If you’re looking for songs about witchcraft and voodoo, you’ve come to the right place. This article explores a few of the best known witchcraft songs from artists as varied as Stevie Nicks, Jethro Tull, Nina Simone, and American Horror Story.
Stevie Nicks’ song ‘Sister of the Moon’
The famous singer Stevie Nicks is set to return to American Horror Story. Her song ‘Rhiannon’ was a breakthrough hit for the band Fleetwood Mac. Nicks relates her love of folkloric figures and spirituality in her song. During her career, she has been described as speaking in archaic terms and exhibiting unusual behavior in concerts. In addition to trancelike performances, she was known to perform at gigs with a yellow moon appearing in the background. Moreover, Nicks has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice.
The lyrics of Stevie Nicks’ song “Sister of the Moon” are filled with references to the occult. Nicks describes a witch as wearing black robes. The lyrics are also full of magical imagery and wonderful flute work. She also makes her vocals sound like those of a witch, although the singer isn’t explicitly referring to her own character in the song.
Nicks denied rumors about her connection to the occult, however. She has said that she is not Wiccan and has no Wiccan roots. Her songs, while not promoting any particular religion, have a folk-jazz twang and a poetic quality that makes it easy to connect to.
“Sister of the Moon'” by Stevie Nicks is a classic song about Witchcraft and Voodoo, and it’s one of the best classic rock songs about witchcraft. The lyrics are full of symbolism about witchcraft, and the song’s title speaks of the witch being saved from drowning.
Stevie Nicks is not the only singer to embrace witchcraft. In fact, she is a tarot devotee and is involved in a project about Marie Laveau. While she may be a witch, she has never practiced it publicly.
Jethro Tull’s ‘Sister of the Moon’
The album is considered the synthesis of Tull’s influences. The folk movement, which is a staple of classic rock radio, is a central feature, but jazz, hard rock, and avant-garde elements are equally prominent. The band also worked with big organ player John Evan to contribute to the songwriting. Many themes are explored on the album, including the concept of the moon.
The progressive rock band Jethro Tull had been evolving musically for some time. In 1972, they released ‘Thick as a Brick,’ a concept album with a single track split across two sides. The album was a critical and commercial success, and was even cited by Ian Anderson as his favorite Tull record. The album’s popularity was boosted by a tour with Led Zeppelin.
The title track combines elements of hard rock and folk rock to create a strikingly unique sound. Its powerful main theme is driven by Martin Barre’s electric guitar. While the concept of the title track is somewhat naive, it is nonetheless interesting to note that it laments the deterioration of the big work horse on farms.
Jethro Tull’s debut album has been the subject of wildly differing reviews. Many believe Ian Anderson was not yet fully developed in his idiosyncratic vision of the future of the band. His leadership and bluesy direction were shared with guitarist Mick Abrahams, but Anderson’s flute was already prominent. The album also pushed the band further towards artsy experimentation.
Jethro Tull formed from a former six-piece blues and soul group. Their line-up initially consisted of Ian Anderson, Mick Abrahams, Clive Bunker, and Glenn Cornick. However, the band had trouble booking gigs and they had to make some changes in their line-up. They also used the names Bag o’ Nails and Candy Coloured Rain.
In the 1970’s Jethro Tull released their first album, Benefit. A few years later, they divorced from their blues roots and created a folk-prog sound. Then, they recruited keyboardist John Evan, who was originally a guest on the sleeve of the album. He was only supposed to be with the band for two years, but ended up staying for ten years.
Nina Simone’s ‘Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’
Nina Simone’s ‘Swingin’ Jay Hawkins’ is a classic, soulful tune that’s both uplifting and calming. It was written in 1965, long before Auto-Tuning was even a thought, and shows Simone’s vocal ability as well as control. The track combines jazz and blues with Simone’s piano.
Hawkins was a colorful performer, whose act became increasingly theatrical after the 1957 hit “I Put a Spell On You.” Hawkins would often use pyrotechnics and stunts to entertain audiences. One memorable moment involved him warning his audience that the ceiling was filled with worms, while another involved him letting confederates drop rubber bands from the balcony. His stage show also featured elaborate costumes.
Hawkins’ original version of the song was originally intended as a refined blues ballad. His original vision closely resembled Nina Simone’s 1965 version, but Hawkins added a wonderfully eccentric lyrical interpretation. The resulting version was a huge hit, turning Hawkins into an early pioneer of shock rock. The song also included macabre props on the stage.
Despite its emotional impact, the song is not always about the ‘Screaming Jay Hawkins’ movie. It was also a hit in the UK singles charts, reaching No 2 in 2007. It is still one of Simone’s greatest hits.
American Horror Story’s ‘Coven’
“Coven” is an American Horror Story episode that focuses on the mystical forces of witchcraft. The story revolves around the sisters, who are a part of the Coven. In the series, a song called “The Ritual” is sung by the sisters, and it makes reference to voodoo and witchcraft. The lyrics of the song are based on real-life events, and it’s not a joke.
Originally performed by the Coven, the song is set during a time when the coven is preparing to fight against the voodoo queen, who had recruited several of its members. In one episode, the voodoo queen recruited one coven member and the husband of another. In the following episode, the coven members decide to fight the voodoo queen, whose mission it is to find Marie’s dark heart.
The song was written and performed by the Coven, a group of women who are part of the American horror anthology. The series centers on a coven of young witches. One is named Madison, while the other is called Nan. The show also features a powerful voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. She is portrayed by Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates. The show is known for its lurid and shameless camp, but is also incredibly believable. Emmy Award-winning performances and unforgettable one-liners have made American Horror Story a hit amongst fans.
“Coven” follows the story of the ‘Coven’ coven in New Orleans. The story revolves around the coven, which is in conflict with a new regime. While there are some characters who are fighting for their survival, the coven is still unified by its core. In season two, Misty Day, Lily Rabe’s character, expressed her gratitude for Nicks. Despite the change in regime, she is able to make sure that Rhiannon is more than just an American Idol.
A lyric from Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Seven Wonders’ was also featured in the season finale. The lyrics are from the band’s 1987 album Tango In The Night. The song was performed as a part of the competition at Miss Robichaux’s academy. During the performance, Stevie stood at the bottom of the stairs.