In honor of cryptozoology month here at Fandomania, I’ve compiled a list of songs about cryptids. There are no real geek bands on the list, but there’s some good stuff (and some that’s downright terrible to be honest, but it’s in the “so bad it’s good” category). I’m a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, and I don’t believe any of these creatures actually exist, but I have to admit that it’s a fun topic to study.
1. “Monster” by The Automatic
Welsh indie-rock band The Automatic (or The Automatic Automatic in the US) asks the philosophical question, “What’s that coming over the hill, is it a monster?” A team of cryptozoologists goes out monster hunting, but they are so inept they completely miss seeing any cryptids. Fun song and video!
2. “Nessie” by The Real Mckenzies
The people of Loch Ness know Nessie’s real, but they don’t necessarily want to share her.
3. “I Still Believe in Bigfoot” by Danny Freyer
Apparently somehow belief in Bigfoot is equated being an American patriot. Plus it’s got Christmas in it!
4. “The Bunyip (Bunyip Moon)” from Dot and the Kangaroo
From the Australian movie based on a book of the same name. Pretty spooky, too — I’m gonna be watching out for the bunyip!
5. “Where the Skunk Ape Goes” by Lenny Green
Click to hear song (external website)
Lenny Green (who has tons of other songs about cryptids, too) attempts to channel Johnny Cash. This one’s about Florida’s own cryptid, although he’s basically a version of Bigfoot that smells.
6. “Chupacabras” by Super Furry Animals
Another Welsh band, this one alt rock. Mostly unintelligible lyrics (though they are in the notes about the video), but also a fun song.
7. “A Night With the Jersey Devil” by Bruce Springsteen
Bluesy down and dirty song about Bruce’s native state’s own cryptid, this song was put out for Halloween 2008.
8. “The Yeti” by Clutch
Tells the story of a Yeti that approaches the narrator and asks for the time. Seriously.
9. “The Kraken” by Hans Zimmer (from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)
This one is an instrumental, but it’s evocative of a big creature. It certainly fits the Kraken, especially the one in the movie.
10. “Creepy Jackalope Eye” by Supersuckers
Perhaps a bit more metaphorical than actual, this might be a bit more on the skeptical side, though the lyrics are not 100% clear.
11. “The Cardiff Giant” by Jim Clare
Click to hear song (external website)
This one’s about a cryptozoological hoax set up by George Hull, an atheist, to fool Christians who believed in giants mentioned in the Bible. “There’s a sucker born every minute,” said David Hannum, who bought the Giant, after finding out after doing so that it was a hoax. The quote still gets misattributed to P.T. Barnum, although Barnum was actually interested in the Giant. Check out the Wikipedia page about the Cardiff Giant for more details.
12. “The Loch Ness Monster’s Song” by Edwin Morgan
Click to hear song (external website)
Not really a song, nor even written in English, this is rather what the Loch Ness monster might say to us if she could write poetry.
Super Special Skeptical Bonus Track!
“Think for Yourself” by George Hrab
Not about cryptids, but a reminder to be skeptical of the claims of others. And a great song, to boot!
