Nevermind The Posers

Well, it’s that magical, macabre month of October, and that can only mean that things are going to get far scarier before they start to get plentiful and gracious for November, and holly and jolly for December.  So, in honor of all things horrifying and spooky, we present our Top 5 Haunted Songs for Halloween 2010.  Enjoy…if you dare…muah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

TNT’s Top 5
5.  Music from The Shining – I love this movie and the music that goes along with it fits perfectly.
4. “Only The Birds” by Leah Siegel – All of her music is deliciously creepy sounding, but this one takes the cake.  Listen to her music here.
3. “The Battle of Evermore” by Led Zeppelin
2. “Dragula” by Rob Zombie
1. “Black No. 1” by Type O Negative – RIP Peter Steele, we will miss your voice this Halloween.

Hoverbee’s Top 5
5. “Ave Satani” by Jerry Goldsmith – I’ve been afraid of this song since I first saw the 1976 film The Omen.  It scares the pants off me.
4. “Season of the Witch” by Donovan – If there is a spooky psychedelia category, this song is in it.  It starts slowly and builds to an intensity that’s slightly eerie.
3. “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd – The lunatic is on the grass, in the hall, and in your head.  He’s creepy and he’s coming for you on the dark side of the moon.  It’s true that this is not the most spine-chilling song, but the laughing in the background is what makes it frightening for me.
2. “Diary of a Madman” by Ozzy Osbourne – It has an ominous intro and lyrics about a guy transcribing his journey to madness.  The song ends with a chorus of voices in agony.
1. “Boris the Spider” by The Who – It has a death growl and high-pitched voices chanting “creep, crawly.”  It’s a great song, but it freaks me out a little.

Angela’s Top 5
5.  “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones –  The ONE song I like by this group.  It’s just always been kind of a weird, creepy song for me that I’m fascinated with.
4. “Feed My Frankenstein” by Alice Cooper – It’s Alice Cooper, come on now.
3. “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)” by The Doors – I don’t know what it is about this song, but something with it never quite sat well with me.  Don’t ask, but it makes the list.
2. “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath
1. “Pussy Liquor” by Rob Zombie – from the “House of 1000 Corpses Soundtrack”… I hate this movie, I don’t do gore.  So when I hear this song, it scares the crap out of me.  There ya go.

Klone’s Top 5
5. “Black No. 1” by Type O Negative – May Peter Steele rest in peace, as this will be our first Halloween without him, and when we hear this deep and dark song of devotion to love, gothic-style, there will be a moment of near silence cutting through the mist and gloom, where he will be remembered.  “Her perfume smells like…burning leaves…everyday…is Halloween.”
4. “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” by David Bowie – Without last fall’s ABC show FlashForward, I would probably have never discovered this song on my own, so don’t always listen when people tell you TV will rot your brains.  This track was the highlight of the Halloween episode of FF, and was definitely fitting.
3. “The Thing That Should Not Be” by Metallica – I defy anyone to not imagine some seriously disturbing creature stalking a world unaware that this thing, that should not be, is waiting for us, just beyond the edge of reason, and over the cliffs of insanity.
2. “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo! – Anyone who has seen the 1980s classic “Back To School” starring the late Rodney Dangerfield, has been treated to a front row performance of this Halloween Party classic track, complete with front-man Danny Elfman, who would later dominate the world of movie scoring, and utilize his vocal prowess to bring the character of Jack Skellington to life in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.  When you listen to the lyrics of this song, Elfman’s future path seems so clear…”It’s a dead man’s party, who could ask for more?  Everybody’s coming, leave your body at the door.  Leave you body and soul at the door.”  AWESOME!
1. “Haunted” by POE – Not only was this song a companion piece to the literary masterpiece House of Leaves, and not only was it composed by author Mark Z. Danielewski’s sister, POE, but it has popped up in all forms of pop-culture horror-fare, most notably as the track that kicks off the closing credits of “Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows”, and the Episode 2 closing track in the 2009 video game “Alan Wake”.  This song is the perfect blend of melody, atmosphere and enticing vocals; POE’s voice draws you in even as the multiple voices of the chorus filling in the background of the track hits you with a sense of foreboding.  Much like the book, this song is a perfect piece of art, and should be respected as such.

Honorable Mention: “Possum Kingdom” by The Toadies – You can’t tell me that this song is NOT about a vampire luring prey.  Literal an interpretation as that might be, it’s still the blatant narrative of the track.  “This is Halloween” by Danny Elfman – opening song of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Classic.

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Monster Mash”– Bobby “Boris” Pickett– Because someone just had to do it for the sake of Halloween, this 60’s throwback tune isn’t especially creepy or haunting, unless you find “The Munsters” to be a terrifying 30 minute experience. Pure fun by way of a slightly creepy singer.
4. “Ave Satani” (Theme from The Omen) – Jerry Goldsmith – The main theme from one of the creepiest child movies ever made reeks of chilling and frightening imagery and notation:  chorus chanting menacingly in Latin, heavy use of brass instruments in minor keys,  off-kilter pacing, and random chimes reminding you of the grim and cold qualities of churches. Give it a listen and see if a creepy demon child doesn’t come to mind.
3. “Moonlight Sonata” – Beethoven – The most popular segment from Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor “Quasi una fantasia”, op. 27, No. 2 is also the darkest and most haunting piece ever transcribed to paper. It gives off the vibe that Beethoven might very well have written the piece in Sleepy Hollow, perhaps as a sadness tinged ode to the Headless Horseman.
2. “Telekon” – Gary Numan – The opening synth line layered over the spare live drumming, accented with minor-keyed piano stabs make this song especially cold and haunting, almost giving you the feeling that you are existing in some type of a trance like state for all 5 minutes of the song. It wouldn’t be out of place played over a montage of Horror movie killings, or even during the all important revealing of a movie monster’s horrific past.
1. “Everyday is Halloween” – Ministry – Although it is more 80’s nostalgia than haunted, this song from the early days of Ministry still carries a monotonous and droning quality to it, making this tunes as fun as it is strangely creepy. What would the world be like if everyday was Halloween?