I will fiddle as the world burns! or drowns, or disintegrates. Thoughts on an apocalypse party are here!

May 25, 2006 11:58 PM

That fateful day is almost upon us! 6-06-06! Will fire rain down upon us from the heavens, or will the avian flu start spreading like a bad case of the Da Vinci Code? To celebrate these exciting times, I would like to throw an Apocalypse-themed party where we party like it's 1666! But I need some suggestions.

People can dress as their favorite method of world-ending (zombies, robots, plague, meteor, global warming, Jesus, Allah, terrorists, Communists, aliens, bird flu, fire, Latin, Oprah, etc). My questions -

1) what would be good alcoholic beverages to go along with it? dark. bloody. flaming. hopefully even related name-wise.

2) what music would you recommend? Anything cool with some sort of world-ending theme. Danceable is preferable but not an absolute must.

3) ideas for what to actually name the party. So far I only have "Apocalypse Later, Party Now!" (yikes).

Thanks for all your help, I ran out of juice after my initial brainstorm.

btw I'm already investigating the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack for songs and trying to track down a skull or satan themed bong... for tobacco.

posted by tweak to society & culture (39 comments total)

whoa. I have no suggestions, but... can I come? Sounds boss.
posted by slipperywhenwet at 12:03 AM on May 26, 2006

this must be added to the playlist, of course:
REM - Its the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
posted by dicaxpuella at 12:11 AM on May 26, 2006

we always understood that everything would end like this would make for a difficult party name, but you should still rock We're So Small by The Epoxies.
posted by cmonkey at 12:15 AM on May 26, 2006

I suggest Fin Du Monde beer if you can get it. It's tasty and end of the world-y! Here's a recipe for an Apocalypse cocktail and a Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse one that sounds quite dangerous.

For Music you could try:
If I Ever Leave This Place Alive by Flogging Molly
Until The End of The World- U2
Paint It Black- Rolling Stones
Six-Sixty-Six- Frank Black (or some iteration thereof)
Armageddon Time- The Clash
The End of the World- Elvis Costello
although that's not a very upbeat party mix!
posted by fshgrl at 12:28 AM on May 26, 2006

Nobody Told Me - John Lennon
posted by nenequesadilla at 12:33 AM on May 26, 2006

This is great advice! I don't want to mark everything as best answer though thanks to the light shade of green :/

slipperywhenwet: if you're willing to drive 8 or 9 hours then absolutely! sorry about that logistical issue :(

dicaxpuella: you just named what will now be my ending song. Thanks!

Since it falls on a Tuesday I may have to do it the Saturday before, so that some of the more paranoid people who like to party have sufficient time to let the dread set in.
posted by tweak at 12:38 AM on May 26, 2006

For the party name I'd go simple like "Now Apocalypse"
posted by DefendBrooklyn at 1:05 AM on May 26, 2006

I found your cocktail stirrers. They are not new, but they are all in excellent condition. Ewww.
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 1:30 AM on May 26, 2006

Apocalypso

Apocalypso
posted by Rumple at 1:36 AM on May 26, 2006

One of my friends is doing that here in Chicago. He got bands, though. One will be Black Bear Combo, a marching band funk group who'll be playing funeral marches. The other will be Bloodyminded, who will be covering themselves (as they were fifteen years ago, an experimental gothindustrial band called Intrinsic Action). There will be blood wrestling, busking and burlesque. I advise you to do much the same.

Also, June 6th is International Slayer Day, so play some Reign In Blood
posted by elr at 1:37 AM on May 26, 2006

This Means War - Petra (sung as an address to Lucifer, aout how bad he's going to lose)
Gonna Fly Away - Petra (talks about end of the world when Christians fly up into the sky and meet Jesus there, talks about such things about wondering about that they'd be wearing at the time)
posted by vanoakenfold at 3:08 AM on May 26, 2006

Doesn't get much end-of-world-y than with the band Apocalypse... tho not very danceable ;)
posted by slater at 3:41 AM on May 26, 2006

2) what music would you recommend?

http://www.warprecords.com/666/ ?

(the release date was supposed to be 06/06/06, but it's been changed to 29/05/06 "due to unanticipated satanic activity").

Not exactly danceable party music, but the first track is very cool and trippy (as the video) and with the amps turned up to 11, kind of spooky too. It could be a nice contrast to the Slayer.

"Apocalypse Later, Party Now!"

Sounds perfect to me :)
posted by funambulist at 3:46 AM on May 26, 2006

The Doors - The End
posted by adamvasco at 4:01 AM on May 26, 2006

Strange Days, too.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:30 AM on May 26, 2006

I threw a "Post-Apocalypse Party" on 1/7/2000. I figured a week would be long enough for the chaos of the expected apocalypse to settle down. I just made the invitation sound very hesitant about whether or not the party would actually happen, whether we'd be able to scavenge for any food, etc. Then when it actually happened, it didn't really follow a theme at all. I just greeted people at the door with "Happy Post-Apocalypse" and they started greeting each other the same way and talking about the apocalypse that never happened.
posted by scottreynen at 4:52 AM on May 26, 2006

'Course, 6/6/6 is National Day of Slayer.
posted by ph00dz at 5:11 AM on May 26, 2006

Metallica - The Four Horsemen
Perhaps not very dancable, unless head-banging counts! :)

Sounds like it could be a bit of a blast - hope it goes well!
posted by Chunder at 5:18 AM on May 26, 2006

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast. Dancing is that thing you do where you violently shake your head, right?
posted by substrate at 5:28 AM on May 26, 2006

Please note: The number of the beast has changed.

The new number is 616. Please make a note of it.

The new number of the beast is 616.

Thank you.
posted by ewkpates at 5:39 AM on May 26, 2006

There's a Dave Matthews song on one of the Matrix soundtracks (Reloaded, I think) called 'When The World Ends'. Don't know if it's original to the soundtrack or if it's an actual song of his, but it would be pretty thematic.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 5:41 AM on May 26, 2006

Don't Fear The Reaper.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:58 AM on May 26, 2006

Anything by Diamanda Galas.
posted by macadamiaranch at 7:04 AM on May 26, 2006

Busta Rhymes can probably provide some appropriate tracks from Extinction Level Event, The Coming, or When Disaster Strikes.
posted by staggernation at 7:12 AM on May 26, 2006

Oh, and don't forget Def Leppard, "Armageddon It."
posted by staggernation at 7:16 AM on May 26, 2006

Tubular bells. Yeah I know, but most people will still think it creepy enough.
posted by Gungho at 7:16 AM on May 26, 2006

How about the Dies Ire from Symphony Phantastique? Dies Ire= "day of wrath/ day of reckoning"
posted by cosmicbandito at 7:17 AM on May 26, 2006

A bunch of friends of mine and I (including a guy whose brother is in the Black Bear Combo, weirdly) are going out to a remote lake in northern Minnesota, where we can paddle out to an island and burn a gigantic wooden forked-devil-finger hand at mionight on 6/6/6. The drink of choice will be Rumpelmintz, because you can stick your finger in it and light yourself on fire.
posted by COBRA! at 7:24 AM on May 26, 2006

Drinks: Campari (it's red; famous devil advertising poster) or absinthe, which is made with wormwood.

Tunes:
Flower of the Apocalypse - Helium
Four Horsemen - Clash
Dead Flag Blues - Godspeed You Black Emperor!
Their Satanic Majesties Request - Stones
Their Satanic Majesties Second Request - Brian Jonestown Massacre
Richter Scale Madness - ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
posted by LionIndex at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2006

Don't Fear the Reaper (of course BOC but there are several good covers)
The Atomic Cafe soundtrack (some great old songs about what will happen when the atom bomb hits)
Dance Me to the end of Love - Leonard Cohen
Time Zone - World Destruction
The Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Spirit in the Sky - there are a lot of good covers of this too. Bauhaus does an interesting one.
I'll Fly Away - a good version on the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack
Mad World from the Donnie Darko soundtrack
The Black Angel's Death Song - Velvet Underground
99 Luftballoons - Nena
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Warren Zevon
Sinéad O'Connor - Drink Before the War
Antiworld - Nina Hagen
(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go - Curtis Mayfield
Dancing in Heaven - Q-Feel
God is a Spider - Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Hank Williams Sr - Devil's Train (maybe follow up with Dollye Parton's version of Peace Train).

(I'm sure that by the time I get these all typed out, some will be redundant - sorry about that.)
posted by TochterAusElysium at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2006

Zombie.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:48 AM on May 26, 2006

I know you didn't ask about food, but you absolutely must serve Devils on Horseback as an appetizer.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 8:57 AM on May 26, 2006

End of the World Party (just in case)
posted by grateful at 8:59 AM on May 26, 2006

Definitely play some Current 93 - although David Tibet's voice is strange, it's very good for apocalyptic rambling and ranting. I'd suggest "Hitler as Kalki" [off of Thunder Perfect Mind]and obviously the album SixSixSix SickSickSick. For that matter, a lot of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion have apocalyptic themes. F#A#oo for the former and He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Still Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms for the latter are probably the best, but almost any of their albums will work. None of these songs are great for dancing, but they'd work well in a non-dancing area, or earlier in the party. Sunn O))) would work well for a general atmosphere of sonic doom, and White 1 has spoken/sung pagan vocals in "My Wall" and "The Gates of Ballard" that would be appropriate.

Apocalyptica is a string group that does Metallica covers. Chrome's "Armageddon," off of 3rd from the Sun, a probably-appropriate album in its own right. A great deal of metal has apocalypse- or Satan-related themes. Maybe older black metal like Mayhem (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas), Darkthrone, Immortal, etc. Modern stuff like Tvangeste (Firestorm) or Leviathan would work as well. There's also plenty of death and doom metal that'd fit the bill.
posted by ubersturm at 9:01 AM on May 26, 2006

Hmm, it occurred to me, maybe the best thing is to keep the apocalypse/satanic theme idea to drinks, food, decorations, makeup, dress code, etc., and just let the music be all about the beats for dancing and keeping the party rocking, with just a few recognisable tracks for the end of world theme? I think you'd risk getting a really awkard mix of completely different styles unsuitable for a party if you try too hard to have themed songs all the way.
posted by funambulist at 9:59 AM on May 26, 2006

ewkpates: that is perfect because then I don't have to feel bad about throwing it on 6-10-06, thus having it on a Saturday instead of a Tuesday. That would help me a lot since I have a 'job' and shit.

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone!
posted by tweak at 10:51 AM on May 26, 2006

When The Man Comes Around from Johnny Cash's CD of the same name:

And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder.
One of the four beasts saying: "Come and see."
And I saw. And behold, a white horse.

There's a man goin' 'round takin' names.
An' he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There'll be a golden ladder reaching down.
When the man comes around.

The hairs on your arm will stand up.
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
For you partake of that last offered cup,
Or disappear into the potter's ground.
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Till Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom.
Then the father hen will call his chickens home.
The wise men will bow down before the throne.
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crown.
When the man comes around.

Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still.
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still.
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still.
Listen to the words long written down,
When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers.
One hundred million angels singin'.
Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettle drum.
Voices callin', voices cryin'.
Some are born an' some are dyin'.
It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
The virgins are all trimming their wicks.
The whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

In measured hundredweight and penny pound.
When the man comes around.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts,
And I looked and behold: a pale horse.
And his name, that sat on him, was Death.
And Hell followed with him.
posted by marsha56 at 11:34 AM on May 26, 2006

I can't believe that nobody suggested Barry McGuire's Eve of Destruction
posted by Afroblanco at 10:45 PM on May 26, 2006

A coupla more tunes:
"Is That All There Is?" - Miss Peggy Lee
end theme for "Looney Tunes"/"Merrie Melodies" ("Th-th-th-that's all, folks!")

A name/theme suggestion: picture of Kate Smith ... or Mama Cass ... or Montserrat Caballé ...*
*Fat Lady, Singing
posted by rob511 at 11:29 PM on May 26, 2006