The Soundtrack Of Your Nightmares

You know how the porn industry turned a simple seventies funk groove (Bow-bicca-wow-wow) into Ron Jeremy’s daily soundtrack? Certain musical pieces become so indelibly tied to visual works that you can’t remove the images from your mind when you hear them (I will never again be able to hear “Stuck In The Middle” without thinking of the ear-cutting scene from Reservoir Dogs). Well, horror movies have a veritable smorgasbord of unforgettable music that will never be separated from the bloody masterpieces that housed them. You want a list, you say? Have at it…

1. Toccatta & Fugue in D Minor (J.S. Bach) – Most commonly known as “that organ music from Phantom of the Opera”, this piece has become a horror staple.
2. Mr. Sandman (The Chordettes) – It’s almost like they knew there would eventually be a dream stalker like Freddy out there. Where would the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise be without this song?
3. Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) – If you don’t think of pea soup and crucifix masturbation when you hear this, then chances are you haven’t seen The Exorcist – which seems unlikely.
4. Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival) – A more perfectly suited transformation song for An American Werewolf In London you would never find. Lycanthropes around the globe rallied for this as their theme song after that movie.
5. Halloween Theme (John Carpenter) – Carpenter couldn’t read or write a note when he composed this simple piano melody. But the understated tune left an impression, and clued Halloween moviegoers in on when Mr. Myers was going to meet his next victim.
6. Jaws Theme (John Williams) – If you ever want to check how much this song has pervaded our memories, try going to the beach and playing this song at a loud volume. You may get kicked in the groin, but the sociological test is still valid.
7. Jeepers Creepers (originally by Louis Armstrong) – Was the original intention of this song to make me think about some kind of monster eating eyeballs? No? Well, tell that to my brain, would you…
8. Psycho Theme (Bernard Herrmann) – You know that experiment I mentioned with the Jaws theme at the beach? It works equally well with this song when your significant other is in the shower. (Juano’s Addiction does not assume any responsibility for the loss of limbs or assorted dangly bits during the course of these tests)
9. After Dark (Tito & Tarantula) – Tito & company actually play the house band in From Dusk Till Dawn. Whether or not you remember THEM, I bet you have a clear image of Salma Hayek doing the gyrating snake dance while she pours tequila down her leg. Yes, she turns out to be a killer vampire – but what a way to go!
10. Hellraiser (Christopher Young) – The entire soundtrack to Hellraiser was a sweeping gothic nightmare, but the title track…perfection. This thing will tear your soul apart!

You want more lists, you say? On the week of All Hallows Eve, how could I say no? You’ll have your Halloween soundtrack, a list of the finest Zombie comedies around, and anything else we can pack in. Just stick with us – we’ll provide the bloody best!