Dark Hued Folktales Musical Compilation
Spooky Delights: Your Gothic Fairy Tale Playlist
Feeling the strange vibes? We've got the perfect gift for you!
Open the curtains, bolt the doors, turn off the lights, and let's dive into the darkness.
You know the world's a bit, well... chaotic? So we decided to bring some magic your way. A MAGICAL GOTHIC FAIRY TALE MUSIC PLAYLIST!
(Yeah, it's not exactly the seasonal bop you were expecting, but trust us, there's nothing like an eerie mystical escape right about now.)
Spending countless hours curating this list for our Gothic Fairy Tales course seemed like a waste if we kept it to ourselves. So here you go!
(FYI, this list has been a personal favorite of mine for, well, ever. And guess what? It's also one of my longest.)
In the spirit of the witching hour, we've gathered tracks that ooze spellbinding melodies and step right out of the pages of a storybook. While not every tune is directly linked to a fairy tale, they all embrace the Gothic aesthetic in their own way. (Except for that one last song, it's just for my personal amusement.)
(P.S. I'm a total headbanger every so often, but we didn't want to inflict too much growling or screaming on you. But hey, if that's your thing, Avec Tristesse's "All Love is Gone" is a must-listen. And if you're looking for something extra spooky, don't forget to give Cradle of Filth's "Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids" a whirl.)
To immerse yourself in the eldritch imagination, click here...
...and here are some thoughts on our top picks:
Nox Arcana - "Shivers" - A mesmerizing instrumental that's a total mood-setter, perfect for haunted houses and echoing halls.
Theatre of Tragedy - "Siren" - Arguably the only band on this list to make an appearance twice, and rightfully so. They're more than just a goth metal band—they fuse a variety of dark styles, giving this tune a unique, enchanting edge.
MS MR - "Bones" - A darkwave gem with lyrics dripping with a sense of mystery and otherworldliness—perfect for late-night shenanigans.
Leaves' Eyes - "Symphony of the Night" - This gothic metal track takes inspiration from one of the most beloved Gothic novels of all time, "Carmilla" by Le Fanu. The vocals transport you straight into the heart of a chilling, centuries-old tale.
Chelsea Wolfe - "Preface to a Dream Play" - The queen of gothic music, Chelsea Wolfe's tracks are basically tailor-made for fairy tale fantasies. We selected this one because it evokes the feeling of a dreamy, haunted enchantment.
Lana Del Rey - "Once Upon a Dream" - Lana's cover of the classic "Sleeping Beauty" lullaby is an atmospheric masterpiece that sweeps you away into a whole new, darker realm.
Myrkur - "Ella" - Myrkur brings the perfect combination of folk and doom metal to this track, transporting you to a world of mystery and enchantment.
Tristania - "My Lost Lenore" - This track is undoubtedly inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" and brings a distinct edge to the gothic metal genre—just remember, there's a hint of growling/screaming involved.
The Birthday Massacre - "Midnight" - This song's familiar melody cloaked in gothic mystique is bound to whisk you away during those late-night, moonlit adventures.
Joy Williams - "Before I Sleep" - The gorgeous vocals and mournful lyrics evoke a sense of far-off, enigmatic longing—a perfect fit for gothic fairy tales.
Nightwish - "Shudder Before the Beautiful" - A gothic metal powerhouse, Nightwish delivers sublime melodies and dark poetics in this haunting track.
Azam Ali - "In Other Worlds" - This Neil Gaiman tribute song is a chilling tribute to his macabre, fantastical fairy tales.
Rasputina - "Transylvanian Concubine" - Gothic ambiance and haunting lyrics combine to bring a unique take on those famous (or infamous?) bloodsucking vixens.
Patrick Wolf - "Damaris" - This gothic song about waiting for a dead lover to rise again is the ultimate heartbreaker.
Within Temptation - "Hand of Sorrow" - We could have picked dozens of Within Temptation songs for this list, but chose this one for its enchanting, gothic melodies and medieval aesthetic.
Theatre of Tragedy - "...A Distance There Is..." - This gothic metal classic is an ode to those timeless, tragic love stories and is one of our top picks of all time.
Yasmine Hamdan - "Hal" - A nod to the dark corners of the Middle East, this song is perfect for that unconventional, mystical playlist.
Epica - "Once Upon a Nightmare" - A gothic metal tune with a dark fairy tale twist, this song's Rise of the Fairy storyline is right up our alley.
Soles - "Love Will Have Its Sacrifices" - This catchy, haunting theme song for the Carmilla web series is reminiscent of a gothic fairy tale quest.
Florence + The Machine - "Seven Devils" - The powerful vocals and haunting themes make this song a dark banger that fits our gothic fairy tale playlist perfectly.
Adam Hurst - "Elegy" - With its haunting, melodic tones, this gothic instrumental is perfect for setting the stage for your late-night escapades.
Paradise Lost - "Enchantment" - With a mix of growling and singing, this gothic metal track sends shivers down your spine.
Digital Daggers - "The Devil Within" - If you're looking for a gothic track with lyrics that really sink their hooks into your soul, this is the one for you.
Loreena McKennitt - "The Highwayman" - A gothic ballad that weaves a spellbinding tale of a haunted highway and the supernatural, this song is a chilling listen that fits perfectly in our playlist.
Valentine Wolfe - "Darkling, Listen" - This gothic track, inspired by John Keats' poem, is a fabulous addition to our fairy tale playlist.
The Awakening - "The Dark Romantics" - We couldn't resist ending on this over-the-top, campy taste of gothic glory. So, my fellow dark romantics, let's dive headfirst into these magical, musically enchanted tales.
Enchanting melodies, supernatural dread, and melodies that call to mind dramatic, gothic landscapes—this playlist is the perfect outlet for your dark fairy tale fantasies. May it transport you to enchanting realms and feed the darkness within you!
(Wanna add some more songs that strike you as perfect for a gothic fairy tale playlist? Tell us about them, we'd love to hear what you've got!)
Enjoy the bewitching harmonies of Evanescence's "Lost in Paradise", a haunting track that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being lost in a gothic fairy tale realm.
Revel in the dark beauty of Angels & Airwaves' "The Adventure", a song that speaks to the underlying themes of both Gothic literature and pop-culture, blurring the lines between reality and a fantastical, enchanted world.
