Music

Friday Playlist: Murder Ballads

I don’t condone violence, but these are some pretty great songs.

03/08/2013 , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Murder is totally wrong, of course. BUT it inspires some of the most romantic, haunting, passionate, and occasionally toe-tapping songs you’ll ever hear. Just don’t get too inspired!

Illustration by Minna

Illustration by Minna

36 Comments

  • Lauren Hartnett March 8th, 2013 11:09 PM

    Ooh, nice list.
    Here’s a nice bonus I just thought of (if you’re into alternative rock and pure indie awesomeness): Murder by The Virgins.

  • ivoire March 8th, 2013 11:16 PM

    The art is amazing, as is the playlist!

    Probably my favourite from this year.

  • airplanes.books March 8th, 2013 11:20 PM

    wait but no nick cave

    • Crystal Lee March 9th, 2013 4:02 AM

      Yeah,right?!

    • enface March 9th, 2013 4:09 AM

      Yes! We need Nick Cave.

      • pleasecallmeginger March 11th, 2013 3:56 AM

        This needs the colab he did with Kylie. Wild roses? Most haunting song ever.

    • themisfitprincess March 9th, 2013 5:41 AM

      I third that! <3 and for future playlists, GREEN DAY. Where is the Green Day? Blink-182? White Lungs?

    • teenidle March 10th, 2013 3:01 PM

      he even wrote an album called murder ballads!

  • NF4awesome March 8th, 2013 11:33 PM

    You didn’t use Folsom Prison Blues! Come on guys, he “shot a man in Reno/Just to watch him die”.

  • wanderluster66 March 8th, 2013 11:56 PM

    This is so great and perfect or the month’s theme. I can see Mack the Knife being on here, too. c:

  • 1000swedishfish March 9th, 2013 2:40 AM

    D: No Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds?! otherwise awesome as usual!

  • FlorenceEyre March 9th, 2013 2:40 AM

    Hurricane by Bob Dylan is an awesome song, but I don´t know if it really fits this playlist.

  • Galadriel March 9th, 2013 4:22 AM

    what about Bang Bang – Nancy Sinatra?

    • umi March 9th, 2013 2:05 PM

      i was thinking that too such an awesome song

  • borgie March 9th, 2013 7:00 AM

    Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have a whole album of murder ballads !

  • MissKnowItAll March 9th, 2013 7:48 AM

    Does anyone know what the name of the Pink Panther theme is?
    Becxause that totally fits in with this

  • fromanotherearth March 9th, 2013 8:25 AM

    Amazing as always!

  • whambamthankyoumaam March 9th, 2013 10:52 AM

    sadly, I listen to running gun blues whenever I’m extremely mad… it helps a lot…

  • Izzy March 9th, 2013 10:52 AM

    the wedding list is the greatest song ever

  • Ree March 9th, 2013 11:06 AM

    I love this playlist! But I’d definitely add in ‘The Ghost Who Walks’ by Karen Elson and a bit of Nick Cave :-)

    http://youwantedrockandroll.tumblr.com/

  • igreen March 9th, 2013 1:53 PM

    finally some CLASH!

  • umi March 9th, 2013 2:07 PM

    wowooww this is fantastic….the first thing i thought of when i saw murder ballads was bang bang by nancy sinatra

  • A Fox In The Snow March 9th, 2013 4:09 PM

    YES to the murder mistery by the velvet underground! One of the most fascinating songs I think.

  • eman ekaf March 9th, 2013 6:23 PM

    The Killers Murder Trilogy:
    Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf
    Midnight Show
    Jenny was a Friend of Mine

  • bridgetotoday March 9th, 2013 9:02 PM

    What about Boomtown rats? Nothing beats the ultimate monday tune that’s also an allegory for the saturation of US gun culture.

  • bella mcnamee March 9th, 2013 9:07 PM

    seriously no mack the knife?! such a good playlist anyway :)

  • Magdalen March 9th, 2013 9:46 PM

    Verrry obscure psychedelic folk song from the sixties. Beautiful and *extremely* creepy!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O21m4Q9ERc

  • Jesse March 10th, 2013 5:21 AM

    I don’t usually like to comment on playlists but whoa… no Nick Cave????

  • sophie March 10th, 2013 11:05 AM

    This needs the killing moon by echo & the bunnymen!

  • yourenotfunny March 10th, 2013 1:59 PM

    I guess the first thing I think of when I hear “murder ballad” is Hip To Be Square. American Psycho anyone???

    • sophie March 11th, 2013 2:45 AM

      yes this too! and true faith by new order

  • Whatsername March 11th, 2013 4:01 PM

    Kinda Outta Luck – Lana Del Rey is another gem.
    Love this!

  • Hannah L March 11th, 2013 4:27 PM

    add to this: maneater by the blue eyed blondes

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