Vampire Music Explored and Defined
One of the difficult things about Vampire Music is finding the type of music that you, the listener, are interested in. Some people want to listen to music about vampires. Others want to listen to music that they believe vampires would listen to. While other prefer to listen to music that they heard on films about vampires, or that they associate with vampires.
Some have suggested that you can classify ‘Vampire Music’ into five different categories:
1. Songs with obvious vampire lyrics
2. Songs that are obliquely vampiric
3. Songs that are allegedly vampiric
4. Songs in which vampires are mentioned
5. Songs found on the soundtracks to vampire films
First, songs with obvious vampire lyrics usually contain references to famous vampires like Dracula, a nocturnal existence, the “undead”, or drinking blood. These songs usually leave little doubt in the listeners’ mind that the song is about vampires or vampiric activity.
Oblique references are more subtle than obvious vampire lyrics (obviously). Usually oblique references are metaphorical and make references to things like nocturnal activities, predatory hunger for another person, or of a victim being drained of blood or life essence.
Allegedly vampiric songs are usually identified through the title of the song or some other similar means. The nature of the music may make it unintelligible or difficult to understand though, like in some hardcore punk or thrash metal. Although the listener may suspect that the music is vampiric in nature, it may be difficult to decipher exactly what is being sung.
Songs in which vampires are mentioned are definitely more overt and easy to identify. These songs may reference a specific vampire or stories about vampires. Sex and vampirism are often the main focus, but there may be other focuses as well.
Finally, vampire film soundtracks can be instrumental, lyric-based, or both. They can also include both songs from movies and television shows. The Queen of the Damned soundtrack is an example of a vampire film soundtrack that is lyric-based and not necessarily an instrumental.
It is important that the listener identifies the type of vampire music that they would like to listen to. There are hundreds and even thousands of songs out there that may fit into one, or more than one, of the five categories listed above. Identifying the proper category that the listener wishes to listen to will enable them to find the vampire music that is most suited to them.
This post was inspired by the article Vampire Music at Answers.com.