Top 5 Songs Used In Horror Movies

Along with music, I love good horror movies.  Through out time and time again, both have merged well together and created memorable moments for the songs and the movies that used them.  For this list I will be counting down the top 5 songs used in horror movies.  In this list I will not be using strictly songs that were written for the movies they were in.  I will be using songs written for a specific movie, as well as songs that were made famous by being featured in a horror movie.  With that, here are the top 5 songs used in horror movies.  

5.  Midnight, The Stars and You by Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, From The Shining

One thing I always found interesting about the big band music of the 20s all the way through the 50s was how people use it for so many different moods today.  One big example of this is (Midnight, The Stars And You) that was used in (The Shining). Lyrically, this is supposed to be a romantic song about being in love with someone.  However, when you listen to the song in (The Shining) it makes you feel uneasy and uncertain.  Some people think that this is a good thing because it is making the music relevant again.  Other people hate it because they feel it is ruining what the songs were originally supposed to be like.  Either way, I like this song a lot.  It is simple, but very catchy and flows very well.  Al Bowlly does a great job singing this song, even though he doesn't have a lot of lines.  However, with the lines he does have, he delivers them well and makes them sound great.  This is a song that really did its job effectively in the movie it was placed in.  When I heard this song in the movie I felt uneasy and it made me wonder what was coming next.  Ever since then, I have wondered, do I play this song when I am on a date?, or when I am in a Halloween maze? Either way, this a good song that does it job very effectively in (The Shining).

4.  Tiptoe Through The Tulips by Tiny Tim, From Insidious

   

I remember when I first heard this song after hearing (Living in the Sunlight) while watching (Spongebob Squarepants).  I found the song very funny and it just made me laugh hard.  However, my perception on that changed after watching (Insidious).  The way that song was used in the movie scared the crap out of me and ever since then I haven't been able to listen to it the same.  Now, every time I hear this song I feel uneasy and always want to look around for anything suspicious.  It is very ironic because Tiny Tim was actually considered a very funny musician.  Throughout his career he always got to people to laugh and enjoy his music by the use of his high voice.  However, in (Insidious), it is used to set up a scare with a ghost boy that just takes you by surprise.  Ever since then, this song has become a staple in this movie series. Every time someone hears this song they think of (Insidious).  

3. Love Kills By Vinnie Vincent Invasion, From Nightmare on Elm Street 4

When it came to horror movies in the 80s, metal was a great thing to pair up with them.  One good example of that is (Love Kills).  While this song is more of a relationship song, the music has an eerie feel to it that works very well for the movie.  The acoustic guitar plays a big part to create that uneasy feeling and Mark Slaughter's voice really takes it over the top.  The man is a good singer and he really captures the uneasy mood the song needs.  While Vinnie Vincent isn't the greatest guitar player in the world, he still does a good job on this song and he is able to play a style that fits the movie very well.  

2.  Dream Warriors by Dokken, From Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors

Dream Warriors is considered to be one of the best songs to be the theme of  a horror movie.  With Don Dokken's awesome vocals and George Lynch's great guitar playing,  you can get a real great song and this is one of their best.  George Lynch starts of with that slow guitar build up and then it transitions into a heavy rock song.  Through out the song the band keeps a good balance between heavy rock n roll and eerie creepy music and they execute it very well.  The main intro and the chorus bring out the heavy side, while the build up and verse focus more on the eerie feel to match the movie.  Overall, not just a great song for the movie but a great metal song.

1.  Hip To Be Square by Huey Lewis and The News, From American Psycho

  

When it comes to the movie American Psycho, the one scene that sticks out in every body's mind is the scene where the guy is murdered while the song (Hip To Be Square) is playing.  This is one of those songs that couldn't be further from the horror movie genre, but they still managed to work it in.  Music wise, this is a clearly upbeat song that is about that makes you want to have fun.  Lyrically, it does fit with the main character and that is the reason why it works in the movie.  The lyrics can be translated to represent the main character and that is why it fits.  However, aside from that, you wouldn't think it would work in the movie.  For me, I can still listen to the song and enjoy while not thinking of the movie.