There is no set-in-stone definition of what goth is, so of course this list is debatable. Over the years goth has become a lame, watered-down, cartoonized version of itself that no one really wants to be associated with anymore. But to me, "real" goth is primarily about the following things: fearlessness, making society uncomfortable with gender bias (through dressing in drag/S&M/female domination), valuing personal satisfaction above convention, transcending the body, confronting fear of death and fear of judgement from others, and pointing out society's proclivity to value ignorance and fake happiness over genuine complexity of emotion. Goth is very similar to punk in that it is an outright rejection of a society that alienates pretty much everyone in it. It is a middle finger in the face of a system that tries to regulate and neuter your desires. Like any subculture, goth isn't perfect, but for many people it serves as a creative outlet, a lifestyle, and an alternative to going along just to get along.
"...the consummate Goth strategy of resistance: absolute masochistic submission. Unlike the majority of Punks, who seemingly accept the identities gender and sexuality codes impose, wishing only to restyle them to reflect their rejection of consumer capitalism, Goths not only reject them all but express their rejection through a defiantly eroticized passive resistance. In effect, they fling themselves at the feet of their tormentors and say, 'do what you please to me, I will enjoy it' and so transform punishment into triumph."
--Siegel, Carol. Goth's Dark Empire.
Here you will find a variety of goth and semi-gothish music. I had to search back in the "archives" in order to remember some of these bands, which entailed: looking through old mix tapes, checking out lists of bands on compilation CDs I have, jogging my memory thinking about what I taped from friends back in high school, reminiscing about tapes I used to have that were eaten by my tape player, looking up other goth band lists on the internet, and trying to remember some of what I ordered from Projekt, Cleopatra, and WaxTrax catalogs.
In this sampler you won't find much cybergoth, medieval-themed goth, goth metal, instrumental music, or bands like Blutengel and Cruxshadows because I am just not that big of a fan. In addition, I don't have the attention span to sit through most neo-classical goth songs without falling asleep. Different music speaks to different people. As you will see, I have a strong preference towards what some might call "post-punk" or "death rock", and I think early darkwave synthpop is criminally underrated.
Instead of posting the actual youtube videos for each of these songs, I will just post direct links you can click on because this list is quite long. I hope you discover something that makes it into your music collection if it isn't there already...
Clan of Xymox: "Obsession": http://youtu.be/sHH71eHS7rg
Clan of Xymox are not only fantastic, but also seem like the nicest goths ever.
Clan of Xymox: "Obsession": http://youtu.be/sHH71eHS7rg
Clan of Xymox are not only fantastic, but also seem like the nicest goths ever.
In the Nursery: "Iskra": http://youtu.be/MB3neXX-qGk
In the Nursery's "Counterpoint" album used to be my jam when I cleaned my room. At first this song sounds like it is being sung by a masturbating gorilla, then it becomes progressively more awesome.
In the Nursery's "Counterpoint" album used to be my jam when I cleaned my room. At first this song sounds like it is being sung by a masturbating gorilla, then it becomes progressively more awesome.
Fields of the Nephilim: "Moonchild": http://youtu.be/ZEzmOAoovWU
Carl McCoy=gothic Lone Ranger? I must say, he has one of the sexiest voices.
The Stranglers: "Nice n Sleazy": http://youtu.be/OYqllpnyWrY
Love the song title. McDonalds should offer the "Nice n Sleazy" as an alternative to the Big n Tasty sandwich. Watch out for the special sauce. This band doesn't necessarily look or sound "goth" but they appear on a lot of goth band lists.
Fad Gadget: "Collapsing New People": http://youtu.be/tGplqi8GWZECarl McCoy=gothic Lone Ranger? I must say, he has one of the sexiest voices.
The Stranglers: "Nice n Sleazy": http://youtu.be/OYqllpnyWrY
Love the song title. McDonalds should offer the "Nice n Sleazy" as an alternative to the Big n Tasty sandwich. Watch out for the special sauce. This band doesn't necessarily look or sound "goth" but they appear on a lot of goth band lists.
My friend Chad gave me the Fad Gadget "Under the Flag" cassette tape in high school. Interesting stuff. This video can be filed very neatly into the WTF folder of your mind.
Sisters of Mercy: "Black Planet": http://youtu.be/x6Oh4aaLCFM
I'm waiting any day now for Sisters of Mercy to come rescue me in their gothmobile.
Specimen: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang": http://youtu.be/rOPEIMpJQ4A
If you "get" Specimen, then you realize how much fun it is to see a man knock slutshaming back on its own ass by exploiting his own whorishness.
I'm waiting any day now for Sisters of Mercy to come rescue me in their gothmobile.
Specimen: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang": http://youtu.be/rOPEIMpJQ4A
If you "get" Specimen, then you realize how much fun it is to see a man knock slutshaming back on its own ass by exploiting his own whorishness.
Lycia: "Ionia": http://youtu.be/Tigi-_oyhNA
I mail ordered one of their tapes from the Projekt catalog back in the day and at first I thought it was boring, but eventually it grew on me. This song and "Pray" are my favorite Lycia songs.
I mail ordered one of their tapes from the Projekt catalog back in the day and at first I thought it was boring, but eventually it grew on me. This song and "Pray" are my favorite Lycia songs.
Cabaret Voltaire: "Sensoria": http://youtu.be/RkfzXq0tA3c
An early influence on industrial music; electronic creepiness and hardcore sexiness. Stephen Mallinder is so oddly attractive I feel like staring at his face for hours. Also, "I Want You" by this group is probably the funkiest song you will hear, and you won't be able to stop singing the chorus to yourself.
Attrition: "Shrinkwrap": http://youtu.be/cNyuDklF-F8
I love the lyrics to this song and how the singer sounds like a male phone sex operator from Germany.
Skeletal Family: "Promised Land": http://youtu.be/41AqlPjc-Wc
The first time I heard Skeletal Family I couldn't not dance. Heroes!
These New Puritans: "Elvis": http://youtu.be/lzHwRcOsDNw
This band is pretty recent. Not sure if they would be considered goth-ish by most people, but I think they are. They are astounding, dark, and strange. Also love the song "Hologram" by this same band.
UK Decay (postpunk): "Mayday Malady": http://youtu.be/cy0l4XlD0k0
So punk, so goth, so awesome.
Kabuki/Ausgang: "King Hell": http://youtu.be/098iNWqXEak
Amazing, hilarious, handsome musicians with incredible hair. They also wrote a song about their hair called "My Hair." I'm going to go blush and faint like a schoolgirl now.
The Wake: "Christine": http://youtu.be/Um_tRg-cGg0
You were about to be arrested by the gothic museum police, but then they got distracted and fondled the statues.
Zero le Creche: "Last Year's Wife": http://youtu.be/vCesBGH8DQ0
So lovely and anthemic, like a gothic prom song.
An early influence on industrial music; electronic creepiness and hardcore sexiness. Stephen Mallinder is so oddly attractive I feel like staring at his face for hours. Also, "I Want You" by this group is probably the funkiest song you will hear, and you won't be able to stop singing the chorus to yourself.
Attrition: "Shrinkwrap": http://youtu.be/cNyuDklF-F8
I love the lyrics to this song and how the singer sounds like a male phone sex operator from Germany.
Skeletal Family: "Promised Land": http://youtu.be/41AqlPjc-Wc
The first time I heard Skeletal Family I couldn't not dance. Heroes!
These New Puritans: "Elvis": http://youtu.be/lzHwRcOsDNw
This band is pretty recent. Not sure if they would be considered goth-ish by most people, but I think they are. They are astounding, dark, and strange. Also love the song "Hologram" by this same band.
UK Decay (postpunk): "Mayday Malady": http://youtu.be/cy0l4XlD0k0
So punk, so goth, so awesome.
Kabuki/Ausgang: "King Hell": http://youtu.be/098iNWqXEak
Amazing, hilarious, handsome musicians with incredible hair. They also wrote a song about their hair called "My Hair." I'm going to go blush and faint like a schoolgirl now.
The Wake: "Christine": http://youtu.be/Um_tRg-cGg0
You were about to be arrested by the gothic museum police, but then they got distracted and fondled the statues.
Zero le Creche: "Last Year's Wife": http://youtu.be/vCesBGH8DQ0
So lovely and anthemic, like a gothic prom song.
Rosetta Stone: "The Witch": http://youtu.be/9CtDErVTsoA
Their singer is a pretty, pretty man. I'm not gonna lie--I'm not really into the song. I just felt like ogling the dude.
Their singer is a pretty, pretty man. I'm not gonna lie--I'm not really into the song. I just felt like ogling the dude.
Current 93: "All the World Makes Great Blood": http://youtu.be/AV3LGPJnRpI
It was difficult to pick just one song by Current 93 because their musical style is all over the place (in a good way). I just sort of picked this song at random. I also really like that one song about the blacksmith, and that other song about the raindrops in May. Shame on me, I always forget Current 93 song titles.
Trance to the Sun: "Homewrecker": http://youtu.be/I148U2iQvCE
This song takes my heart out and squeezes it. Creepy and beautiful. Also, does the presenter think he is acting in Shakespearean theater...and is that Igor over by the speakers?
Sex Gang Children: "Sebastiane": http://youtu.be/UTgDfSF_2Pk
Like punk... but with cheesy Halloween makeup and violins.
Killing Joke: "Millenium": http://youtu.be/K1jvrvdQMt8
Killing Joke makes me feel warm and fuzzy, like seeing a friend who I've missed for a long time.
Birthday Party: "Junkyard": http://youtu.be/KvlS4BwTUQw
Nick Cave before the Bad Seeds. I am amused by his spastic crotch dancing. I have two Birthday Party albums and I never really listen to them. I appreciate this music in theory, but when I actually listen to it, it makes my earholes feel violated and in need of a recovery period.
It was difficult to pick just one song by Current 93 because their musical style is all over the place (in a good way). I just sort of picked this song at random. I also really like that one song about the blacksmith, and that other song about the raindrops in May. Shame on me, I always forget Current 93 song titles.
Trance to the Sun: "Homewrecker": http://youtu.be/I148U2iQvCE
This song takes my heart out and squeezes it. Creepy and beautiful. Also, does the presenter think he is acting in Shakespearean theater...and is that Igor over by the speakers?
Sex Gang Children: "Sebastiane": http://youtu.be/UTgDfSF_2Pk
Like punk... but with cheesy Halloween makeup and violins.
Killing Joke: "Millenium": http://youtu.be/K1jvrvdQMt8
Killing Joke makes me feel warm and fuzzy, like seeing a friend who I've missed for a long time.
Birthday Party: "Junkyard": http://youtu.be/KvlS4BwTUQw
Nick Cave before the Bad Seeds. I am amused by his spastic crotch dancing. I have two Birthday Party albums and I never really listen to them. I appreciate this music in theory, but when I actually listen to it, it makes my earholes feel violated and in need of a recovery period.
Virgin Prunes: "Pagan Love Song": http://youtu.be/qgoJn5SUa_4
Get down with your greasy goth mullet, and with your bad self.
The Bolshoi: "Happy Boy": http://youtu.be/0JKVPW-h80E
Eighties as fuck.
Death in June: "Nothing Changes": http://youtu.be/ACc9897ulUU
Death in June is one of those groups where you never really know what to think or say. You just kind of feel "wow", whether it's in a positive way towards their music, or in a somewhat confused way towards their pseudo-fascist, militant image.
Get down with your greasy goth mullet, and with your bad self.
The Bolshoi: "Happy Boy": http://youtu.be/0JKVPW-h80E
Eighties as fuck.
Death in June: "Nothing Changes": http://youtu.be/ACc9897ulUU
Death in June is one of those groups where you never really know what to think or say. You just kind of feel "wow", whether it's in a positive way towards their music, or in a somewhat confused way towards their pseudo-fascist, militant image.
Southern Death Cult: "False Faces": http://youtu.be/3lGPSA2U_4E
Pure and primitive music that doesn't try to be anything but itself. Ian Astbury before The Cult.
Pure and primitive music that doesn't try to be anything but itself. Ian Astbury before The Cult.
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry: "Heaven": http://youtu.be/r6iydP5NU78
A song so beautiful and sad it's almost painful to listen to. Dont' know whether to smile or cry.
.45 Grave: "Concerned Citizen": http://youtu.be/vgJgonJkYgw
Female-fronted death rock that was around in the early '80s, then reformed recently.
A song so beautiful and sad it's almost painful to listen to. Dont' know whether to smile or cry.
.45 Grave: "Concerned Citizen": http://youtu.be/vgJgonJkYgw
Female-fronted death rock that was around in the early '80s, then reformed recently.
Chris and Cosey: "October Love Song": http://youtu.be/WMLQ4FRsepg
One of my all-time favorite songs. This music video is so entertaining--there is a disturbing beast mask, low budget special effects, and S&M stuff going on.
One of my all-time favorite songs. This music video is so entertaining--there is a disturbing beast mask, low budget special effects, and S&M stuff going on.
