Horror fans love the holidays too, if the ever-growing catalog of holiday horror movies is any indication. But the endless loop of the same holiday songs playing in the department stores has long grown stale, and it lacks that macabre twist anyhow.
Specifically for horror fans, here are 8 songs to add to your holiday playlist!
Misfits – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
The original song was created for the 1966 cartoon based on Dr. Seuss’ book How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Seuss wrote the lyrics himself. I suppose a family Christmas cartoon doesn’t exactly scream horror, but the lyrics are one endless stream of insults. Catchy and mean! It’s even catchier as a cover by horror punk band Misfits, released on their EP Horror Xmas.
Christopher Lee – “Jingle Hell”
At nearly 92 years old, horror icon Christopher Lee became the oldest living performer to enter the Billboard music charts, and with a heavy metal take on a Christmas classic no less. His second Christmas album A Heavy Metal Christmas Too, features another round of rousing metal covers of well-known holiday songs, but “Jingle Hell” is a great place to start. Lee began his music career singing on The Wicker Man soundtrack, but who knew he’d eventually melt Santa’s face off with heavy guitar riffs?
Tales from the Crypt – “Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas”
Remember when the Cryptkeeper released a holiday album, titled Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas? Released in 1994 and now long out of print, it was full of spoofs and puns of popular holiday songs sung by John Kassir as the Cryptkeeper. This means that the entire album is appropriate for your holiday horror playlist, but this song in particular features a dramatic reenactment over the song of horror comic story “And All Through the House” that accompanied the comic reprint in the CD’s booklet.
Anna and the Apocalypse – “It’s That Time of Year”
The entire soundtrack for this Christmas set zombie musical is worth a listen, but “It’s That Time of Year” sung by actress Marli Siu is a holiday standout. It’s a tongue-in-cheek Christmas song in the vein of “Santa Baby,” and it’s dripping with sexual innuendo. Once you see it performed in the film, the comical number will forever be etched in your brain.
Krampus – “Karol of the Bells”
Composer Douglas Pipes gave a haunting twist to popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” for the holiday horror-comedy’s end credits. But director Michael Dougherty wanted to include a children’s choir so he added lyrics that served as a cautionary tale and called upon his nephew’s show choir at California’s Brea Olinda High School to record it. Thus, “Karol of the Bells” superior horror twist to a familiar Christmas tune was born.
A Christmas Horror Story – “It’s Christmas Eve”
Alex Khaskin’s opening theme to holiday horror anthology A Christmas Horror Story begins as seemingly normal Christmas music, with saccharine vocals and light-hearted instrumentals. Even the lyrics are traditional. But then the music gets heavier and more ominous, and the chanting kicks in. The lyrics also take a decidedly dark turn, making references to the changelings, demons, and dark spirits in the film.
The Nightmare Before Christmas – “Making Christmas”
Tim Burton’s stop-motion animation feature that sees the gothic, monstrous residents of Halloween Town attempt to take over Christmas is a holiday classic. It helps that the music by Danny Elfman is extremely catchy. “Making Christmas” perfectly encapsulates the spooky holiday tone, in which the town gets to work creating creepy holiday toys and décor. As an alternative to the movie’s version of this song, Rise Against covered the song for Disney’s cover album Nightmare Revisited.
The Gremlins – “The Gremlin Rag”
One of six songs composed by Jerry Goldsmith for the soundtrack, “The Gremlin Rag” is the main theme song to this seminal holiday horror movie written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante. The theme will embed itself in your head on its own, but this clip from the movie that shows the pint-sized terrors caroling to their own theme song is the best.