What Is The Quintessential Goth Song?

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I'd have to suggest that the proto-goth boys were making music long before the 1960s. Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream has plenty of "goth songs" in it , just as a random example. Mozart's Requiem

would destroy any 60s pop song's hope of Goth paternity if Carl Orffs Carmina Burana didn't already as we trace backward in time.

But I'm a massive fan of 60s era music. Myself as 60's pop goth possibilities :

"I Am A Rock" or

"The Sound Of Silence." by Simon and Garfunkel

"The End" by The Doors (or practically the entire "Strange Days" album)

Venus In Furs by The Velvet Underground

There is plenty more, what have become known as the "gothic music themes" have been a mainstay of every aspect of life since (we assume) the dawn of emotional responses. I think we want the word "Quintessential" here since that allows us to imply more latitude. If we say "what is a good example of goth music (exemplifies)" then i think we are pretty much stuck with traditional goth tunes.

[Msterbeau]

When I was driving home Sunday, I thought "Love will tear us apart" by Joy Division would be a damn good candidate. Looks like Scary Guy has me covered, so I'll just second it.

[Scary Guy]

If we're talking old goth music "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones should be mentioned.

Also a lot of Black Sabbath

[phee]

And "Posh Spice" she was goth

[Scary Guy]

And "Posh Spice" she was goth

No but there was a goth spice in that contest that one time. It was like a trainwreck.

[TrixieGothGirl]

I don't know if this qualifies as a goth song, but I like "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Anything , by any band, with a title like that qualifies as a goth song. And mr. zombie is definitely goth.

[TrixieGothGirl]

I'm glad to hear that Troy. That is my all time fave song by him. I can't get enough of that song either. I also like the video for it. There's just something about 'Living Dead Girl' that appeals to me. Maybe because I love graveyards so much.

[Shade Everdark]

I think I'll have to cast another vote for Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

As for Bauhaus, it's hard to beat the unique sound of "Bela Lugosi's Dead", but you know, honestly, I kinda prefer "Who Killed Mr. Moonlight" and "She's in Parties" as exemplars of goth music from them.

And I will not let this thread go without at least an honorable mention to Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." It don't get more goth than that.

Oh, and last but not least. I can't believe no one has mentioned it yet, so I will. Bach's Toccata En Fugue, anyone?

[Scary Guy]

I don't know if this qualifies as a goth song, but I like "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie.

It doesn't unless you go by my modern definition of what goth is.

And I will not let this thread go without at least an honorable mention to Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." It don't get more goth than that.

Actually it gets way more goth than that with the HIM cover (though still not technically goth by the traditional definition, with either song).

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Words are living things, their meanings slowly change over time. Goth didn't come fully formed out of the womb, the term developed over time and continues to develop and be applied to a broader range than some would like, rarely does any what we call "goth artist" call themselves gothic, even "old school" goth bands tend to not like to be called such. To bad for them, bastards with no spine. OMG our sales might drop by .01% !!

If HIM and Type-O are goth, rob certainly is. But that doesn't mean they are "goth bands" it just means they have goth characteristics. Nowadays that's usually the way the term goth is applied. There aren't many card-carrying "goth bands" there are just bands that are gothic as an adjective, or "quality". The "detroitgothic" at the top of the board , intends this interpretation of the word.

Rob is Gothic by any but the most narrow , fossil definition of Gothic. I'm old enough to be one of the fossils, somehow i escaped the cranky stage and learned to accept change.

[Scary Guy]

HIM and Type O aren't goth though, technically.

I was really just making fun of Phee for making fun of, well everyone here who thinks certain bands are goth, when technically they're really not by the classic definition.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

HIM and Type O aren't goth though, technically.

I was really just making fun of Phee for making fun of, well everyone here who thinks certain bands are goth, when technically they're really not by the classic definition.

I point to my previous post as a response to this one.

[Shade Everdark]

It doesn't unless you go by my modern definition of what goth is.

Actually it gets way more goth than that with the HIM cover (though still not technically goth by the traditional definition, with either song).

Yeah, but I didn't come in this thread to debate what goth was.

That's an entirely different set of three or four topics of conversation.

Besides, I thought you knew better than to ever take me seriously.

[LuluVox]

Well, if we're gonna get all nit-picky, I don't even think Joy Division is goth, even if they do have a song called "Dead Souls" and the singer committed suicide. They're post-punk; Ian Curtis would probably roll around in his little Iggy Pop-loving grave if he knew about the genre his music is associated with.

On that note, I nominate "The Eternal"...by...Joy Division.

That's right, 'cause I'm rebellious like that.

Here, I ganked it from myself so you can download it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?5navjmynmnb

Edited June 15, 2007 by LuluVox

[Scary Guy]

Besides, I thought you knew better than to ever take me seriously.

K, how long have you known me? Not that we really talk but you see my posts online. I take just about EVERYTHING seriously. It's one of the reasons I'm so hated.

Well, if we're gonna get all nit-picky, I don't even think Joy Division is goth, even if they do have a song called "Dead Souls" and the singer committed suicide. They're post-punk; Ian Curtis would probably roll around in his little Iggy Pop-loving grave if he knew about the genre his music is associated with.

They can't be cross genre? Think about what Post-Punk is and think about what Gothic is, then think of the defining characteristics of each and you'll see that it's a bit of a blurry line between the two. It seems to me that both Industrial and Gothic genres emerged from Post-Punk.

[LuluVox]

They can't be cross genre? Think about what Post-Punk is and think about what Gothic is, then think of the defining characteristics of each and you'll see that it's a bit of a blurry line between the two. It seems to me that both Industrial and Gothic genres emerged from Post-Punk.

No cross-genre for you!

Edited June 18, 2007 by LuluVox

[Scary Guy]

No cross-genre for you!

Fine, then going with the modern definition of what goth is (because I like bending reality to my will) they are goth, at the very least for the parts you described (Oh yeah and they use a cover of "Love will Tear us Apart" on Charmed, but don't ask me how I know that).

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I'm going to stray a bit from the pack and go with what TO ME is the Gothest of all songs...

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean - Blind Lemon Jefferson but I like the cover by The Dream Syndicate

[LuluVox]

Fine, then going with the modern definition of what goth is (because I like bending reality to my will) they are goth, at the very least for the parts you described (Oh yeah and they use a cover of "Love will Tear us Apart" on Charmed, but don't ask me how I know that).

Post-punk FTW.

[Msterbeau]

Post-punk FTW.

I totally agree that they're not a "goth" band. But the song "Love will tear us apart" is pretty much the embodiment of modern emo goth spirit...

I wouldn't call them "post-punk" either since they were around in the thick of the early days of punk.

They were "New Wave" .

*Runs*

[LuluVox]

I totally agree that they're not a "goth" band. But the song "Love will tear us apart" is pretty much the embodiment of modern emo goth spirit...

I wouldn't call them "post-punk" either since they were around in the thick of the early days of punk.

They were "New Wave" .

*Runs*

*shakes fist at Marc* New wave is a dirty word!

Well, they fit the definition of post-punk pretty well. They were inspired by punk (they formed after seeing a Sex Pistols show), but took that inspiration and made their own sound.

[Scary Guy]

They're No Wave

*walks away quietly*

[LuluVox]

I think they're Aboriginal folk.

[saechalyn]

*jumps into the fray*

Wiki says they're cold wave:

Coldwave or "ColdPop" initially referred to a French style of post-punk and early Dark Wave music in the 1980s, taking its cue from bands like Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure or Siouxsie & The Banshees and manifesting in music by those such as KaS Product, Martin Dupont, Asylum Party, Norma Loy, Clair Obscur, Opera Multi Steel and Trisomie 21.