Popdose - Latest Comments in Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

jjdoe — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 19:51:27 -0000

This was a great song to rediscover. I was 15 when it came out, and I like it a lot more, now, as an adult. Singer Mary says the song isn't about rape. But you are right - something bad happened. My bandmate's GF loved sex! They were always doing it. She was my first. When I looked up the bandmates on FB, decades later, we talked about her. He said her father abused her, and that sex was her way of finding attention and acceptance. Well, that took the fun out of the memory! So sad. Even worse, she had a younger sister...
I've always loved death/murder/creepy songs. Patches, Bringing Mary Home, Dead Man's Curve. Listen to Gillian Welch's 'caleb mayer', if you want a spook ride!

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

markus — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:22:20 -0000

I loved reading this- my mother had the Shangri-La's greatest hits when I was a kid- "Past, Present and Future" was disturbing, but the one that did it for me was "I Can Never Go Home Anymore".

In the middle of that song, you have the girls quietly sing "hush little baby, don't you cry...mama won't go away..." the lead singer screams "MAMA!!!!" These heavy, dramatic strings come in, and the girls sing "...and you can NEVER...go home ANYMOOOORE..." (and then another scream of "MAMA!!!")

THAT gave me the creeps...

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

Tracy Hall — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:59:02 -0000

I know I've missed Halloween, but a song that gave me the absolute creeps when I first heard it was the song from The Blair Witch Project. It included snippets from the film, the scariest was the girl saying breathily "Mom, Dad. I'm so scared." I woke up one morning to hear this on the radio and I felt genuinely afraid. Great song though!

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

Ray — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:54:22 -0000

Great post, but you left out another rather morose tune that was a pretty big hit for them ("I Can Never Go Home Anymore").

Of course my favorite Shangri-La's tune is a complete 180 degree departure from the rest of their output: the bouncy and swinging "Give Him A Great Big Kiss", which just goes to show that even the Shangri-La's apparently needed a break from all the doom and gloom.

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

drcastrato — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:32:15 -0000

Maybe this is too obvious, or too intentional, but Radiohead seems to be making a nice career out of creepy music. Their last 4 or 5 albums are loaded with creepers.

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

Floodgate — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:32:53 -0000

A little-known tidbit about "Leader of the Pack" -- that is a teenage Billy Joel playing piano on that song.

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

MatthewBolin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:34:05 -0000

I just checked it again and it's working fine for me.

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

DwDunphy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:26:41 -0000

How strange is it that I LOVE creepy pop songs. I love them most when others who are listening are just bopping along, then suddenly get it, and then are just shocked and/or horrified.

Horrified, of course, being the most fun.

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

oldetymer — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:01:23 -0000

i would like to hear more of Past Present And Future, but for some reason i only get 29 seconds of it, is it me or is that all there is of it?

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

martyboy008 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:14:30 -0000

testteststs

Re: Spooky Songs: The Shangri-Las

Bill S. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:03:14 -0000

"Past, Present & Future" is incredibly creepy. So is "Dressed in Black", particularly the eerie ending part, where Mary is alone in her room, and the rest of the song, save the bass, have all dropped away.