Can the past change? It sounds incredible, but scientists are debating exactly this, with various theories ranging from quantum mechanics to the many-worlds interpretation. If it could, how would it appear to us? The internet is buzzing with wild ideas, so it's time to go over where they originated, and consider in detail what exactly might be causing it.
- Roy Rodriguez
When was the first Moonwalk dance recorded?
MMDE: 1980's
Current: 1930's
Michael Jackson and the Moonwalk dance go together like Laurel and Hardy, Burgers and Coke or even Steve Jobs and Apple. Almost everyone assumes Jackson invented the dance, just because they'd never heard of or seen it before he brought it to the mainstream. In fact, it turns out this is wrong by quite a margin, since all he did was give an old move a new name.
So technically Jackson was the first if you ask "who first did the moonwalk?" and you strictly mean the dance with that name. There's even a date for that: 25th March, 1983 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, but he wasn't the first to perform the actual move itself.
- Tracy Cooper
A special day
MMDE: If I had words to paint a day for you
Current: If I had words to make a day for you
The song 'If I had words' was already well-known before it featured heavily in the 1995 movie 'Babe'. It was a catchy reggae vibe sung as a duet by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley, and was a UK hit in 1978.
The tune was taken from and organ piece, Saint-Saëns' Symphony No.3 in C minor which, ironically, did not have any words.
People are reporting the lyric they remember have changed, and are calling this a Mandela Effect. They remember the line "if I had words to make a day for you" as "if I had words to paint a day for you".
- Kevin Robbs
A personal Mandela Effect years before the term arose?
Did Robert Smith experience a personal Mandela Effect when he wrote 'Friday I'm in love' without realising it? The story is he was certain the tune was copied from somewhere, so played it to everyone he knew who all told him it wasn't. Only when convinced he really was the first person to write it was it released as a single, and it became one of his band, The Cure's, biggest hits.
This isn't being classed as a Mandela Effect because it's clear only one person was affected by it, if at all, but this pattern regarding music isn't actually unique.
There are crazy stories of band members hearing a track on the radio and thinking someone "ripped them off", i.e. copied their style, only to be told it was them all along. I'm looking at you, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Some go even further, with David Bowie allegedly forgetting he recorded an entire album. Both later put these episodes down do health and medicinal related issues.
- Carter Tweed
Anyone remember this song?
Here's the story of a mysterious record from the late 1990's which was certainly a hit with one person who could remember every detail of it, including the words and melody, yet could find no trace of it today.
If a group of people were to remember the song too, it would be classed as a regular Mandela Effect, but it seems only one man, who was called Tyler Gillett, had the memory.
The quest for how he tried to remove this "earworm" was reported in The Guardian and documented on the podcast Reply All from Gimlet. It's episode #159: The Case Of The Missing Hit, which can be heard on Spotify or all quality podcast sources.
It's unusual in that because he could remember the details so well, it was possible to put together a band to record it. Then things got really interesting, but beware if you prefer to find out by listening to the podcast, which is strongly recommended by the way ... spoilers follow!
- Bill Perez
The long and winding road came to an end
MMDE: Late 1960's
Current: Early 1970's
When exactly did The Beatles split up?
Most people say the late 1960's, and some say the early 1970's. It turns out the truth is a little more complicated than either of those. For a start, if we're talking officially then it's 1975. That's because there was a long and drawn out court battle which wasn't settled until that date - January 9th, 1975.
The generally accepted break-up date isn't so clear either, because it wasn't a single event but more of a series of separate acts. The last time they played live together was from the rooftop of the Apple building in Saville Row, London, in January 1969, the last time they recorded together was in August 1969, and the last time they were all in the same room together was September 1969. By then the cracks in the band had become too wide to repair, and they were involved in solo projects as well as already gearing up with their lawyers over contracts and recording rights. In April 1970 various press releases were issued which, whilst strongly hinting at the break up of the band, did not explicitly make it clear it had happened.
- Harley Sapienza
Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Under the Bridge - "the city I live in, the ..."
MMDE: City of Angels
Current: City of Angel
Under the Bridge is a classic rock track from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, released in 1992, and it was largely responsible for their breakthrough into the mainstream after its extensive wide playing on MTV.
The song focuses on depression, isolation and drug use. You'd have thought the line in question was "Angels" because it's clearly a reference to Los Angeles, and the plural makes sense there, whereas the singular doesn't.
This is a good one to catch out even hardcore RHCP fans, who aren't aware of this Mandela Effect to start with. Just ask them to complete the line and they instantly respond with what they are sure is right - until you get them to hear it again, that is.
- Tracy Cooper
Sung by Marilyn in 1953?
MMDE: Monroe sang "Santa Baby"
Current: Monroe did not sing "Santa Baby"
'Santa Baby' is one of those songs everyone knows and loves no matter what time of year they hear it. Many are sure it was sung by Marilyn Monroe in the 1950's, and are surprised to hear that isn't the case - it was Eartha Kitt.
Written by Phillip Springer, Tony Springer and Joan Javits, it's certainly designed to be done in the breathy, suggestive style made famous by Marilyn and it's easy to see why people would think she sang it. It's been covered many times since then too, including more recently by Madonna and Kylie Minogue, so even those who knew Eartha was the original singer might be forgiven for thinking Marilyn did a cover version later.
The song is basically a parody. A young woman is asking Santa to give her a generous set of expensive Christmas gifts, and is using her feminine charm, to put it mildly, to get what she wants.
