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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 2, 2005 16:42:09 GMT
Oddly enough WotW never scared me that much. I was more scared by some of the other books I devoured. This is a completely true story... I had a book when I was a kid called 'Supernatural World' (Usborne 1979). I used to read incessantly it's storys of 'true' tales of Vampires, Werewolves, Ghosts and all that stuff. It was packed with great lurid illustrations by people such as Oliver Frey (readers of 80's/90's UK computer mags such a Zapp64 will have seen his work) and it used to terrify me but I couldn't stop reading it. I lost it many years ago but, oddly enough, about a year ago I remembered it with much fondness and wished I could read it again. The very next day I was passing through a second hand book stall, having forgotten about it again, and there, on top of a pile was.. yep. The book. Fifty pence later and it now resides in a pride of place on my bookshelves. Coincidence or something more sinister?
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BiG_ReD
Junior Member
Destroyer of worlds, Baker of cookies
Posts: 28
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Post by BiG_ReD on Mar 3, 2005 1:27:04 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Well I'll be damned. I knew other people must have been scared by War of the Worlds as little kids, but I didn't think anybody had similar experiences to my own. I've been reading here for awhile, but now have decided to become a member and contribute a bit. Well... here goes...
My father used to play it loud with the windows down on the long trip through the bush in the car that we used to take every month or so (he lived in a different part of the country to me, and had to visit by car.
There were a few old water towers that they used to use for trains and trucks out there.
They didn't help!
Afterwards, I used to have nightmares, couldn't look at the CD cover or any of the artwork, or be in the house when it was playing.
But I remember, someone once said to me; "the more you know about something, the less you fear it," So I set off to learn as much as I could about Mars and HG Wells' Martians (using mostly the 'net). Now I'm a complete War of the Worlds enthusiast, but that fear still hangs over my shoulder, and I guess now that I'm older, I enjoy visiting the terror that Jeff Wayne made of the scary-to-read-anyway story.
I look forward to jumping at least three feet in the air (hopefully) during the new movies. All three of them.
See you around the boards![/glow]
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Post by Bayne on Mar 3, 2005 9:36:10 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Welcome to posting status BiG_ReD!
Interesting to see someone else using the glow text option. So far I've been the only one to use it much. I remember one member exclaimed that it would give him nightmares when I first started using it LOL.
I remember as a youngster on long train/bus trips staring out the window at the huge high-tension power lines and daydreaming about WotW tripods or The Iron Man (The Iron Giant for those in the U.S.)
Love that 'destroyer of worlds, baker of cookies' line! I wonder whether we could get a martian shaped cookie cutter made?[/glow]
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Post by epicdream on Mar 3, 2005 10:48:39 GMT
Sorry man, cant find the cookie cutter! Going back to an earlier reference of how WOTW affected everyday stuff. Firstly, I couldn't watch "Tripods", never saw it once but I didn't need to really, the comparison was too much for me!!! Also there was a water tower near me, and when there was a storm, I would always think that it would come after me! With reference to other movies, my most favourite paraniod delusional moment is in Raiders Of The Lost Ark (of all films!). I'll tell you the scene. There is a moment during the "digging up of the ark bit" where we cut back to the woman (who had been kidnapped), in the Nazi tent. In the background in the tent there was a mirror, but when the storm starts outside, the mirror becomes sihouetted and reminded me of a fighting machine!!!!!! How messed up is that??!! Ahh deep breaths... feeling much better now, I think I am on these boards exactly for the reason Bayne pointed out in his comments: "...The more you know about something, the less you fear it," Damn right!
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BiG_ReD
Junior Member
Destroyer of worlds, Baker of cookies
Posts: 28
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Post by BiG_ReD on Mar 4, 2005 0:55:09 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Cheers, Bayne! You can't be a Martian enthusiast without glowing red text, eh? Good to find a like-minded Martian Buddy (DOOM 3 anyone?) online. Loved the Supreme Martian Overlord website, btw. During years 10, 11 and 12 (*sigh* all those years ago) my friend and I, every Maths class, added to a comic we simply called 'the Saga,' We were the two stars of the show (in comic form) and the third star was... ...a Martian. He never spoke a word. It was always 'Ulla' in different volumes and lengths, accompanied by a small wodden sign conveying the meaning of his little hoot. Reading your cartoon online brought back some fantastic memories, and I actually went for a dig and found that old comic! Still in it's clear plastic sleeve file! I'd love to put it up here just for a laugh, but I have nowhere to upload it. I s'pose I could scan it @ work and mail it to someone who could put it up, if that's an option. Let me know, eh? Oh, and about the cookie cutter... I'm working on it. [/glow]
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Post by Stuuullaaa on Mar 5, 2005 14:40:03 GMT
I've recently been listening to the highlights version in the car, & I remember when I listened to it for the first time, & jumping out of my skin at the 'Ulla's' at the begining & in the middle of Horsell Common & The Heatray. But I think the 'Ulla's' in the middle of that track is the best & most eeriest ones on the the entire single & double L.P. - i'm sure they weren't used on the double album
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Mar 5, 2005 14:52:06 GMT
I would hazard a guess and say they were, as the double album would feature the voice effect over the music score. The voice you hear on the 'Highlights' is on its own, the second voice is a slowed down version of the one before it. The voice was a simple effect to create back in 1977/78, being put through a electronic instrument called a 'Vocoder', something that is still used today in the studio and on stage. Even the synthesizer I have has a 12 band vocoder and can create some eerie sounds.
The deadly 'Daleks' from DR WHO owe there voice to the vocoder.
H_C
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Post by Stuuullaaa on Mar 5, 2005 14:59:33 GMT
I would hazard a guess and say they were, as the double album would feature the voice effect over the music score. The voice you hear on the 'Highlights' is on its own, the second voice is a slowed down version of the one before it. The voice was a simple effect to create back in 1977/78, being put through a electronic instrument called a 'Vocoder', something that is still used today in the studio and on stage. Even the synthesizer I have has a 12 band vocoder and can create some eerie sounds'. The deadly 'Daleks' from DR WHO owe there voice to the vocoder. H_C E.G. the 'W-W-WHOE, WHOE' bit on Bon Jovi's 'Living on a prayer'.
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Post by Stuuullaaa on Mar 5, 2005 15:06:05 GMT
Horsell, the 'Ulla's' sounds like a 3 or 4 part harmony put through a vocoder. Also in the Artillaryman & the Fighting Machine track, at the end of some 'Ulla's' there is a sound like feedback.
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Post by Bayne on Mar 7, 2005 5:53:28 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Thanks glad you like it.[/glow][glow=red,2,300]I'd love to see them.. try http://www.theimagehosting.com[/glow]
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 7, 2005 17:14:42 GMT
I've always liked the 'Highlights' version of Horsell Common and the Heat Ray too. The extra 'Ulla' and the way the guitar plunges in are great. I always think of 'Highlights' as the first WotW remix album.
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panicinthestreets
New Member
'Then the guns spoke again, but this time, the Heat Ray sent them to oblivion...'
Posts: 4
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Post by panicinthestreets on Mar 7, 2005 18:38:39 GMT
Just before I start to ramble, this is my first post and I have to say I am chuffed that there is a place i can post about my deepest fears lol!
Cheers for making me feel welcome chaps!
Well, my experience with JW WOTW began when I first discovered the LP in my dad's collection when I was 5. I took it to my nan's that afternoon and put it on her 1976 orange record player (which I still use may I add) and I loved it from the start. I listened to it all that day while following the story with the pictures. I found the whole idea deeply fascinating.
This continued for about 3 years, one day I put it on the record player, and opened the booklet at the panic on the streets page, and something click. The two things combined and i was mortally terrified of the whole thing and anything to do with it. I couldnt listen to it and panic in the streets became the thing I was most afraid of.
A few years later, I plucked up the courage to try and appreciate the front cover artwork and took it to school to show everybody, I made a huge fotocopy of the front cover and put it on my wall. That night, the moonlight hit the picture on my wall and I was like, right thats getting taken down right now!
Ive threatened my parents not to go to school unless they threw it out, and I watched it go intot the wheelie before I decided to go. I couldnt understand why I was so scared of it, I just was, and I thought i was some kind of freak for being scared of a picture, but now i know im not the only one!
One night my dad decided he would sketch the front cover, and when I came downstairs I almost didnt make it back up i couldnt believe it was still in the house, evid Dad!!
Fast forward to about a year ago, I finally plucked up the courage to buy it, and i listened to it on the way home and I loved it. Maybe it was bcos i was a bit older or that I had a better appreciation of music but i thought it was fantastic, and here ended about a 15 year fear of the thing.
Im glad I could share this stuff wiv you guys
Catch ya later.
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Post by epicdream on Mar 7, 2005 19:14:34 GMT
Panic, I so understand where you are coming from!! The more I think about my JWWOTW past the more events are coming to light!
For example, I remember being in the car on the way home from the shop where we got it, looking at the pictures and being fascinated!! I too listed to it a few times and like yourself something clicked somewhere and I became terrified of it!
It must have been a certain part of the music hitting my brain at the same time as the picture which then led to some mad reaction!!! I keep thinking what it was? Was it the colours? The red's the green's and the foreboding skies... I dont know but there was a click somewhere which turned me from "I am enjoying this story..." to "I will go insane if I see or hear anything related to this again!".
I wonder how Jeff Wayne feels about this? Obviously he didn't aim it at kids but I wonder if he realises that he managed to push exactly the right emotional buttons to create such fear in so many people?!
That is one reason why I am only looking forward to one big screen version of WOTW, the others, despite either budget or authenticity, just wont hit the spot that his version will!!!
Neill
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Post by ArtilleryMan on Mar 7, 2005 20:42:13 GMT
I heard it when I was about 4 years old. The idea of Martians coming down and killing all mankind didn't sit that well with me. I used to get nightmares about it until I actually destroyed the tape of it. I love it now though. The music is brilliant and that's all my dad saw (or rather heard) but I saw death and destruction.
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BiG_ReD
Junior Member
Destroyer of worlds, Baker of cookies
Posts: 28
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Post by BiG_ReD on Mar 9, 2005 22:24:46 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]Urr... am having a few problems with theimagehosting.com (work's network blocker doesn't like it) so the comic may take a little longer than I thought, but keep your eyes on the Fan Creations section anyway; I'll get it up as soon as I can.
Cheers![/glow]
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Post by Bayne on Mar 10, 2005 22:07:15 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]I wonder... do many traumetised by JW's WotW end up becoming fans? Is it the majority or a minority who face up to their fears and embrace it? [/glow]
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Post by epicdream on Mar 10, 2005 22:43:59 GMT
[glow=green,2,300] Well, I consider myself VERY traumatised by the whole thing, but learning about what you fear is the best way to cure one's self. ;D I know being on these forums has helped me a lot to de-sensitze myself, infact I looked at the images just the other day (on the web), allthough a cold sweat sometimes occurs, I feel a lot more comfortable with the whole deal. As for the music, I can listen to the majority with no ill effects... Just when I am caught off guard and those imfamous chords sound, that's a sweaty moment! [/glow]
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Post by Stewymartian on Mar 11, 2005 4:57:04 GMT
I have to agree with you there epicdream. It's being caught unawares that still sets me going. If I sit down and put the album on then I'm fine, but if it suddenly appears when I'm not expecting it then my heart rate suddenly doubles and I'm hoping that I put some strong underware on.
I remember when the Ben leibrand remix came out. I was totally unaware that a remix was in the charts. I used to have an old alarm clock that would wake me up with the the radio. For about 2 or 3 mornings on the trot I would suddenly hear that awful sound that keeps recurring on the album (Hard to describe it, its the synthy noise that opens 'red weed pt1.'). Needless to say the radio went off VERY quickly, in fact I don't think I've so fast before or after. I then sat there in bed on my own in the dark (I believe it was late autumn, early winter that it came out), too terrified to even breathe.
I wonder of hypnotherapy would help this condition?
Or could it make it worse?
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Post by epicdream on Mar 11, 2005 13:27:28 GMT
[glow=red,2,300] If that noise you are referring to is like that "whistle" sound that changes pitch (that's the best way to describe it...), that was what scared the hell out of me too!!! (it goes on for quite a while)[/glow]
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Post by Stewymartian on Mar 11, 2005 15:52:26 GMT
yep, that's exactly the sound I meant. It's horrible, terrifying, unnerving. I'm 32 and I still can't cope with that hideous unearthly sound, and it's on just about every track on the album!
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