What Is The Quintessential Goth Song?

[Troy Spiral (13)]

What do you feel is the the quintessential Goth song?

quin·tes·sence

1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.

2. the most clear embodiment of something.

[Onyx]

For me

Sisters of Mercy - Temple of Love

and a close second -This Corrosion

I just love those two songs and it makes me think of gothy things and people.

[n0Mad]

"I'm Too Sexy" -Right Said Fred

[BrassFusion]

For me

Sisters of Mercy - Temple of Love

and a close second -This Corrosion

I just love those two songs and it makes me think of gothy things and people.

is it coincidence that temple of love is on dgn radio RIGHT THE FUCK NOW

[Homicidalheathen]

NINE INCH NAILS LYRICS

"Head Like A Hole"

God money i'll do anything for you.

God money just tell me what you want me to.

God money nail me up against the wall.

God money don't want everything he wants it all.

[bridge:]

no you can't take it

no you can't take it

no you can't take that away from me

no you can't take it

no you can't take it

no you can't take that away from me

head like a hole.

black as your soul.

i'd rather die than give you control.

head like a hole.

black as your soul.

i'd rather die than give you control.

[Chorus:]

bow down before the one you serve.

you're going to get what you deserve.

bow down before the one you serve.

you're going to get what you deserve.

God money's not looking for the cure.

God money's not concerned with the sick amongst the pure.

God money let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised.

God money's not one to choose

[phee]

Béla Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus

[creatureofthenyte]

Maybe, Fascination Street by The Cure ?

[BrassFusion]

put my vote in for "k is for kompressor"

[Fierce Critter]

Phee beat me to my answer. Make that 2 votes for Bela.

The other song that quickly came to mind - Ministry - Every day is Halloween

note of personal interest: the songs I personally view as typically goth are songs I can't dance to very well, and that they don't play very much at CC anymore. Which is one reason I don't refer to CC as a "goth" club. I've started using

[Head Wreck]

so many to list.

i concour with phee and critters choices

brass's choice is also a classic thouh not strictly goth

[LuluVox]

"Release the Bats" by The Birthday Party. :D

[Scary Guy]

For me

Sisters of Mercy - Temple of Love

and a close second -This Corrosion

I just love those two songs and it makes me think of gothy things and people.

Temple of Love OVER This Corrosion? No because This Corrosion has gotten way WAY more club play at City and is probably the most overplayed SoM song EVER.

Béla Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus

Yes, but I hate how SNL used it for "Goth Talk".

put my vote in for "k is for kompressor"

That is industrial, not goth. Also "Kompressor Does Not Dance" would have been a better choice if you're going to pick any Kompressor at all.

Phee beat me to my answer. Make that 2 votes for Bela.

The other song that quickly came to mind - Ministry - Every day is Halloween

Also a good pick, but that's industrial, not goth. Lyrically it's spot on though.

I'd also like to thrown in (even though they aren't very goth, but they did get quite a bit of play at City back in the day).

Beborn Beton - Another World

Razed in Black - Oh My Goth!

VNV Nation - Further

As far as truly goth songs go:

The 69 Eyes - Gothic Girl

Alien Sex Fiend - I Walk the Line

The Astro Vamps - Creatures After Dark

Cristian Death - Spiritual Cramp

Clan of Xymox - Jasmine and Rose

The Cure - A Night Like This

The Cramps - Goo Goo Muck (gothabilly though)

Gerard McMahann (sp?) - Cry Little Sister

Jill Tracy - The Proof

Joy Devision - Love will Tear us Apart (or Dead Souls)

Killing Joke - Love Like Blood

Legendary Pink Dots - Lucifer Landed

London After Midnight - Kiss

Poesie Noire - Love is Colder Than Death

Sneaky Bat Machine - Boneshaker

The Mission U.K. - Wasteland

Two Witches - Dead Dogs Howl

Type O Negative - Christian Woman (gothic metal but it still counts)

But if I had to pick ONE song.... JUST ONE?

Fuck I can't do it. I can't pick just one. You cannot limit the scene to a song.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Phee beat me to my answer. Make that 2 votes for Bela.

The other song that quickly came to mind - Ministry - Every day is Halloween

note of personal interest: the songs I personally view as typically goth are songs I can't dance to very well, and that they don't play very much at CC anymore. Which is one reason I don't refer to CC as a "goth" club. I've started using

Temple of Love OVER This Corrosion? No because This Corrosion has gotten way WAY more club play at

You think that club play = credibility as a goth song? Not saying i disagree, just wondering if that was the intention there.

I'm not trying to bias anyone one way or another, just making sure i understand the intended connection.

[Scary Guy]

You think that club play = credibility as a goth song? Not saying i disagree, just wondering if that was the intention there.

I'm not trying to bias anyone one way or another, just making sure i understand the intended connection.

If we're talking about Sisters of Mercy song = ultimate goth song then I'd go with "(I Don't Exist) When you Don't See me". However it's a lesser known track (actually I'd go with Black Planet but that is even less known, considering they changed the lyrics to make it "Dance on Glass").

When I think of Sisters of Mercy I think of the track that I heard all the time at the club that lasts for 10 minutes and 57 seconds, and is track five off of the album "Floodland". One of the tracks where DJ has to go take a shit, get a drink, and STILL has to cut it short because Andrew doesn't know how to end the song (not that that's a bad thing). To me it brings back fond memories of both City Club and Labyrinth. Of a time when one could actually call those clubs "goth clubs" and have it be an accurate statement.

I will agree that "Temple of Love" is a great song too, and it did get club play (along with "More", "Doctor Jeep", and "Vision Thing" among others) but it's just not "the song".

[Head Wreck]

interestinmg topic. last night i pondered, "Quintessential song to people in the subculture" or "Quintessential goth song people think of from outside the subculture", but "Quintessential goth club song" is a great question also

[Fierce Critter]

You think that club play = credibility as a goth song? Not saying i disagree, just wondering if that was the intention there.

No, not at all. Not in my case, anyway.

My point about goth/not goth played at CC (which I neglected to finish typing somehow) is actually that CC doesn't play what I would consider quintessential goth music anymore, except for the token SOM, Siouxsie or Peter Murphy song. Even then, they don't necessary play songs by said artists that I would consider more strongly "goth". I'd rather hear "Israel" than "Peek a boo" for instance.

To finish my original sideline thought - I don't call CC a "goth" club due to the fact that they don't play typically goth music. If I use goth to describe it, i include "industrial" in my description as well. But generally, I just say 'underground where a lot of goths and industrial types hang out.'

And I agree with SG - Every Day is Halloween is very goth in lyrics, and barely even industrial in sound - I'd actually put it more in a synthpop category.

I'd have put "Israel" as my number one, as the overall tone of the song is, to my ears, perfect goth. But the lyrics aren't as much.

As far as SNL using "Bela" for "Goth Talk" - I thought it was wonderful. I have a tape somewhere with every occurrence of that skit taped - and Bela was the perfect song to go with it.

[sass_in_the_pants]

Another vote for Bela Lugosi's Dead.

[Scales]

Bela Lugosi's Dead in my opinion.. but it's probably because every time I listen to it I daydream of doing a live cover of it.

Christian Woman by Type O Negative is an awesome song, even though the lyrics are supposed to be humorous.

[Scary Guy]

Christian Woman by Type O Negative is an awesome song, even though the lyrics are supposed to be humorous.

Oh and they are, and "Black No. 1" might fit better lyrically. However as far as the sound goes I'm sticking with my choice.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Bela Lugosi's Dead in my opinion.. but it's probably because every time I listen to it I daydream of doing a live cover of it.

Christian Woman by Type O Negative is an awesome song, even though the lyrics are supposed to be humorous.

Wow. I've done my share of Type-O homework and that's the first time i heard that. Woman always struck me as a dead-serious song about a psycho/sexually confused girl. Not that i don't believe you, just interesting to hear that after all these years.

Bella was sure meant as a joke... That definitely is one I don't think anyone in my little proto-goth circle back in the day had any real clue that it wasn't meant seriously.

[Sybil]

What do you feel is the the quintessential Goth song?

quin·tes·sence

1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.

2. the most clear embodiment of something.

its a remake but when i read the question, it started playing in my head..

Sisters of Mercy-Gimme Shelter - Stones remake.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

This one is hard because you first have to decide what a "goth song" actually is , before you can then decide what is a "Quintessential" Goth song.

[JaneDead]

Another vote for Bela Lugosi's Dead.

and another.

when i saw this thread this is the song that popped into my head.

also - i like it, my kids like it, and it has a beat we can dance to.

[Msterbeau]

and another.

when i saw this thread this is the song that popped into my head.

also - i like it, my kids like it, and it has a beat we can dance to.

Ditto.

I told Phee in PM when I was in my "no more posts" phase. but I'm outta that so I can say it here, now.

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

If I want the song the EXEMPLIFIES goth, how about the Godfather of all Goth songs?

I am talking "She's Not There" by the Zombies, 1964 chart topper.