Marilyn Manson’s 5 Best Songs, Ranked
Classic rock is usually respected but the shock rock subgenre is often left out in the cold. Marilyn Manson, the king of shock rock, is sometimes dismissed as an artist, but his songs beg to differ. Here’s a look at the eclecticism of his best work.
5. ‘Coma White’
When people think of Manson, they think of controversy and Satanism. They might not expect one of Manson’s best songs to be a ballad about the downside of drugs. The line “A pill to make you numb / A pill to make you dumb / A pill to make you anybody else / But all the drugs in this world / Won’t save her from herself” is painfully accurate and can apply to all sorts of addictions.
Where Manson went wrong here was the music video. What does this song have to do with the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Sometimes, he just appropriated imagery without thought for its meaning.
4. ‘I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)’
The cheeky title of “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)” is so clever that it makes the whole song. Any decent song that used that title as its chorus would be good. Of course, “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)” also works because of its instrumentation.
Manson frequently cited David Bowie as an inspiration, and that influence was never more evident than in “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me).” The track lifts one of the riffs from Bowie’s “Fame.” While that song is a classic, “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)” has a little more musical bite.
3. ‘Kill4Me’
There are too many silly love songs out there and not enough love songs about the dark side of romance. “Kill4Me” is a moody synth-pop tune that should have been on the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. It’s the sort of track that works as a twisted fantasy, even if it’s far from being a model for healthy relationships.
Manson also showcased the new wave influences on his music, which are too often ignored. Sure, he’s an industrial metal god, but in another life, he could have been in Duran Duran. “Kill4Me” is perfect for the next goth night at the club.
2. ‘The Dope Show’
In the 1990s, Manson wanted to be famous as much as Lady Gaga did in the late 2000s. Both artists made their desire for notoriety part of their music. When Gaga made it to the top, she celebrated her triumph with “Applause.” In contrast, Manson responded to his success with “The Dope Show,” a grim rock number about the downsides of fame.
What makes the track work is that it’s actually pretty melodic and catchy. Manson knew the downside of fame. But he also knew how to make it sound attractive. Interestingly, Stereogum reports Manson inspired Gaga, which explains a lot of her career.
1. ‘The Beautiful People’
It’s the showstopper you have all been waiting for. When Manson made his goofy first two records, Portrait of an American Family and Smells Like Children, it was easy to write him off as a novelty. When the world heard the crashing guitars of “The Beautiful People,” he proved he was a diabolical force to be reckoned with.
Manson’s transitions from whispers to screeches, the new wave synth riffs, and the pointed political commentary showed that he had found himself as an artist. People can mock Manson. Regardless, “The Beautiful People” will always stand as one of the best heavy metal songs ever.
