22 Songs About Vampires, from Bela Lugosi's Dead to A Thousand Years

What is the most famous song about vampires?

"Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus is the most famous vampire song, a nine-minute track often called the first goth rock song. "Moon Over Bourbon Street" by Sting was inspired by Interview with the Vampire, and "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, from Twilight, is the most popular vampire love song.

Classic songs about vampires

1. "Bela Lugosi's Dead", Bauhaus: named for the actor who played Dracula.
2. "Moon Over Bourbon Street", Sting: inspired by Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire.
3. "Love Song for a Vampire", Annie Lennox: from the 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula.
4. "Monster Mash", Bobby "Boris" Pickett: Dracula shows up to the party.
5. "Dracula's Lament", from Forgetting Sarah Marshall: a puppet musical number.
6. "Dracula's Wedding", OutKast featuring Kelis: a vampire afraid of commitment.

Rock and goth songs about vampires

7. "Vampires Will Never Hurt You", My Chemical Romance: an early emo favorite.
8. "Vampire Money", My Chemical Romance: a jab at vampire movie soundtracks.
9. "Sympathy for the Devil", Guns N' Roses: their cover closes Interview with the Vampire.
10. "The Vampire Masquerade", Peter Gundry: a dark waltz that went viral online.

Songs from vampire movies and TV

11. "A Thousand Years", Christina Perri: the love song from Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
12. "Decode", Paramore: written for the first Twilight film.
13. "Supermassive Black Hole", Muse: the song from the Twilight baseball scene.
14. "Flightless Bird, American Mouth", Iron and Wine: the Twilight prom dance.
15. "Eyes on Fire", Blue Foundation: a moody song from Twilight.
16. "Bella's Lullaby", Carter Burwell: the piano theme from Twilight.
17. "Bad Things", Jace Everett: the theme song of True Blood.
18. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme", Nerf Herder: the punk theme of the TV series.

Modern songs about vampires

19. "Vampire", Olivia Rodrigo: a vampire as a metaphor for a manipulative ex.

Songs about monsters for a vampire playlist

20. "Werewolves of London", Warren Zevon: the other famous monster song.
21. "Thriller", Michael Jackson: the ultimate Halloween dance.
22. "Ghostbusters", Ray Parker Jr.: for the whole family.

Why do vampires show up in so many songs?

Vampires are romantic and dangerous at the same time, which makes them perfect for songs. Goth bands use them for atmosphere, pop writers use them as a metaphor for someone who drains you, like Olivia Rodrigo's "Vampire", and movie soundtracks use them for big, sweeping love stories.

How Bela Lugosi's Dead became a goth anthem

Bauhaus recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in 1979 as their first single, a slow, echoing song named for the Hungarian actor who played Dracula in 1931. A few years later the band performed it in the opening scene of the 1983 vampire film The Hunger, and it has been the unofficial anthem of goth clubs ever since.

Vampire songs on TV

Vampire shows have produced some memorable music. True Blood opened every episode with "Bad Things", Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a rock theme by Nerf Herder and even a full musical episode, "Once More, with Feeling", in 2001, and The Vampire Diaries was known for introducing viewers to new indie bands.

Vampire songs for kids

For younger fans, keep it silly: "Monster Mash", "Ghostbusters" and the songs from the Hotel Transylvania movies, like "I'm in Love with a Monster" by Fifth Harmony, are fun without being scary. Count Dracula is also a favorite costume for a kids' Halloween parade.

Songs about vampires for Halloween

For a Halloween party, start with "Monster Mash" and "Thriller", add "Bela Lugosi's Dead" when the lights go down and finish with "Ghostbusters" for the kids. A vampire-themed party can use the Twilight songs for a slow dance and "Dracula's Wedding" for a laugh. For more spooky picks, see our songs about witches.

Songs about vampires for a Twilight fan

For a Twilight fan, a playlist of the film soundtracks is a great birthday gift. "Supermassive Black Hole", "Decode" and "A Thousand Years" are the essentials, and "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" and "Bella's Lullaby" bring back the quieter moments.

A vampire movie night playlist

Before a vampire movie marathon, set the mood with "Bela Lugosi's Dead" and "The Vampire Masquerade", play the Twilight songs between films and save "Dracula's Wedding" and "Monster Mash" for a laugh at the end. Dim the lights, light a few candles and serve something red, like tomato soup or cherry punch.

Vampire love songs for a wedding

"A Thousand Years" is one of the most popular first dance songs of the last decade, and many couples choose it without thinking about vampires at all. For more ideas, see our first dance songs, and for night-sky romance, our songs about the moon.

A song for a horror fan

For the friend who loves horror movies and Halloween more than any holiday, a personalized song can be spooky and funny at the same time: their name, their favorite monsters and their best costume stories, in a rock or pop style.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, pop, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three things they love about Halloween and horror.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give a horror fan a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.