The Rogues' Gallery

Ridiculous Claim of the Week - Music Affects the Weather

Evan Bernstein November 13, 2015 2 Comments

From South Africa emerges the most ridiculous thing uttered this week. Amid a severe drought in the country, David Masterton claims he can make it rain by playing music.

South Africa, like much of Africa in recent months, has been experiencing a severe drought. Six of South Africa’s nine provinces have been hit by drought, with three provinces declared disaster areas. Water restrictions have taken effect in the capital, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. An estimated 2.7 million households, about 18 percent of the population, have been affected by the drought, according to The Department of Water and Sanitation.

Masterton’s calls his idea ‘Weather Balance Technology”. While being interviewed on a radio show in South Africa, he described his “technology” as such:

“This is based on something that is five thousand to ten thousand years old, and has a very long proven record from the ancient Indian cultures … This comes from the ancient art called Gandharva Veda, which is part of the Verdic science from India. It is an actual science that musicians need to learn …”

Masterton continues:

“We know from just observing the different times of the day, the different frequencies of the day. There is a different feeling before 5 o’clock in the morning before sunrise, where everyone is still very quiet and sleeping. There is a different energy at 7 o’clock when everybody is in traffic in the morning. And there is a different energy again at lunchtime, when it is very hot and everyone is getting hungry … So all of the different frequencies are just impulses of the laws of nature.”

Here is a sample of the Gandharva Veda music Masterton is referring to.

There is no scientific evidence for anything Masterton is claiming, ranging from music affecting weather to “frequencies” of the day. But that rarely matters to people looking for solutions to problems where they have no control. It is at times of stress and desperation when people will clutch at anything for a sense of hope. This is where people’s critical thinking abilities are put squarely to the test.