soundtrack sourced the incidental music - most (but not all) were contemporary, without many relations to the series' script or characters - of which 538 songs are listed on the 'Daria' soundtrack playlist on YouTube by FRIGUYZERO:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzRbLHpJu9K0M8KBFaKKYBRMginu2rNl5
5. Another 89 songs had their videos blocked or removed for various reasons;
6. Plus an estimated 20 other completely unknown unreleased songs, or "white tracks" (songs whose copyrights are sold by the artist to a Company or Producer) without any video produced or posted anywhere;
7. The second group that had the most songs included in the 'Daria' soundtrack, after Splendora, is also an all-women group (formed in 1994) - pop songs with simple lyrics, British accent, excessive participation of back voices, and themes related to the desire for romance, celebration of love and justification of separation through criticism of the partner (does this ring any bells?): the Spice Girls;
Part 8 of 12: The Daria-Spice Girls Theory
It is precisely the last item that reinforces the idea of a demo or song not being released for commercial reasons due to the critical negativity of the lyrics (see below) - not being able to be used in commercials or advertisements for Saleen cars, makeup products, or whatever.
Who would like to purchase any products related to a partner's cheating?
There is a possibility that the song sampled by @carl92 is performed by the Spice Girls or a similar group.
The acoustic perception that the backing voices in the sample are no more than three female individuals fits with the fact that Geri Halliwell left the group in mid-1998 for some time.
One of the theories is that the original recording would be among the 100 songs without video from the 'Daria' soundtrack that was not allowed to be distributed due to lack of marketing.
It was probably used in an episode that contained a betrayal or in some advertisement for the series for a short period before its distribution was banned.
Allow me to dub the version posted by @carl92 as the "Spice Girls version."
Part 9 of 12: The Duran Duran Version (low speed)
To understand English lyrics better and to reduce the noise at high frequencies - after many filtering and noise remotion procedures - Audacity allowed to set the playback speed to 0.8 (80% of the original) exactly.
That was a surprise: the voice, rhythm, tempo, and pitch sounded like the Princess of Wales Diana's favorite band: the
Duran Duran - it seems the band was singing one of their typical songs.
The song title "Ulterior Motives" also seems compatible with something produced by this British band.
However, Duran Duran is known for its inquisitive and even political lyrics, which do not match the lyrics of the sample.
I dubbed this 0.8-slow version as the "Duran Duran version."
Part 10 of 12: The Alvin Version (high speed)
In the @carl92 sample, the lead singer fades out her voice at the end of the verses, making many syllables lower tone (bass) and covered by instrumental and noise.
To solve this issue, Audacity allowed to increase the playback speed to 1.2 (20% faster than the original) - the faster version was dubbed as the "Alvin version" (Alvin, the squirrel) - but it is possible to understand the last syllables of each sentence in a higher pitch, and notice the British accent pronunciation of the verses.
Part 11 of 12: The Lyrics
Song: Everyone knows that (or 'Ulterior motives' - unknown title)
LS: Lead Singer (female, unknown) - BV: Back Vocals (females)
[LS] You're carrying all these shames in disguise.
[LS] Caught up in a world of lies.
[BV] Everyone knows that!
[LS] You've got... [BV] ulterior motives.
[LS] Tell me the truth!
[BV] Every move shows...['That' or 'it' are the best guesses]
Apparently, the "lead singer" was cheated on by her partner.
And "everyone" knew that.
Her friends, her neighbors, her colleagues... All of them knew that - and they are represented by the back vocals.
Until she finally finds out and demands the truth from her partner.
Every betrayal of his is a shame he carries in a disguise that forces him to lie constantly to her, surrounding her in a world of illusions.
He has second intentions (ulterior motives) for her: sex, money, or whatever - but not necessarily love. He cannot hide it from her anymore.
It doesn't make much sense "to count sheep in the sky," an attitude that somebody else could demand the truth from the "counter."
Part 12 of 12: Authenticity
No offense whatsoever to @carl92, but the idea of a fake sample to gain notoriety on WZS and the Internet may also cross our minds.
All you need to do is have access to a recording of an unreleased or unknown song produced by a male band like Duran Duran or similar and use Audacity to speed up playback by 25% (1.25) to get the performance of a fictional female group to leave the entire audience lost.
But not so fast! We must remember that any change in the speed of the audio file would also change the tone frequency of the MTS pilot signal - which is precisely located at 15734 Hz in the snippet provided by @carl92.
The MTS pilot frequency can be used as an authenticator of this recording.
The same happens for the highest harmonics of 50 Hz, mainly the triple frequency one that suggests the three-phase distribution of the European power grid. All of them would also be changed.
If anyone is interested in studying the lyrics in a more detailed way - no noise, no instrumentals:
Download the best MP3 version of isolated vocals available to the public:
"(Possibly?) One of the Best "Ulterior Motives" Isolated Vocals from the Sample"
Posted by Wulahbee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Eh8IUQIog
This version, which I named Wulahbee-Y, can be considered an authentic remaster of @carl92's sample.
Using Audacity, it was possible to synchronize both without generating duplicate voices.
On August 21, 2023, @flfl2209, using a web development tool, found that the @carl92 file (1999) was last modified on '17-May-1998 - 3:00 GMT', giving a more precise time limit for the 17.25-second recording before backed up to a 1999 DVD. This piece of information reinforces the authenticity of the recording.
We could take the date found by @flfl2209 as the date of digitization of the audio file. Apparently, @carl92 was eager to convert his analog music collection to digital at 3am - Spain has the same GMT as London. This also indicates that recording may have occurred well before digitization.
Either @carl92's audio file is authentic, or we are all facing the most elaborate hoax of 2021 and in the entire history of WhatZatSong.
What is your opinion?
Summary: Heuristic Conclusions
Origin:
* High Probability: Europe - supported by MTS pilot signal, 50 Hz harmonics, PAL-B/G TV set considerations, and MTV Europe broadcast range.
* Medium Probability: Spain - further supported by Carl92's location and time range, "Spanish" TV recording theory, and spectrographic analysis.
* Low Probability: North/South America - unlikely due to incompatible power grid frequencies and MTS pilot absence.
Song Identity:
* High Probability: Female band from the late 90s - backed by Daria soundtrack theme song history, Spice Girls characteristics, and vocal analysis.
* Medium Probability: Spice Girls - supported by vocal style, potential MTV connection, and lyrical theme (Daria soundtrack link).
* Medium Probability: Unreleased/unknown artist - possible but less likely given lack of contextual evidence.
* Low Probability: Duran Duran - it is plausible due to genre, band popularity, and pitch-shifted tempo alignment.
* Probable Insight: Lyric analysis ("Ulterior Motives" version) suggests themes of betrayal or hidden intentions.
Record Source:
* High Probability: TV recording - suggested by MTS pilot, audio spectrum, and lack of 19 kHz FM pilot.
* Medium Probability: Set-top box output - potentially explaining non-standard MTS pilot and compatibility issues.
* Low Probability: Radio recording - unlikely due to missing FM pilot and narrow audio range.
Authenticity:
* Carl92's file modification date (May 17, 1998) strengthens recording authenticity.
* Authenticity is supported by consistent evidence regardless of speed manipulation (MTS pilot, harmonics).
Further development:
* Aggressive reactions are possible with any conclusions; remaining objective and encouraging collaborative investigation might be the best approach.
* Remember: These are probabilities based on available evidence, not definitive answers. The mystery remains open for further exploration by the WZS community.
I wish you all the best. Happy hunting. Happy New Year.
91 days ago