Who doesn’t love some good songs inspired by famous movie villains, especially the more monstrous kind? These three tracks are pretty wildly different from each other, but each follows the common theme of being inspired by some famous on-screen baddies. Let’s take a look at three songs inspired by movie villains!
1. “Nosferatu” by Blue Oyster Cult
This homage to a famous vampire is a killer entry on our list of songs inspired by movie villains. And we wouldn’t be surprised if it has gotten more plays in recent weeks following the release of Robert Eggers’ reimagining of Nosferatu.
This song, however, is directly inspired by the OG 1922 silent German Expressionist film, Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror. Blue Oyster Cult’s hard rock homage to the film references several events from the original horror film and directly explores the relationship between the pale vampire in question and his victim, Lucy.
2. “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads
This new wave track has to be one of the most famous examples of songs inspired by famous movie villains. Although, we doubt this is the only song out there to pull inspiration from the murderous psychopath Norman Bates from Psycho.
Interestingly enough, “Psycho Killer” was originally written as a joke. David Byrne wanted to make a “rude” song in the same vein as Alice Cooper, and decided to pen a tune about a guilty serial killer. Obviously, the end result was not exactly like a shock rock song you’d expect from Cooper. Instead, the addictive beat of “Psycho Killer” and the smart use of French and English lyrics led the song to become a legendary hit for Talking Heads.
3. “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” by The Cramps
I’ll die on the hill that The Cramps are underrated. “I Was A Teenage Werewolf” is one of the most addicting songs inspired by villains out there. This 1989 garage punk track was inspired by the 1967 sci-fi horror film I Was A Teenage Werewolf.
Lux Interior injected a few comedic lines into this homage to the teen werewolf Tony. We’re particularly fond of “I have puberty rights / And I have puberty wrongs / No one understood me.”
Photo by Peter Noble/Redferns
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