Say you're a supervillain. You've had a hard days work of conquering, subjugating and committing general acts of bastardy. You sit upon your throne (won through an elaborate bloody campaign of shadowy doings), summon a henchman to bring you a drink (preferably in a chalice made from the skull of your archenemy), and take off your armored boots to relax (perhaps while petting a fluffy kitty). All you need now is the perfect music to listen to. But what's this? Too many songs are made for the good and heroic in mind, and one can only listen to "Night on Bald Mountain" so many times. Where is the music that caters to the super-villains, the dictators, the bloody murderers and insane schemers among us? Look no further than this list! There's a song here for every type of villain.
Two caveats: No Disney songs; they're too easy. The moment we mentioned "Villain songs" some of you began humming "Hellfire" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and yes, it's a great song, but it's been discussed time and time again. Also, we're only picking songs with lyrics, as opposed to instrumental themes like the "Imperial March." It's time to shine the spotlight on some of the other great songs that celebrate and feature bad guys.
10) "Skullcrusher Mountain" by Jonathan Coulton
This villain's love song comes to us from Jonathan Coulton's album Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow. Hey, villains need love, too -- ust because you're a mad scientist controlled by voices in your head doesn't mean you can't find that special someone. And when that special someone tries to make a break for it, time for a friendly reminder that there are wolves outside your secret lair. Hungry wolves. And if your love interest isn't delighted by gifts of monkey-pony hybrid monstrosities? A trip in a golden submarine should definitely win them over, especially because your Doomsday Squad has ensured that you'll be the last two people left on earth. Romantic! If at first you don't succeed, try, try until Stockholm Syndrome sets in.
9) "Villain Song" by Kirby Krackle
It's hard work being wicked. This song is for the villain who feels like giving up, firing the henchmen, and retiring to a quiet life of relaxing on the beach. Kirby Krackle, an amazingly enjoyable comic book-themed band, knows your plight, and is there to tell you that it's never too late to dust off that death ray and revive an old rivalry. Because guess what? While you're puttering around in post-villain retirement, the hero is still out there acting all smug. Are you really going to stand for that? Maybe it's time to come out of retirement and rekindle the fires of that old foe-mance.
8) "When You're Evil" by Voltaire
Voltaire, the goth option for Weird Al fans, writes songs that celebrate the darker side of life, from "Devil, Devil, Devil, Devil Evil, Evil, Evil, Evil Song" to "BRAINS!" This song from album "The Devil's Bris" serves as a reminder that sometimes a villain doesn't need a complex motive. Evil can be it's own reward! "I do it all because I'm evil and I do it all for free... your tears are all the pay I'll ever need!" Wrongdoing may not always be the most lucrative endeavor, but when you get discouraged, just think about all the lovely pain and suffering you're causing. Voltaire's latest album, Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children, looks fiendishly promising as well.
7) "Where There's a Whip, There's a Way" from Rankin/Bass's Return of the King
Villains are bosses. Bosses have to manage henchmen, and sometimes use brutish creatures to get things done. Heck, someone has to go out and butcher while you sit back, tent your fingers and plot. But how do you get lowly minions to behave? Corporal punishment, naturally. This song will remind the henchbeasts why they should fight the bad fight and follow your leadership. But fear of the whip is only the beginning. This song is also catchy enough that they'll be singing it in their off-hours, effectively brainwashing them to be slaves to your cruel and funky whims. It also lets enemies know that not only will your orcs fight for you, they will groove for you. As with most things villainous, this song has style. It's guaranteed to lighten up even the dreariest of death marches!
6) "Hank Scorpio Theme Song" from The Simpsons
Maybe whipping is a bit too barbaric for your tastes. Is your brand of villainy more refined? Do you want healthy, happy henchmen who would fling themselves off a cliff for you because you're such an awesome boss? Then a good role model for you is Hank Scorpio, executive villain extraordinaire. His villainy is so insidious that his employees mistake his methods for good. Featured in the episode "You Only Move Twice," Scorpio's song demonstrates the perks of working for a villain: free dental care, a stock plan that helps you invest, generous pensions plus three weeks paid vacation each year and on Fridays the lunchroom serves hot dogs and burgers and beer (he loves German beer). Success always looks like goodness to lowly folk accustomed to failure (hi there Homer!), and if you let a normal person see that evil is the surest path to success, you may just have another convert to your dastardly cause.
This is unbelievable! I made my own villain playlist, and the two overlap on some of my most esoteric picks: (Joco, Dr. H, Voltaire, Portal, and even "I can't decide," from The Master.) Well done.
Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and contribute this for its surprising musical complexity and juxtaposition of severity and cute/cuddly exterior.
These songs suck royally. The title of this list is misleading. It should be " Campy Villain Themed Songs ". Most of it wasn't really that funny or remarkable. It should be more like this, but not necessarily in this order:1. Imperial March - John Williams2. Here comes the Storms - John Carpenter3. Ordos Control - Emperor Battle for Dune4. Rinzler - Daft Punk5. Zeus' Wrath - God of War6. Darkness - Tangerine Dream 7. Riders of Doom - Basil Poledoris8. Immortals Battle - Tyler Bates9. Burn the Earth - Dethklok10. Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus
I would like to add 'Slaughter your World' to this list as well. Makes me chuckle every time I start singing this in the bus and people throw me shocked glances. Helps that I share my first name with the singing character.
I'd add in "Join Us" from EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL. While there are so so many zombie movies and shows out there, this song may very well be the first where the zombies try to talk someone into becoming one of them -- and in song!
Another good one is The Rake's Song by The Decemberists. Sometimes I feel bad about really, really liking a song about a man who kills all his children ...
The Protomen are an amazing band. If you do or don't agree with it's placement on the list, I urge you to listen to their albums anyway. Great music, great story, and a fantastic live performance. I'm super stoked they're on the list at all, let alone #1! And "Supervillain" was one of my favorite songs a few years back.
I think I now understand why the guys in "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" chose Neil Patrick Harris to be The Music Meister in the 1st place, He makes for such a good villain on musicals.
I also recommend "Evil Night Together" by Jill Tracy. Not only is it a wonderful homage to snuggling while watching the cops scratch their heads at your crime scene, it's also a slinky, sexy number perfect for burlesque.
I also recommend "Evil Night Together" by Diabolical Streak. It's both a great homage to snuggling while waiting for the cops to catch on to what you just did, and a slinky sexy number that is perfect for burlesque.
Okay...to me, the perfect song for a villain to sing before he and his henchman completely level a city:
"Burn It to the Ground" by Nickelback.
I see that, and I see some posse of regulators riding into some small town and having that music play while they erase that town from the face of the earth. I even used that image for a Wild West story I wrote.
And why should Dr. Steel be on this list? Because he's a mad scientist with world domination plans he openly shares with everyone.
It's the Dr. Steel show!
Deep underground with my robotsBuilt 'em out of toy partsBuild an army and war startsUFOs that throw a radium glowInto your skull it sinksTurn your brains into Shrinky Dinks
What fun, I built a Ronald McRay gunNow this little puppet's about to get roughI'm a man with a plan and a mechanical bandWho can't do a little, cause he can't do enough.
And as my armies riseThey take to land and skyYou'll find the toys uprise inside
(repeat)
Bali Hai may call youHidden Isle of a death rayThis is my secret islandGo away, go away
Into the valleys and seasI send my colossal machinesHell-bent on destructionIt's all a production for me.
Go!
And as my armies riseThey take to land and skyYou'll find the toys uprise inside
(repeat x2)
It's unavoidableWe've sealed and locked the doorsSo just sit back, enjoy the show
I have to say, you get major respect points for having The Hounds as number one. If anything makes me want to dress up in three-piece suit and dance around a room while evil things happen, it's definitely that song.
Welp, these are all going on my iPod! I've been meaning to give the henchmen something to boost morale. Now they can listen to this glorious music, non-stop, until they love me and despair! :)
Hee, I have most of these songs already. I absolutely adore skullcrusher mountain and when you're evil- different sides of villainy, but both so good. And of course Jonathan Coulton has two spots on this list- I hope that still alive is still being played ten years from now, because it's a damn good 'triumph in defeat' song.
I actually prefer Brand New Day to Slipping, but I love both- 'where's there's a whip, there's a way' was new to me as was the protomen song, so more delicious villainy to be had.
You might have thought it was Disney, but it's Dreamworks and has Steve Martin and Martin Short putting a little showmanshiply fear into Moses: http://youtu.be/-3fvr589x9s
Playing with the Big Boys Now is devilishly sinister, even as they're losing....
Always love to see the Protomen given some love. I'd also recommend "Sympathy For The Devil" as a great villain song. It was used to excellent effect in Fallen.