Zombie Tunes 2

* I Walked with a Zombie by Roky Erickson



This song has a slow dance prom feel to me and has the same line sung over and over. It's undeniably catchy with a varied background. The ending with its unexpected triplets and the two instruments solos make the song surprisingly fun to listen to. Apparently, he walked with a zombie.

* Haul Away Boys! by The Widow's Bane



This jaunty tune features soulless, evil, enslaved zombie pirates who wreak havoc everywhere they go. Their selfish, hedonistic lifestyle isn't satisfying as zombies and they further warn that it's easy to give in to evil desires. I love the Celtic flair, the fiddle, the octave harmony, and the sea shanty style of the song.

* Night of the Living Dead by Julia Marcell



This song is the least overtly zombie, but the it's there as a metaphor for the inevitability of death and soulles automaton-like people. She seems to be lecturing someone about how you have to go after the things you want instead of being passive in life. It has a much more indie, happy tone, but the zombie aspect (even though it's only mentioned once) colors the whole song.

More zombies to come!

Zombie Tunes

Songs about the undead!

* Zombeavers Theme Song



This crooney song captures everything I love about the movie Zombeavers: unexpected lyrics and zany humor.  If you like this song, you will guaranteed like the movie and you need to go to Netflix and watch it right now. If you hate the song, maybe skip the movie.

* I Walked with a Zombie by Wednesday 13



I love the lyrics and upbeat mood of this homage to zombies and particularly Night of the Living Dead, the first and best zombie film ever. I'm not super wild about the screamy delivery, but the lyrics have gothy horror references everywhere and abusive relationship zombie necrophilia. Super fun!

* Zombie by Lacuna Coil



This song takes a different view of zombies and views it as an empowering force to be a part of instead of an enemy to fight against. I love Lacuna Coil's goth metal style, especially the contrast between the male and female singers, and this song is perfection.

Stay tuned for more undead madness!

Zombie Tunes 2

More zombie songs!

1) No Work Today by Mae Martin



This is the happiest sounding song about the zombie apocalypse. Mae saw this coming and uses her zombie movie knowledge to survive. Some good things come out of it like no work and not having to deal with your annoying roommate who then gets eaten by zombies (probably). Maybe you shouldn't have left passive aggressive notes or put your crap on the shared space of the apartment, Janine! Anyway, this cute, mellow song almost makes the zombie apocalypse seem pleasant with some helpful tips.

2) Stop, I'm Already Dead by Deadboy and the Elephantmen



This is the super catchy theme song for iZombie. I actually prefer this shortened version over the full song. I think it captures the great parts of the song without being so repetitive. The driving, rhythmic guitar and drums makes it something I want to dance to and the lyrics are perfect. The visuals pay homage to the comic that shares the title and not much else with the show plus it captures the whole concept in a fun, colorful, stylized video.

3) I'm Killing Zombies by Brysi



I'm Killing Zombies is a straightforward song about killing zombies. I can understand the change of opinion. When they aren't beating down your door trying to kill you, zombies are pretty interesting and cool even. I would kill them in a heartbeat if they attacked me too no matter how interesting the media around them is. It's a cute song with fun references.

More zombie fun to come!

Postmodern Fairy Tale Music

These songs go against happily ever after and deconstruct fairy tales.

1) After Ever After by Jon Cozart



Jon Cozart bases various Disney films in a more realistic setting and shows the tragically funny results. My favorite is Pocahontas since the film is so good, but incredibly historically inaccurate. He sings in four part harmony with himself with impressive intonation and timing. I love this medley of irreverent reimaginings of these classic tales.

2) Shalott by Emilie Autumn



Emilie Autumn takes the classic Tennyson poem, The Lady of Shalott and adds her own perspective. The poem is about a woman cursed to weave images without actually seeing the world. She then sees (and falls in love with) Lancelot and leaves, but dies before she gets to Camelot. That's a pretty screwed up tale and it's nice to see a modern perspective. Although it's about Arthurian legend, there are typical fairy tale stand bys here: spinning wheels, curses, a tragic woman, and a handsome man.


3) Fairy Tale by Sara Bareilles



This jazzy song shows how happily ever after isn't all it's cracked up to be. Fairy tale love isn't anything close to reality and wouldn't have turned out well in real life. I especially like the Rapunzel verse where she just wants to be alone. Sara Bareilles shows a variety of fairy tales in the video with a theater flair. She ends the song in modern clothing with just herself and the piano on the stage, without the false trappings of fairy tales.

Zombie Songs Part 1

Rock out to some zombie tunes!

1) The Priscillas - All My Friends Are Zombies



Experience the zombie apocalypse from the other side! You're hanging out with your zombie friends and then BAM! Someone just kills your friends right in front of you! So rude! Anyway, I love everything about this upbeat punk song: the lyrics, the retro look, and especially the star shaped tambourine.

2) The Aquabats - Fashion Zombies



Fashion zombies! My interpretation of the song is people who dress a certain way to be popular and not because they actually want to dress that way. It's kind of like George A. Romero films that critique consumerism, but a specific aspect of it in young people. The video is adorable and cartoony and the song is super catchy.

3) The Extended Zombie Song from How Resident Evil Should Have Ended



Who doesn't want to hear zombies belting out a melancholy ballad about being lonely and craving brains? This song is so funny and well harmonized for flesheating corpses. If you like this silly song, you can download it for free here.

Let me know your favorite zombie jams!

Fairy Tale Songs 2

More fairy tale songs!!!!

1) Beauty and the Beast by Nightwish



I absolutely love this band and their mix of operatic vocals and metal guitars. This song puts a spin on the tale Beauty and the Beast with the couple reminiscing about when they met and how they came to fall in love. Then it seems she has fallen in love with another, leaving the Beast alone, ending the tale much different than most versions of it. The songwriter, Tuomas, was inspired by the Disney version of the film.

2) Brick by Boring Brick by Paramore



Paramore is one of my pop-rock guilty pleasures. This song is about a girl who dreams of fairy tales and magic and wants a happily ever after, but crumbles when it doesn't happen for her. I love the various fairy tale allusions and the video with its fantastical and Alice in Wonderland look.

3) Sonne by Rammstein



The video for this song is epicly awesome. It takes the Snow White tale and retells it in a twisted and dark way. The dwarves are basically slaves for Snow White. They brush her hair, polish her apples, and get her gold dust for her. In turn, she abuses and debases them. What makes it all the more twisted is her dress is the same pictured in the 1937 Disney film. The lyrics go with the song as Snow White acts as the dwarves' sun and they have no idea what to do without her. The sun, like Snow, isn't nice: she can burn and hurt as well.

Fairy Tale Songs: Emilie Autumn

Emilie Autumn is a dynamic musician that has changed a lot throughout her career. Her first album is Enchant and it's full of fairy tale stories, violin flourishes, and her awesome voice. Her music defies classification and doesn't fit into any one genre.

1) Rose Red



This song brings to mind Rose Red of fairy tale fame, but turns the tale on its head and introduces modernity.  She sings about seizing your own destiny and not waiting for a prince for rescue like so many fairy tale heroines do. I love this song, especially the celtic violin flourishes behind the main melody.

2) Rapunzel



This is a straight forward song telling Rapunzel's story. She keeps singing and singing in hopes that someone will save her. It can also be interpreted as finding your own voice and connecting with people.

3) What If



This song is reminiscent of the relationship between Cinderella and her stepmother. The stepmother views her as a servant and less than nothing and Cinderella is actually so much more. The same might be said of many of the heroine/stepmother relationships in fairy tales.

I love that although all of these relate to fairy tales, people listening to them today can definitely relate and create their own interpretations of these songs. I highly recommend her other music as well even though her subsequent albums are much different, leaning more towards an Industrial and Victorian inspired sound.