Recent Female-Sung Torch Songs, Somewhat Creepy

October 6, 2009 7:12 AM

I'm looking for torchy songs, hopefully recent, sung by women, with a somewhat creepy, stalkery bent.

Examples:

Neko Case's cover of "I'll Be Around," off of Blacklisted — she's a good source of these. Another example is Melody Gardot's "Your Heart Is as Black as Night." You know, something that sounds a bit like a lonely song of unrequited love, until you step back and realize that she might be singing this, for the hundredth time, from her car parked outside of your house at three a.m.

"Rope of Weeds," by Elysian Fields is a less-perfect fit. The Tre Lux cover of Duran Duran's "The Chauffeur," though spooky, is just outside the range of what I'm listening for.

posted by adipocere to media & arts (43 comments total)

The Way It Is by Nicole Atkins. She describes herself as pop noir, and her website has a photo of her holding a Ouija board. This song is one of the darker ones...
posted by adverb at 7:20 AM on October 6

I'm not sure how recent you would consider this song, but I immediately thought of "Watching You" by Melissa Etheridge.

"Why am I standing out here alone
I guess I don't know enough to come in from the rain.
Was watching your window
From here below.
I think I just might stay here all day....

But I keep watching you
Until I see right through
I keep watching you."

A beautiful, yet stalkerish, song.
posted by Houstonian at 7:23 AM on October 6

A lot of Portishead's songs, particularly on Dummy, evoke what I think you're looking for.
posted by mkultra at 7:24 AM on October 6

Hmm... not sure if it fits your description entirely, but it definitely could meet your description of "crazy, stalker, tell me you love me" type song. #1 Crush by Garbage

I am so in love with Shirley Manson.
posted by Rewind at 7:25 AM on October 6

I've Got Your Picture by Patsy Cline.
posted by cog_nate at 7:25 AM on October 6

Melissa Etheridge- Watching You

And even though the song itself isn't stalkerish, Etheridge's cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You has always had that vibe to me.
posted by kimdog at 7:26 AM on October 6

All Mine - Portishead
posted by jerseygirl at 7:34 AM on October 6

• If we're talking Melissa Etheridge, she's very stalkerish on Come to My Window.
• Sway by Bic Runga could be creepy, in the right context.
• And Cool Rock Boy by Juliana Hatfield is definitely creepy in a good way.
posted by brina at 7:35 AM on October 6

This is not new. But, Every Breath You Take by The Police.

"Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
I'll be watching you."
posted by Houstonian at 7:43 AM on October 6

Nina Simone, I Put a Spell On You.
posted by hermitosis at 7:47 AM on October 6

"Back to Me" by Kathleen Edwards -- this is a little countrified, but fits your criteria otherwise.
posted by Spinneret at 7:52 AM on October 6

Also: Serenade by Leona Naess (I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll), Steal Your Love by Lucinda Williams (Essence), Gotta Have You by the Weepies.
posted by brina at 7:58 AM on October 6

The Knife - Pass this on is pretty stalkerish
posted by ghharr at 8:10 AM on October 6

The Tori Amos album of cover versions Strange Little Girls has a few tracks that may fit the bill.
posted by Jakey at 8:12 AM on October 6

Jann Arden's "I Would Die For You". It’s a love song, but definitely has a stalkery, obsessive vibe to it. The way she repeats the words “I would die for you” over and over towards the end really starts becoming creepy.

I’ve never kissed a sweeter mouth
I’ve never been swept away
It’s what dreams are made up of
Don't you know I could not survive
Without you in my life?
I would die for you
I would die for you
posted by yawper at 8:16 AM on October 6

Also Hex by Neco Case is pretty awesome.
posted by sully75 at 8:16 AM on October 6 [1 favorite]

sandra bernhard "Without You I'm Nothing".
posted by The Whelk at 8:27 AM on October 6

Black Box Recorder, Gift Horse
posted by neroli at 8:40 AM on October 6

Tegan and Sara's Back In Your Head.
posted by mippy at 8:53 AM on October 6

Fiona Apple, doing Elvis Costello's ultra-menacing "I Want You"

Don't be taken in by the gentle intro...
posted by darth_tedious at 9:04 AM on October 6

Beth Gibbons (Portishead) solo stuff is good for this too. Check mysteries on YouTube.
posted by extrabox at 9:06 AM on October 6

Not quite as recent but PJ Harvey's "To Bring You My Love."
posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 9:19 AM on October 6 [1 favorite]

Sonic Youth's cover of Superstar is pretty creepy, although the guys sing more of it than Kim does.
posted by soelo at 9:20 AM on October 6

Also not very recent, but Alanis Morissette's "Your House".
posted by re.becca at 9:31 AM on October 6

Soko - I'll Kill Her
posted by hellopanda at 9:54 AM on October 6

Bat for Lashes doing a cover of that Kings of Leon song "Use Somebody"
posted by 23skidoo at 10:51 AM on October 6

Easy one...Julee Cruse.
posted by wyldeboi at 11:09 AM on October 6 [1 favorite]

Shivaree, Goodnight Moon. Though it has less of a specifically "I'm stalking you" vibe and more of a general spooky/creepy/is-somebody-stalking me? vibe.
posted by scody at 11:14 AM on October 6

Not recent, but Possession by Sarah McLachlan is otherwise exactly what you're looking for. Female-sung torch song and you think it's just a love song until you listen a bit more closely (and pay attention to the title). The wikipedia section I linked to mentions the lawsuit by a stalker fan who claims he was the inspiration for the song.

Which skeeves me out every time I think of it - not only was he stalking (creepy), but he brazenly acknowledges that he is a stalker (creepier) and sues her to make money off the stalking (super-creepy).
posted by widdershins at 11:23 AM on October 6

'Be My Baby', by the Ronnettes.
posted by Pecinpah at 11:56 AM on October 6

Ooh, sorry - that's mad old. Forget I said anything.
posted by Pecinpah at 11:56 AM on October 6

By Your Side by CocoRosie.
posted by lunit at 12:15 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

New song! "Tigerlily" by La Roux. It's pretty dance-y, but it's got a nice stalkerish vibe.
posted by fantine at 1:30 PM on October 6

I'm gonna follow you by Pat Benatar (lyrics).

808 State - Oops, sung by Bjork, is definitely creepy in the middle.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 1:33 PM on October 6

"I Google You" by Amanda Palmer? Not all that creepy, more sad-stalker than creepy-stalker, but might suit your purposes. Lots of videos on YouTube, or there were at one point.
posted by Stacey at 2:48 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" by Miranda Lambert.
posted by CwgrlUp at 3:16 PM on October 6

How about the Diamanda Galas cover of My Life Is Empty Without You?
posted by tallus at 4:59 PM on October 6

PJ Harvey has plenty of songs that would fit this criteria. To Bring You My Love is definitely a good one. It's You is also wonderfully dark and obsessive.

Harvey also did vocals for a few songs on Desert Sessions 9 & 10. There's one song in particular, A Girl Like Me, that is pure creepy insanity. Though honestly it's less like a song and more like the throaty, rambling monologue of someone with a budding personality disorder.

Might be a bit over-the-top for what you're looking for.
posted by dephlogisticated at 5:26 PM on October 6

Nellie McKay "Baby Watch Your Back"

I'm invincible for I am like smog, I'm everywhere.

That version is actually a bit more interesting than the album version. I wonder where it's from.
posted by yellowbinder at 5:48 PM on October 6

Jill Barber? (Oh My My is fabulous) Very much torch songs, but not creepy, IIRC.

Not at all torchy, it's even poppy and upbeat, but the lyrics make my skin crawl: Imogen Heap - Say Goodnight and Go. To wit:

Follow you home,
You've got your headphones on
And you're dancing
Got lucky;
Beautiful shot:
You're taking everything off
Watch the curtains wide open
And you're following the same routine;
Flicking through the TV, relaxed and reclining
And you think you're alone..

posted by Decimask at 8:20 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

Madeleine Peyroux, singing Life Is Fine, a stripped-down, slow bluesy version of a poem by Langston Hughes.
posted by Sallyfur at 9:07 PM on October 6

The Garden by Mirah. Heartbroken lyrics made creepy by a sinister musical arrangement that really makes you wonder if the narrator is sitting in a car outside her ex's house, polishing her gun.

Silver Springs, Fleetwood Mac. Seems like a sweet, sad song, but then the last few lines take a turn for the creepy and stalkerish:

Time casts a spell on you, but you won't forget me
I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me
Ill follow you down til the sound of my voice will haunt you
Youll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.
posted by lunasol at 8:29 AM on October 7

Not torchy, it's kind of poppy and fun instead. But definitely stalkery: Kirsty MacColl's Treachery.
posted by indienial at 3:48 AM on October 11