Can the past change? The Mandela Effect has gone mainstream. Now that the internet is buzzing with wild theories and new examples every day, it's time to go over where the ideas originated, and consider in detail what exactly might be causing it.
The Mandela Effect
Ever had that feeling when you hear of something, like a celebrity dying, and was sure it had happened before? When that happens to a group of people, it has a name - The Mandela Effect. It's called that because there are many who were sure Nelson Mandela died in the 1980's and not in 2013.
Welcome to Alternate Memories, where these and more are documented, discussed and puzzled over.
Remember - as you read about them more and more, some will hit you as being ridiculous, and others as spookily accurate. They are not the same for everyone, which is a huge part of their mystery ;-)
Billie Jean
- Tracy Cooper
Who always told me?
MMDE: Mama always told me
Current: Mother always told me
When changes are noticed in worldwide massive hits, it's always a surprise to those who think they know the original. This is the case with Michael Jackson's classic Billie Jean - who always told him to be careful of who he loves?
It's one of his most famous songs, and he's said to be inspired by the never ending line of back stage groupies that were always trying to claim his brothers fathered their children when he was in the Jackson 5.
The line is question is at the end of the first verse.:
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do 'cause the lie becomes the truth
Yet most people replace "mother" with "mama", as a quick search on YouTube for cover versions confirms.
Cup O' Noodles
- Joe Hill
Cup O' Noodles or Cup Noodles?
MMDE: Cup O' Noodles
Current: Cup Noodles
Cup Noodles or Cup O' Noodles? They seem to have been with us forever, and are particularly well loved by busy students on a budget. Many swear the snack food from Nissin was called Cup O' Noodles, but only see it as Cup Noodles today. However, this one is different... :-)
Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by the guy who went on to found Nissin foods, Momofuku Ando, and in 1971 they were launched in the US.
However - and here's the twist - they really were called Cup O' Noodles in the US until 1993, when they became the plain Cup Noodles. This is an example of the pattern of a Mandela Effect being seen, in that there is little evidence today apart from in people's memories, yet is definitly not one.
Clive James
- Ian Grogan
When did Clive James die?
MMDE: 2012
Current: 2019
Clive James was warmly regarded as the quick-witted, likeable 'bloke from Aussie' best known for his TV work. Reports of his death in 2019 took many by surprise, however, as they were sure he'd died 7 years earlier in 2012. Are they experiencing the Mandela Effect?
There are many celebrity death stories which turn out to be fake. Sometimes there is more to them, such as the Nelson Mandela one itself. The Clive James one may have an explanation, however, from the fact that people remember it being 2012 when he died. That's because in that year he announced on BBC Radio 4 that leukemia "had beaten him".
In fact he went on to write a weekly column for The Guardian until June 2017, and seemed to be aware of the celebrity death hoax phenomenon, because in his inimitable style he titled it "Reports of My Death..."
Chevron
- Ian Grogan
What colors are the chevrons on the logo?
MMDE: Red above blue
Current: Blue above red
With it's roots going back to 1879, Chevron is one of the worlds largest companies. It's logo is very familiar the world over, but has it always been the way you remembered it?
Many are reporting the colors on the two chevron shapes have swapped over, that is, they remember the red one above the blue one rather than vice versa.
The Chevron we know today was created as a result of the federal government breaking up Standard Oil in 1911. One of the smaller parts, Standard Oil Co. (California), was using the Chevron name in the 1930's where it, and the logo branding, was adopted for the company moving forwards.
Marlboro Man
- Joe Hutt
Hazardous to your health?
MMDE: Marlboro Man died of lung cancer in the 1990's
Current: Marlboro Man didn't smoke and died in 2019
Young folk today won't even be aware that there used to be plenty of advertisments for cigarettes.
These adverts have been banned for years now as a result of the overwhelming evidence of the damage they cause to health. However, when they were running, none were more famous than the Marlboro Man.
Played by Robert Norris, the campaigh was conceived in 1954 and has been described as one of the most sucessful of all time. It featured a rugged lone cowboy with the slogan "Come to Marlboro Country".
Many remember Robert Norris dying of lung cancer in the 1990's, so it came as quite a shock to hear lived to the age of 90 when he died in 2019. Even more surprising - he never smoked a single cigarette in his life.
You dirty rat!
- Cory Grajales
James Cagney
MMDE: James Cagney said "You dirty rat!" in his gangster movies
Current: James Cagney never said "You dirty rat!" in his gangster movies
Another falsly attributed movie quote, or a Mandela Effect?
The exclamation "You dirty rat!" is pretty universally ingrained in modern Western culture as the cry of the mobster in the old black and white gangster movies of the 1930's.
Most people will associate the phrase with James Cagney, so are surprised to hear he never said it.
The closest we get is in two movies: Blonde Crazy (1931) "Oh, that dirty, double-crossin' rat" and Taxi! (1932) "Come out and take it, ya dirty, yellow-bellied rat!".
The death of Radar
- Joe Hill
The death of Radar
MMDE: M.A.S.H. - Radar was killed off at the start of season 8
Current: M.A.S.H. - Radar was not killed off at the start of season 8
M.A.S.H. ran from 1972 to 1983. The character of 'Radar' was incredibly popular at the time, and many fans very genuinely upset when they remember him being killed off at the start of season 8. However, they are even more surprised to learn today that he wasn't killed off at all, and went on to appear in later episodes alive and well.
The details are explained at Wikipedia here and the Mandela Effect confusion covered here.
In the current story line, Radar became overworked and stressed after receiving the news of his uncle's death back home, so took a hardship discharge and effectively resigned.
