The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings - Lot 032 : Does Anyone Else Remember This Pop Song From Around 2008?

Episode Date: February 21, 2024

A look into the bizarre disappearance of a one-hit wonderDoes Anyone Else Remember This Pop Song From Around 2008Written by Thaddeus JamesStarring Trevor Shand as SalDaniel Amerman as MattConan Freeman as Brad HoskinsDerek U as Paulhttps://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/3ytok3/does_anyone_else_remember_this_pop_song_from/Featuring Stephen Knowles as The Antique DealerTheme music by The Newton BrothersAdditional music by:CO.AG. ([e-mail])“See You After, Babe” by Symmetry Icon (2008) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oh my, ha ha ha. You know what? I didn't even hear the door. I had my earbuds in. So wonderful to have you buy again. I was just listening to one of my favorite bands, Symmetry icon. Remember them? Even if you think you don't, something tells me you do.

And just can't or won't. Maybe this will jog your old Noggin. Never seen one of these before, but it showed up here in the shop just this past week, and I put it aside for you. A symmetry icon T-shirt. And wouldn't you know it? It's just your size. Now sit back and enjoy the catchy melody of this one called, Does anyone else remember this pop song from around 2008?

Before we begin, I want to point out some of the customers whose names have been etched in brass on this beautiful plaque I had made above the front desk. These are some of the members of the inner circle of the antiquarium. We go by the Obsidian Covenant. Recent initiates include challenge accepted. Jordan Nelson, Steyo, Peter Coggle, Tyler Krug, Alpha Centauri, Alex Garcia, Badger, and Mr. James Kazaya Delaney. We are ever appreciative of your devotion to The Order.

Go to the obsidian covenant.com to receive the sacrament. Now, where were we? Oh yes To the antiquarium of sinister happenings And odd goings on I used to work on my university campus radio station in college I used to talk about current events around the school Ending news around the surrounding town

And played requested songs for students Something our school surprisingly allowed I remember a very weird couple of months Where students who tune into the show constantly requested a song called See You After, Babe. It's a pop song by some one-hit wonder group called Symmetry Icon. I know, the dumbest name for a band I've ever heard,

but that song was huge around October and November of 2008. As one of the campus radio DJs, I had to play that song over like a hundred times in two months. I heard it everywhere. In malls, gas stations, on real radio stations, and I think even on MTV. Something was weird about that song. But I couldn't remember exactly what.

I tried Googling the song in the band, but nothing came up in the results for either. Not even YouTube had a single clip of the song. I frequent an alumni Facebook page for my school, and I posted a question on there asking if anyone remembered this thing. The post got a bunch of likes, and a lot of people started hitting me up about things they recall about symmetry icons mysterious hit.

Yet this one girl wrote to me that she couldn't remember how it went, but that the lyrics were kind of awkward and unconventional. Another classmate told me that the song was so catchy that it was stuck in his head for like weeks. Speaking of, a week went by since I'd posted on the alumni page. And then I got a message from a guy that used to live in the dorm next to mine. His name was Matt. Matt private message me asking if I found any leads about the song.

I told him no. He told me that he had nothing but bad memories about that song. Here's what he said. Note, Paul was his dorm roommate. Yeah, dude, I haven't heard that song since that year. I remember Paul would always crank it up in the room. I can't remember how it went, but I remember it was kind of unusual and not a typical pop song,

but everyone loved it. I couldn't stand it. Paul really loved it, though. He was always humming it. and then one day I never heard the song again and Paul was acting totally strange. He was always partying and outgoing and shit but around that time he got super depressed. One day I asked him what was up and he said that he couldn't get the song out of his head and that it's gone forever now and he'll never be able to hear it again.

I don't know if you know now dude but Paul is still not doing so well. He's got no job, no girl, hardly ever talks to anyone. I messaged him every now and then, and he just says how he misses 2008 when life was good. I told him to see a shrink, but he says that won't help. He just needs something new to listen to. He's part of that alumni group, and I know he's seen your post. I'm worried he's going to snap, dude. Can you talk to him?

I messaged Paul soon after, asking him how he was. Hey, Paul, long time no C, man. How you doing? Wow, yo, good to hear from you. How you been, bud? I'm okay. Just trudging along as always. That's good.

I saw what you put on the alumni page. Dude, that song was my life. Oh, I miss it so much. I can't believe it's gone. I'm sure someone can find it. Nah, man, it's gone. That's how the world is. Things come and go.

S.I. made a song that was alive. and now it's dead. Man, I miss it. Those were the days. I know I'm acting weird. Matt always says I need to get some help, but I don't. I just need to hear the song again, and it sucks knowing I never will.

Totally freaked out. I stopped talking about the song after that, and just resumed making small talk with him until we both signed off. The next evening, not even 24 hours later, I come home from work to see people posting on Paul's Facebook wall with RIP and all sorts of condolences. Paul killed himself that day. I was horrified to hear that he had done it by stabbing himself in the face multiple times. And the thought that I was one of the last people he talked to made me feel even worse.

Matt messaged me that day too. It was because of the song. I'm sorry, Sal. It's not your fault. Well, I think now it wouldn't have been in the best taste to do it. Right then and there, I thought it would be a great idea to find you after babe somehow and put it up on Paul's wall, just for some sort of closure. I spent the entire following week asking Yahoo!

Answers, posting on music forums, and commenting on YouTube videos of 2008 pop songs. Nobody knew anything about the song or the people. band. I'd put my email up on some of these, but heard nothing until last night, February 20th. In my inbox was a message from someone named Brad Hoskins. The subject was song by symmetry icon. Attached to the email was an MP3 file, and in the body was this. Hey, So, I saw your post on the forum inquiring about

Symmetry Icon's song, See You After Babe, and I thought I'd send you an email to clear things up and perhaps dissuade you from your search. I am sending this to you with the hope that you will keep things discreet, as there are not a lot of people who know anything about the song,

and should the nature of it be released, it won't exactly be hard for any higher-ups to pinpoint who spilled the beans. But, you seem like a nice guy, and I don't want you to do something you'll regret. Symmetry icon was a young three-member pop group that started up in 2007 and came out with an album by 2008. Obviously, you know how a lot of pop music was in that year.

It was catchy, not too technical, upbeat, but not very hardcore clubbish yet. Kind of cheesy synth sounds. Look at Billboard's Top 100 for that year. You'll see what I mean. Well, anyways. I was working as a part-time engineer for a sort of smaller record label that was trying to find a big break. They thought they found it with Symmetry Icon because the group was very talented, especially for being so young.

All three were 19 to 21 age. It was crazy how they could just start playing around on their instruments and just come up with a tune, catchier than anything else the label had produced. While Symmetry Icon was signed on for our label, their manager was an outside hire that came with them like a package deal. This guy was the definition of weird. He looked like a stereotypical slimy businessman. He was super close with the band though.

And they wouldn't drop him no matter what deals the label dangled in front of them. At every recording session, in every meeting, that weird manager was right there, whispering into the band's ears. It felt like behind every song and every decision was that creepy guy. The band was even comfortable telling us that for the most part, their manager was coming up with the ideas for their songs. So one day, the band misses a recording session because the lead singer's girlfriend is caught in a car accident that destroys her face.

I'd seen the girl before if she was absolutely beautiful. But after the accident, she looked like a monster. No right eye, lips gone, a forehead that caved in. It was horrific, and she knew it too. So she unfortunately ended up killing herself, though I'm not sure exactly how. Very bummed about it at the studio. The lead singer for the band, Andrew, was devastated. We told him to take some time.

with any new material but at the next session we saw him he came in with a new song the band had written themselves they had given their creepy manager the slip when we asked where he was Andrew just said he can go fuck himself well the song they brought in was see you after babe something Andrew had written in light of his girlfriend getting disfigured it was catchy and upbeat but unlike anything the band have recorded for us. They handed us the lyrics, and we were taken aback by how odd they were. I've been holding on to a copy of them for years now. And just before the song gets to its sweet, sweet

refrain, a box of something else sweet has arrived. It's Girl Scout cookie season and my thin mince are here. Excuse me for just a brief moment. Leave a message. Please do so. tone and have a great Hi, this is the Equerium. I called because I wanted to let you guys know how much I love your podcast. I love the stories

that just get me through work through the day, so much so that I've started having dreams of myself in front of the antiquarium, like a some place in my actual city. I was calling to see if there was any help with that, actually. I worked a night shift, and I kind of get a little tired, and after the shift, I go to lay

down and I kind of listen to your podcast. And it seems like every subsequent night of me working. The dream is the same. It's just I'm a little bit closer to the antiquarium front door, and I feel like my time is running short before I have to make a decision as to what I'm going to take from your storefront. So if you have any recommendations, I'd really like to know because I'm getting looks through the windows of the doorfront.

Please let me know as soon as possible. I'd really, really love the podcast. Keep up the good work. Bye. Apologies for the snack break. Here, I saved you a Samoa. All right. Now let's pick it up at the chorus, shall we?

It was catchy and upbeat, but unlike anything, the band had recorded for us. They handed us the lyrics, and we were taken aback by how odd they were. I've been holding on to a copy of them for years now. I just wanted to be a big name for you, but I got caught up in this craziness without you. We made a deal with him. He said he'd rise us up in exchange for something small, but he took your. At first it was just little things, and then it came to this. I didn't think he'd take something that I'd actually miss. It was an accident. I'm so sorry. I'll see you after, babe. depressing stuff yeah

at the studio we thought so too plus the chorus was four words and an incomplete sentence that went off into a four-note riff so we halt out at its potential but we still recorded the entire song mastered it and sent it to the higher ups who loved it and thought it'd be a big hit it went out to quite a number of radio stations

who played it like they would any other single after a week DJs asked us to interview the band, but Symmetry icon wanted nothing to do with the press. One day, during another session, their creepy manager barged into our studio and started screaming at Andrew in the band for releasing the song without his approval. Andrew started yelling right back about how he didn't want any of this, how he just wanted to play music and not get drawn into anything too serious. The manager was freaking out, saying the band would be nothing without him and how he

Andrew was the only one who made the deal in the first place. I specifically remember Andrew saying, it was supposed to be just blood from us, not anyone else. The manager stormed out of the studio going on about how he was going to ruin the song and the band for this, said that he was going to make anyone who liked the song end up like his, Andrew's girlfriend. We never saw that guy again.

after that fight, the weirdest shit I've ever seen in the industry happened in regards to that song. People were really getting into it. We even had huge companies trying to purchase rights to have the song in their commercials. For a month, we heard it on the radio all the time. But suddenly, we got calls from radio stations saying their listeners were acting weird about the song. It was the only thing they ever requested. and they called constantly to hear it. One station's DJ kept calling us daily to meet the band to talk about their life-changing track.

He even left voicemails screaming at us to meet the band. It started scaring the higher-ups at the label. People were getting calls, death threats, and all sorts of horrible shit just to hear a stupid pop song. It was like it was a drug. Symmetry icon dropped off the face of the earth. They wouldn't respond to our calls or anything. Soon, the label and studio were both visited by these government types who wanted to see if everything was okay with our operation. Our CFO was interested about the nature of the track and was told that something weird was going on with the people who were exposed to it for too long.

I never heard exactly what the CFO was told, but the rumor was that people were offing themselves because they couldn't get it out of their heads. It affected some people more strongly than others, but those who did, killed themselves in a very specific way that freaked the label out and pulled the song. With the help of those government guys, the label pulled to see you after Babe and removed any trace of its existence. The staff was never told exactly why, but for a lot of 2008, we heard stories of agents going to radio stations. and stopping DJs from playing the track, even arresting those who persisted, as if this wasn't disturbing enough. We later heard that all three members of Symmetry icon

had killed themselves not long after the song was taken off the air. Apparently, they had sliced up their own faces with shards of glass and bled to death. They left a note saying that they'd never be able to top see you after Babe, and there was no point in trying. They were haunted by the song and used a glass to try and dig it out. I'm not sure if you believe in the supernatural, but I am telling you right now that there is a shady reason

why you can't find that song anywhere. It's some bad voodoo. It makes people do some fucked up things to themselves. I know you want to do this for your friend, and I'm sorry for your loss, but trust me when I say, you will never find the full song. That shit is buried. For a long time, we were told to immediately let the company know if the song was played anywhere.

I heard it in a dressing room at a mall one time when I was out shopping around mid-2010. I recorded it on my phone at the time to show my bosses, but kind of never got around to showing them. The issue hadn't been discussed in a bit over two years, and I never heard it again after that. I like to listen to it every now and then to think over all the things that happened because of it. My recording is attached to the email. Sorry in advance about my cough in there.

It would have been nice to hear the whole thing, but I honestly was too afraid to stick around and listen to it. Listen a couple of times and then never open the file again. Whatever happens with this song, it kicks in when you listen to it repeatedly. Please be careful. And if you ever hear the full song out in public, get the hell out of wherever you are hearing it. Like I said, I don't know what you believe, but I for one am damn sure that symmetry icon

made some sort of deal with the devil. And this song is the punishment for breaking that deal. Please be careful. Best of luck. Brad Hoskins. I downloaded the file and listened to it immediately. I recognized the song the second I heard it. I have no idea whether or not Hoskins is telling the truth.

So I put the clip up on YouTube and send it to some friends to see if they recognize it. They all agree this was a song, including Matt. I don't know what to make of this. I mean, it is kind of careful. catchy in an out there kind of way. And I've listened to it a few times, just because it's kind of enjoyable and reminds me in my days in college. Does anyone else remember, see you after, babe, from 2008?

I just, I need to hear the whole song again, you know. Doc snowing. Thank you for your patronage. Hope you enjoyed your new relic as much as I've enjoyed passing along its sordid history. It does come with our usual warning, however. Absolutely no refunds. no exchanges, and we won't be held liable for anything that may or may not occur while the object is in your possession. If you've got an artifact with mysterious properties, perhaps it's accompanied by a history of bizarre and disturbing circumstances.

Maybe you'd be interested in dropping it and its story by the shop to share with other customers. please reach out to Antiquarium Shop at gmail.com. A member of our team will be in touch. Till next time, we'll be waiting for you whenever you close your eyes in the space between sleep and dream. During regular business hours, of course, or by appointment, only for you. Our best customer. The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings, Lot 032.

Does anyone else remember this pop song from around 2008? Written by Thaddeus James. Starring Trevor Shand as Sal. Daniel Ammerman as Matt. Derek U. as Paul. Conan Freeman as Brad Hoskins. Featuring Stephen Knowles as the antique dealer. Engineering Production and Sound Design.

by Trevor Shand by the Newton Brothers. Additional music by Coag. See You After Babe by Symmetry Icon. Copyright 2008. The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings is created and curated by Trevor and Lauren Shand. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at Antiquarium Pod. Call the Antiquarium at 646-481-7197.