A short playlist of songs that would be played in the haunted home town of Mystery Incorporated. Featuring songs by John Williams, the Specials, Fleetwood Mac, the Ramones, and Big Data. Mostly dated music, and some songs with a weird atmosphere. Perfect for a drive through a supernatural little town. Links go to the track on Spotify!
Double Trouble by John WilliamsÂ
This song from the H*rry P*tter soundtrack is the perfect introductory song. Featuring the frog choir, with lyrics derived from the three witches in Macbeth, this catchy but unsettling song sets up the mood for the town.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!
Ghost Town by The Specials
By the Specials, Ghost Town was released in the early 1980s, about the woes of the inner city and the lack of government support that turns it into a ghost town. The ska-rock song perfectly encapsulates the 1960s-1980s style of music that would be blasting in Coolsville. When the lyrics of this song are taken literally, the trance-like instrumental of this track goes so well with Mystery Inc.'s antics. What are they looking for this time? Probably a mummy.
This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Love Potion No. 9 by The Clovers
*Disclaimer: the second line in the song uses the g-slur to refer to a psychic, which was not, at the time, widely established to be a slur in America* Start the song at 0:31! This cute little song by the Clovers was released in the early 1960s. The man in the song takes a love potion and falls in love with everything. Goofy and fun, this perfectly encapsulates the mood when the gang investigates shenanigans.
I didn't know if it was day or night
I started kissing everything in sight
I had so much fun that I'm going back again
I wonder what will happen with love potion no. 10
Dracula by Gorillaz
This song uses vampires as a metaphor for the draining exploitative labor that blue-collar workers have to face. Yet, the instrumental and sampling of a Looney Toons episode called "Transylvania 6-5000" would easily be the preferred background noise for a modern Dracula, and Coolsville Radio knows it!
I am a vampire!
(Percentage of us tow the line
The rest of us is out of reach
Everybody, party time
Some of us will never sleep again)
Rest is good for the blood!
Here Comes The Night Time by Arcade Fire
Fast-paced and slow at the same time, this song shows the transition from the peaceful evening to the scary night time. The heavy beat and brass along with the fluctuating speed gives a feeling of adrenaline and paranoia, kind of like you're running from something, but enjoying yourself at the same time.
When the sun goes down you head inside
'Cause the lights don't work
Yeah nothing works they say you don't mind
Here comes the night time
Man With The Hex by The Atomic Fireballs
This song reminds me of the Scooby-Doo: Spooky Island movie. No, I will not provide further explanation. (It's about hexing and voodoo, and is almost like electro-swing.)
You remind me of the man (what man?)
Yeah, the man with the power (what power?)
Yeah, the power of voodoo (voodoo!)
Yeah, you do, you do (do what?)
Scorpio by Kashmere Stage Band
This instrumental song recorded in the 1960s/1970s is perfect for a montage of the Scooby and the gang going out on a wild goose chase. Time-period appropriate, this song was likely a favorite within the Mystery Machine's radio.
Black Magic Woman by Fleetwood Mac
Slow and moody, this song is about the vibes a particular woman gives off, some what of an evil force. The whole town probably listens to the sick guitar solo in times of trouble.
Got me so blind I can't see
But she's a black magic woman
And she's tryin' to make a devil out of me
Pet Semetary by The Ramones
Coolsville Radio specifically plays this track for their beloved Scooby. Though, let's hope it doesn't come to that! Kind of an uppity track, we already know Shaggy put everyone on to this.
Under the arc of a weather stain boards
Ancient goblins, and warlords
Come out the ground, not making a sound
The smell of death is all around
And the night when the cold wind blows
No one cares, nobody knows
Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
Sometimes the gang thinks the guys at the radio station put this song on to inspire people to get in-costume and wreak havoc. Well, at least it gives Mystery Inc. something to do!
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away oh oh oh
Dangerous by Big Data (ft. Joywave)
Kind of slow with high-pitched vocals, this song is like a battle cry by perpetrators. At the end of the day, though, no matter how dangerous the troublemakers are, they can never get away with it because of those nosy kids and their dumb dog!
And now they coming, yeah, now they coming
Out from the shadows
To take me to the court because they know
Gotta shut this down, cause they been watching all my windows
1940 by The Submarines
Slow and upbeat at the same time, this track totally contrasts the previous song. It is clearly creepy, and the almost-happy lyrics are pretty unnerving. It gives off a vibe that you are comfortable, and that's bad because there's definitely something wrong here... if only you could put your finger on what that is!
You couldn't sleep for the awful fright
That kept you up in bed last night
While curious shapes shift in the dark
They vanish with the sunlight spark
