Top Ten Zombie Themed Songs

Well, it’s October, and you know what that means! HORROR OVERLOAD! Not like that’s anything different for us, but still! To celebrate the ushering in of the month of all things spooky, we’ll be doing lists. Not your average mundane Top 10 yadda yaddas. We’re talking interesting and different shit that you won’t find anywhere else! Let’s get the boat (literally) rocking with the first one out of the gate … Dread Central’s Top 10 Zombie Themed Songs!

Why zombie themed songs! Quit your bitchin’, dude! Zombies were people, too! And they need to rock the hell out just like everyone else! Strap in and crank up the sound for your favorite Aunt Alicia and everyone else who may be listening!

This bouncy bit of psychobilly is from the Toronto, Ontario-based band The Creepshow and features the “easy on the eyes” Sarah “Sin” Blackwood. The song features a lot of comedy but also shows the band’s obvious deep abiding love for all things reanimated. The tune is lively, the lyrics are a hoot, and Blackwood looks like a million bucks (especially after her zombification).

One of the most powerful – and scary-sounding – pieces of music in horror. From its ominous opening notes and on through the chorus of moaning voices, this song has more atmosphere than can be found in most modern horror films. Italian maestros – and longtime Dario Argento collaborators – Goblin show us all how it’s done and craft a truly memorable song.

This little tune from the under-rated film Dead and Breakfast comes from G4 contributor and troubadour Zach Selwin and packs – to my way of thinking – just as much fun and dance moves as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. The music is infectious, the lyrics smart and funny, and this video clip exhibits some good gore.

7. “Living Dead Beats” — Sek

A drum-n-bass groove littered with samples and images from the seminal zombie film Night of the Living Dead. The pace is fast and the pocket it resides in is funky, and it’s fun to spot all the references in the dialogue. While this is not something you might readily think of when the subject of zombies comes up, it’s still great fun.

An alternate mix of the Rob Zombie classic culled from the soundtrack to the painful The Crow: Salvation. This version of Zombie’s ode to an undead lover packs more things of interest than the entire Crow movie did. Thundering guitars and a driving synthesizer line make this one far better than its original.

Singer/songwriter Voltaire has been making spooky gypsy music for a long time now. His performances at conventions are standing room only and a whole lot of fun. The song “When You’re Evil…” is something every self-respecting genre fan should own. This ode to an encounter with a lovely undead lady of the night is great for those long nights lounging in your crypt this Halloween.

Computer & gaming nerds know Jonathan Coulton well. His appearances at PAX are something of legend. This bit of debate between a yuppie zombie and his coworker is spot on and was used as one of the selections in Left 4 Dead 2 jukeboxes. By the end of the song, the zombie’s rationale for coming outside to be eaten almost seems reasonable.

3. “Walk Like A Zombie” — Horrorpops

More psychobilly … this time from Denmark. Much like The Creepshow, Horrorpops features an eye-catching female singer (this time in the luscious form of Patricia Day) and an innate sexuality that makes the spooky topic under discussion seem almost enticing. This fan-made clip features some bits from Tim Burton’s Nightmore Before Christmas which add to the fun.

A flash from the past. Folksters The Kingston Trio are not the kind of band you’d expect to hear singing about the living dead, but their version of this classic Jamaican tune makes a zombie uprising seem almost quaint. While more focused on the traditional Voodoo zombie paradigm, it still has enough fun and macabre sensibilities for all to enjoy.

This is probably the greatest zombie tune of all time. Reportedly harvested from standard film library music by Romero and crew for the original Dawn of the Dead, there’s not a zombie fan alive out there who doesn’t smile when they hear this song. Listen toward the end of the zombie chorus to chime in with their version of lyrics.