# Haunting music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760 "2003-09-20T04:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/1 "2003-09-20T04:41:11Z")
I seem to categorize some songs as being what I call “haunting”. These songs have a certain sound and wistful tone that lingers in my head for awhile after listening to them. However, apart from a certain sadness or longing to the lyrics, I can’t put my finger on what these songs have in common. Some examples are : The Boys of Summer by Don Henley Here Comes the Rain Again by The Eurhythmics The Chauffeur by Duran Duran (anyone remember that one?) Drive by The Cars (I think) A Twist in My Sobriety by Tanita Tikaram Sour Times by Portishead (Most of my examples seem to come from the 80s…Maybe it’s something particular to my adolescence?) Apart from my personal feelings and associations about these songs, what makes them “haunting”? There’s a certain quality to the music that I can’t put my finger on. What other songs fit this category? Is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![bovinespy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bovinespy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bovinespy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/2 "2003-09-20T07:45:04Z")
I also love the 80s and some of those kinds of songs. How about “Welcome To The Boomtown”, David and David(?) or “Valotte”, Julian Lennon? ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/3 "2003-09-20T07:45:11Z")
I know exactly what you mean! I always think the same thing when I hear “with or without you” by U2. I’m sure I’ll think of some more but that one immediately springs to mind.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/4 "2003-09-20T13:12:39Z")
The Phannnnnnnntom of the Op-er-a. Memory from CATS when it’s sung right. Unfortunately, there are about 5,000 wrong ways to sing it, and most of the recordings aren’t good. Go with the Original London Cast CD. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/5 "2003-09-20T14:57:09Z")
For “haunting” music, you really can’t beat J.S. Bach’s _Toccata and Fugue in D Minor_. That tune is playing on a pipe organ in damn near **every** haunted house. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/6 "2003-09-20T15:35:29Z")
**tracer** , that’s a great one. _Night on Bald Mountain_ is one that always spooked me (I can’t recall the composer, but it’s in _Fantasia_). I’ve always thought that “Ashes” by Rufus Wainwright had a haunting melody. Beautiful song. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/7 "2003-09-20T16:21:19Z")
Ultraviolet **The Boys of Summer by Don Henley** This song and especially the video fills me with great melancholy and sadness that it so disturbing I am not right for days. I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/8 "2003-09-20T16:41:56Z")
I really like _Neptun der Mystiker_ from **The Planets** byGustav Holst. Actually I find the whole CD very haunting. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/9 "2003-09-20T17:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by saramamlana \* > **tracer, that’s a great one. _Night on Bald Mountain_ is one that always spooked me (I can’t recall the composer, but it’s in _Fantasia_).** It’s by Mussorgsky. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/10 "2003-09-20T18:19:11Z")
**Dave Gahan** - A Little Piece **Dead Can Dance** - I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Live) **Recoil** - Black Box (pts 1 & 2) **Depeche Mode** - Sibeling Just a couple off-hand. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/11 "2003-09-20T18:31:19Z")
**Pet Shop Boys** - West End Girls **Depeche Mode** - Behind The Wheel / Route 66 **Berlin** Take my breath away **Double** Captain of her heart **Lionel Ritchie** Love will conquer all ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/12 "2003-09-20T18:33:32Z")
Oh, and I almost forgot **Cardigans** - Erase / Rewind ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/13 "2003-09-21T01:21:20Z")
Some more that I just thought of: In the air tonight by Phil Collins Mama by Genesis (or is it Phil Collins alone?) - cheesy but effective Life in a northern town by The Dream Academy Smalltown boy by Bronski Beat Promenade by U2 (from The unforgettable fire) Many, many Cure songs (almost all of the Disintegration album, in particular) Jackie by Sinead O’Connor I’m on fire by Bruce Springsteen Fairground by Simply Red Hotel California by The Eagles ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/14 "2003-09-21T01:37:02Z")
“The Scientist” by Coldplay is a recent one that sticks out for me. I’m sure it’s at least partially the video, but the song is quite pretty, in a melancholy way. I’m also partial to Portishead’s “Sour Times,” but I find that “Wandering Stars” upsets me more. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/15 "2003-09-21T01:52:16Z")
There’s a Porishead song on their extended second album that I’ve been listening too lately, dunno the title, but the chorus is sometihng like “I can hardly see the sky somedays.” ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/16 "2003-09-21T02:01:14Z")
Possession, Sarah McLachlan 1979, Smashing Pumpkins Dying, Hole Hands, Jewel November Rain, Guns 'n Roses Loser, 3 doors down mmm mmm mmm, Crash Test Dummies People are Strange, Riders on the Storm, Doors Losing my Religion, Everybody Hurts, REM Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult Uninvited, Alanis Moriset (misspelled sorry) Runaway Train, Soul Asylum Cats in the Cradle, Old or newer version Paint it Black, Rolling Stones Black Hole Sun, Soundgarden Everlong, FooFighters Hurt, NIN (the ultimate) ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/17 "2003-09-21T02:24:36Z")
On the same Don Henley album as “Boys of Summer” is “Sunset Grill.” Which I find even more haunting, with the eerie horns. I remember when I first heard it, back in 1984. I was nicely stoned about 4 in the morning playing cards. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was Don Henley. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/18 "2003-09-21T03:06:21Z")
“Sally Go Round the Roses” by the Jayenettes I defy anyone to find something more spooky than that. ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/19 "2003-09-21T03:18:31Z")
“Who Will Take Your Dreams Away” sung by Marianne Faithful It’s that song from the end of CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Faithful’s voice (present voice) is haunting enough. Tie it with this song and you have, um, haunting squared! Yeah, that’s the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![teleute12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@teleute12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teleute12)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760/20 "2003-09-21T03:59:48Z")
I’d say “Me and a Gun” by Tori Amos pretty well qualifies. Also: Velvet Chain, “Treason” Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody” Goo Goo Dolls, “Iris” Evanescence, “Hello” Bif Naked, “Lucky” Angie Hart, “Blue” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haunting-music/202760.md?page=2)