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Synthful

Ten Creepy Cool '80s Songs to Get You Through Halloween

By Liz Ohanesian, Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 1:28PM
Comments (27)
Categories:

Bauhaus_-_Bela_Lugosi-s_dea.jpg
​
Now that you're probably engaged in the almost-last minute Halloween costume cram session, you might be in the need for some tunes to get you through the hours of skirt-hemming and wig-styling. At the same time, though, we figured you might be a little tired of hearing Ministry's "Every Day is Halloween" and half of Oingo Boingo's discography yet again. With that in mind, take some time to enjoy this playlist of disturbingly awesome (mostly) '80s music.

Bauhaus "Party of the First Part"

Just say no to "Bela Lugosi's Dead" this Halloween. Yeah, it's a cool song anytime of year, but it's played out every October and Bauhaus has so many more spooky themes. My favorite is "Party of the First Part," which samples dialogue from the Halloween cartoon The Devil and Daniel Mouse.

Cocteau Twins "Persephone"

It's only appropriate to throw in a song named for the Greek Queen of the Underworld this time of year, but this Cocteau Twins' song appears here for more than its name. The slithery beat sounds like something that could pop up in a David Lynch movie and Liz Fraser's vocals are downright eerie.

Siouxsie and the Banshees "Voodoo Dolly"

If there's one album that was meant for playing start to finish as you prepare your costumes, it's Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees. It's one big goth freakout and while there is a song called "Halloween" on the tracklisting, we're going with the less obvious choice of "Voodoo Dolly." The song, both in the live version above and on album, seems to go on forever and there's a lot of wailing involved.

The Birthday Party "Release the Bats"

This is vintage Nick Cave complete with teased hair and a romantically disheveled wardrobe emitting tongue-in-cheek shrieks about bats and vampires. You might want to start breaking things when you hear this, and I mean that in the best way possible.

 1  |  2  | Next Page >>

Tags:

'80s Music, Alien Sex Fiend, Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, Goth, Liz Ohanesian, New Wave, Sex Gang Children, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Total Coelo, Virgin Prunes
Comments (27) Write Comment
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More About:

  • Siouxsie & The Banshees
  • Party of the First Part
  • Cocteau Twins
  • Toto Coelo
  • Halloween

Comments (27)

TheLadyJane says:

Very interesting list! I don't know if I have heard any of them!

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 2:41PM
Anthony Vargas says:

Great call on Bauhaus! One of my favs! I always wondered where the sound bites came from

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 2:47PM
[tlr] says:

a very 80's darkie halloween playlist... this might inspire me to throw a "nu skool" halloween mixtape together.

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 3:22PM
tony says:

Never heard of them because it is all crap.

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 3:54PM
LT says:

I have almost all of these songs! Re Tony: I'm glad I don't live in a world where if I haven't heard of something, it must mean it's crap. That seems like a sad little boring world.

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 22 2009 @ 3:59PM
Jim Beeno says:

OMG did the 80s like totally ROCK or what?? Amazing!

RT
www.anonymous.ua.tc

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 5:58AM
andy says:

no Type O Negative!?!?!?!?!?!!????!
Halloween just isnt the same without their October NYC shows

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 6:12AM
JR says:

What about "Halloween" by the Misfits? It's a GREAT creepy song! (and the AFI version is just as good, just a different decade...)

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 6:27AM
Anonymous says:

List is not complete without Pimpf by Depeche Mode. Awesome, creepy, haunting song. Very cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojR-XRt4rrA

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 6:28AM
Z404 says:

Yo Anthony,

The sound bites are from 'Phantom of the Paradise'. Classic movie ;)

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 6:35AM
wayne bienek says:

Skinny Puppy..

"Killing Game".. Much better, puts those you list to shame..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUS3PJ2PtpI

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 6:41AM
ben says:

great tips

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 7:20AM
Anony says:

Three words for truly eerie music.. Tones on Tail

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 7:38AM
Ed says:

What, no "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo?
Otherwise a great list...good memories of them all.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 8:43AM
electronic cigarette says:

Awesome... these old school 80's songs are a hilarious, i love halloween music.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 11:07AM
manny miles says:

Expand this list! There's so many creepy, cool songs from the 80s, like Code Blue, by T.S.O.L. A little ditty about necrophelia. Thanks for sharing the live Siouxsie video, it's my fav on the list.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 11:44AM
Tony X says:

Ahhh Yess, for me it was Helter Skelter, Brandi's, Fender's,Casa Camino Real, Honk Kong Cafe & Marilyn's Backstreet that this music stole my Soul,.. seeing this makes me Nostalgic as Fuck, Eye Make Up for sure!!!... Thank You LIZZZZ

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 11:55AM
Chiller says:

Bauhaus are cool, except when u think of the creepy fans. ill pass.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 3:50PM
Alexander Tregaskis says:

I really wish the definition of "goth" didn't get tainted by the mainstream, and "emo" trend these days.

Bauhaus, Mission UK, Alien Sex Friend, Virgin Prunes... We need to bring that scene back. There are a few modern bands like White Rose Movement that definitely have the right feel, though.

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 8:57AM
Mike Olivarez says:

Wow! You about nailed all of childhood's anthems with grace! Pagan Love Song wins massive kudos, especially.Time to break out my list methinks!

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 12:42PM
Mike Olivarez says:

Making me break out my Current 93 tapes from yesteryear. Dammmn youuuu!

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 1:02PM
Roo says:

"Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo is a horribly played out song. If you want creepy, try Tori Amos' covers of "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Raining Blood."

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 2:19PM
Natalie DeJohn says:

Ooh, I love this. I love Halloween and have been meaning to create a great Halloween playlist. Great post!

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 2:51PM
aboynamedart says:

What, no love for Will Smith's "Nightmare On My Street"? Hahahaha

http://tinyurl.com/yzjg5fe

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 @ 3:28PM
Mr Costumes says:

Well thanks for two things here. One reminding me that I'm old enough to remember all these classics lol. And two, I can't stand the music coming out today..what happened?!

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 26 2009 @ 10:50AM
brother neil says:

"black cat" by janet jackson

"torture" by all her brothers

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 6:57AM
escawlloaws says:

The eighties was a great and wonderful era to have grown up in or lived in!
[url=http://www.theeightiesfashion.com/]80's clothing[/url]

Posted On: Thursday, Jan. 21 2010 @ 4:29PM

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