Monday, October 9, 2017

Sound and the Fury: Monstrous Melodies and Terrifying Tunes






Redartz:  Here's another of our Halloween-themed discussions for your entertainment and contemplation (hey, I can't let  Marti have all the fun). One of the funner (as my son would say) elements of the scary season is the music. Yes, Christmas has the monopoly on themed music, but there are plenty of tunes appropriate for All Hallow's Eve. Songs of mystery, horror, sheer strangeness, and often humor. 

A few come immediately to mind: Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" and  Michael Jackson's "Thriller" are sure to be heard at any Halloween party. And with good reason; they're both classics. But there are loads more. With either monstrously moody melodys or lycanthropic lyrics, or both. Here are a few of my 'gravest hits'...



Jumpin' Gene Simmons, "Haunted House" - just good old fashioned, old school creepy fun. And no, it's not THAT Gene Simmons.




The Five Blobs, "The Blob"- This is very strange, but cool. That sax melody may want you to get up and dance, but you'd better " ....beware of the blob..."




Rose & the Arrangement, "The Cockroach that Ate Cincinnati'- this great bit of comic creepiness came to my attention via that icon of craziness, Dr. Demento!



Angelo Badalamenti, "Twin Peaks Theme"- A fantastic show, one of the high points of 90's pop culture. And the music was an integral part of the show. I love to play this soundrack cd while driving at night. Yes, I have issues.



Rihanna, "Disturbia"- Here's a macabre tune of more recent vintage. My nieces turned me on to this song, and I loved it. "Bum bum bedum bum"...



There you have a few of my frightful favorites, running the gamut from the scarily sublime to the ridiculous. Did any strike your fancy, or did they leave you cold (and dead)? What other ghoulish goodies would you recommend? Don't bury your thoughts...

13 comments:

Steve Does Comics said...

Let's see. The first things that leap into my tormented mind are:

"There's a Ghost in My House," by R Dean Taylor.

"Hammer Horror," by Kate Bush.

"The Infant Kiss," by Kate Bush (inspired by the film, "The Innocents.")

"Hounds of Love," by Kate Bush (featuring a legendary clip from, "Night of the Demon.")

"Werewolves of London," by Warren Zevon.

"Spellbound," by Siouxsie and the Banshees.

"House of Wax," by Paul McCartney.

"Monster," the Automatic.

"Ben," by Michael Jackson.

Steve Does Comics said...

Also:

"Amityville (The House on the Hill)," by Lovebug Starski.

"Wuthering Heights," by Kate Bush.

"Ghostbusters," by Ray Parker Jr.

"Cat People," by David Bowie.

J.A. Morris said...

Great topic, I love discovering new Halloween music. Can't have Halloween without John Zacherle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmeLW1v5DF4

Steve Does Comics said...

Also:

"Experiment IV," by Kate Bush.

"Waking the Witch," by Kate Bush.

"The Red Shoes," by Kate Bush.

"Hello Earth," by Kate Bush (inspired by watching, "Nosferatu.")

"Get Out Of My House," by Kate Bush (inspired by "The Shining.")

I kind of get the feeling Kate Bush likes horror films.

Redartz said...

Wow, Steve! You could fill a playlist with those selections. Actually, you could fill one just with Kate Bush tunes! I need to listen to more Kate Bush.

J.A.- thanks for that link! I'll check that out today, as John Zacherle is new to me...

TC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike Wilson said...

I can't really think of any "spooky" songs off the top of my head ... Marilyn Manson's cover of Sweet Dreams is pretty freaky, I guess.

Happy Columbus Day to all the Americans out there! (It's Thanksgiving here in Canada.)

TC said...

"Rhiannon" and "Sister of the Moon" by Stevie Nicks (whether solo or with Fleetwood Mac).

"Fool Moon Fire" by Walter Egan.

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video is a remake of "Fool Moon Fire" with a bigger budget.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

CH47 can't go a day without saying something, lol.

I nominate:

"Boris the Spider" by The Who

Also, since our Ukelele Club plays "The Theme from Spider Man" from the 1967 TV show every Halloween, I nominate that.

I honestly can't say that 40 Uke players strumming and singing "Spider Man, Spider Man, does whatever a spider can" is the next chart buster, lol. (Marti - want to join the Uke Club? Last Saturday of the month in Westmont. 9:30 - 10:30. All ages, all skills, around 40 people attend!)

The Prowler said...

Okay, some I'll just throw out:

The Police not only had a "Ghost In The Machine" but claimed to be "Spirits In a Material World".

The Cult sang of a life with a "Black Angel" by your side. (And they were originally the Southern Death Cult, so there's that).

Adam Lambert and Jason And The Scorches gave us "Ghost Town".

Simple Minds encouraged us to "Shake Off The Ghosts".

Ella Henderson, much like yours truly, is haunted by the "Ghost" of a lost love.

Noel McKay sings hauntingly of a "Ghost on The Coast".

White Stripes wondered what scared the "Little Ghost" the most.

Johnny Cash's "Ghost Riders In The Sky" which is a bit different than Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky".

Rounding out my "Ghost" theme, there's Paramore's "Misguided Ghosts", Stomu Yamashita's "Ghost Machine" and Slash brought in Ian Astbury of the Cult for his "Ghost". The Doors spoken word "The Ghost Song", Fleetwood Mac's "The Ghost" and Bad English's "Ghost in Your Heart"!!! Oooooo, scary....


(Hold on!
I like black and white
(Dreaming of black and white)
You like black and white
Run run away

See chameleon
(Lying there in the sun)
All things to everyone
Run run away

If you're in the swing
(Money ain't everything)
If you're in the swing
Run run away

See chameleon
(Lying there in the sun)
All things to everyone
Run run away

If you gotta crush
(Don't beat about the bush)
When I gotta crush
Run run away

See chameleon
(Lying there in the sun)
All things to everyone
Run run away

Oh now can't you wait
(Love don't come on a plate)
Oh now can't you wait
Run run away

See the chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run run away

Run run away
Run run away
Run run away).

PS: You know what would be really scary? Missing Thor Ragnarok!!!



Anonymous said...

Pretty much everything in Blue Oyster Cult's catalogis about scary or weird subjects, although I would point out a few classics:
Nosferatu
Godzilla
The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein's Castle in Weisseria
E.T.I.
I Am The One You Warned Me Of
Black Blade

And I'm a big Kate Bush fan, so it's nice to see her get some attention here!
"Wuthering Heights" was written from the point of view of a ghost, so that's definitely a spooky song.

M.P.

Redartz said...

J.A.- that John Zacherle clip was terrific. Loved the screams...

Charlie- I'd consider driving all the way to Chicago to see 40 Uke players performing "Spider-man "!

Prowl- thought about trying to add to your list, but didn't have a 'ghost' of a chance...

M.P.- great call on Blue Oyster Cult. Very cool stuff.

Martinex1 said...

Ha ha CH47 and Red. We need some video of that Uke jam. Cheers.

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