Musical spiders
October 1, 2012 8:37 PM Subscribe
My family has an ongoing joke about finding the Christmas spider. Help me find songs that mention spiders!
The joke started to help my sister react more calmly when finding a spider in the newly cut Christmas tree - oh, don't worry, it's just the Christmas Spider! She's still afraid of spiders, but has taken well to a couple cutesy spider presents I've given her over the years. This year I'd like to make her a mixed CD of songs that have spiders in the lyrics. Doesn't have to be much of a reference - got the idea from one mention of spiders in a Neko Case song, Fever.
Not looking for scary Halloweeny creepy crawlies or too-cute itsy bitsy spiders. Ideally she'll listen to most of the CD before she notices what connects the songs.
The joke started to help my sister react more calmly when finding a spider in the newly cut Christmas tree - oh, don't worry, it's just the Christmas Spider! She's still afraid of spiders, but has taken well to a couple cutesy spider presents I've given her over the years. This year I'd like to make her a mixed CD of songs that have spiders in the lyrics. Doesn't have to be much of a reference - got the idea from one mention of spiders in a Neko Case song, Fever.
Not looking for scary Halloweeny creepy crawlies or too-cute itsy bitsy spiders. Ideally she'll listen to most of the CD before she notices what connects the songs.
Best answer: Spider - They Might Be Giants
posted by Cosine at 8:42 PM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Cosine at 8:42 PM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Any of the various Spider-Man Themes. Tenacious D does a good one. As do The Ramones.
Varuca Salt has a good takeon it too, but it's not exactly the theme song.
And of course there's always No Doubt's Spiderwebs.
posted by theichibun at 8:51 PM on October 1, 2012
Varuca Salt has a good takeon it too, but it's not exactly the theme song.
And of course there's always No Doubt's Spiderwebs.
posted by theichibun at 8:51 PM on October 1, 2012
Best answer: How about searching a Lyrics website?
posted by anon4now at 10:42 PM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by anon4now at 10:42 PM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Rocks and Flowers - caspar babypants
Spider Web - Joan Osborne
posted by batmonkey at 10:46 PM on October 1, 2012
Spider Web - Joan Osborne
posted by batmonkey at 10:46 PM on October 1, 2012
Best answer: I love that book!!!
Not a song, I know, but maybe it could go with the CD?
posted by JuliaIglesias at 11:24 PM on October 1, 2012
Not a song, I know, but maybe it could go with the CD?
posted by JuliaIglesias at 11:24 PM on October 1, 2012
Best answer: Jim Stafford - Spiders and Snakes
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:43 PM on October 1, 2012
posted by needs more cowbell at 11:43 PM on October 1, 2012
Best answer: Alkaline Trio's "Tuck Me In" mentions spiders, but, uh, it's also horrifying.
Also, the Spider-Man theme would work well on a mix.
posted by NoraReed at 12:44 AM on October 2, 2012
Also, the Spider-Man theme would work well on a mix.
posted by NoraReed at 12:44 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: Did you know there is a Ukrainian legend of the Christmas Spider? I have two sparkly spiderwebs and a spider ornament from a Ukrainian Church sale on my tree.
http://www.kraftmstr.com/christmas/books/spider.html
posted by mermayd at 4:08 AM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
http://www.kraftmstr.com/christmas/books/spider.html
posted by mermayd at 4:08 AM on October 2, 2012 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Martin Charnin's "Fly," from Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.
posted by thomas j wise at 4:47 AM on October 2, 2012
posted by thomas j wise at 4:47 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: "Story from North America" by Garrett Davis and Kirsten Lepore
posted by martinrebas at 4:47 AM on October 2, 2012
posted by martinrebas at 4:47 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: They Might Be Giants: "Spider" and "Spiderman Theme."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:35 AM on October 2, 2012
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:35 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: Devendra Banhart - Little Yellow Spider
Brian Eno - Spider and I
Will Oldham/Palace Music - The Spider's Dude is Often There
Ron Hunt - Spiderap
posted by hydrophonic at 7:05 AM on October 2, 2012
Brian Eno - Spider and I
Will Oldham/Palace Music - The Spider's Dude is Often There
Ron Hunt - Spiderap
posted by hydrophonic at 7:05 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: MonkeyToes' a-capella Spiderman Theme, above, is not They Might Be Giants, but from the not dissimilar Canadian band "Moxy Fruvous."
Also, Spider Crawling by Oingo Boingo (written by band frontman Danny Elfman)
posted by Sunburnt at 7:46 AM on October 2, 2012
Also, Spider Crawling by Oingo Boingo (written by band frontman Danny Elfman)
posted by Sunburnt at 7:46 AM on October 2, 2012
Best answer: OK, songs with spiders in the lyrics but not the title, so you can be sneakier about it:
"Coming Around Again," Carly Simon (I know you said no cute itsy bitsy spiders but I always thought this one was so pretty)
"Dune Buggy," The Presidents of the United States of America
"Trouble," Coldplay
"Superhumans," Flaming Lips
"Man in the Middle," Abba
"On Fire," Eminem
"Electric Heart," Devendra Banhart
(Believe it or not, the last two have tiny mentions of Christmas also!)
All available on Amazon mp3. As always, shouts to the BEST lyrics search engine, http://lyrics.filestube.com/ (believe me, there's more).
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:46 AM on October 2, 2012
"Coming Around Again," Carly Simon (I know you said no cute itsy bitsy spiders but I always thought this one was so pretty)
"Dune Buggy," The Presidents of the United States of America
"Trouble," Coldplay
"Superhumans," Flaming Lips
"Man in the Middle," Abba
"On Fire," Eminem
"Electric Heart," Devendra Banhart
(Believe it or not, the last two have tiny mentions of Christmas also!)
All available on Amazon mp3. As always, shouts to the BEST lyrics search engine, http://lyrics.filestube.com/ (believe me, there's more).
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:46 AM on October 2, 2012
Response by poster: So many great suggestions! Currently thinking to go with 2 mixed CDs, one of obvious spiders, one more subtle. Also the book - thanks JuliaIglesias! Marking all the answers as best, as I'm sure to use most if not all the suggestions. You guys are great!
posted by dorey_oh at 9:33 PM on October 10, 2012
posted by dorey_oh at 9:33 PM on October 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by scratch at 8:41 PM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]