Screen Rant
10 Songs The Sanderson Sisters Should Sing
By Zack Shah
July 20, 2022
And Here They Are Now – 10 Songs The Sanderson Sisters Should Sing
The long-awaited sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic Hocus Pocus has recently unveiled its first look with a brand new teaser trailer. The response from fans has been unsurprisingly positive and it seems that once again, the Sanderson sisters are back in Salem and are ready to wreak some havoc.
One of the most iconic sequences from the first film involves the witches performing an enchanting version of “I Put A Spell On You” after crashing a Halloween party. It’s a scene that’s continued to remain popular over the years, so it only makes sense that in the new sequel, fans get another fantastic cover performed by Winnie, Sarah, and Mary. Although the song choices are endless, there are some that would be pure magic.
Pop icon Britney Spears received critical acclaim for the song “Toxic” from her fourth studio album In the Zone. The song is known for its darker subject matter, comparing being in a relationship with having a toxic addiction. A commercial hit as well, it is often regarded as one of the singer’s best songs.
With lyrics that include “poison paradise” and “you’re toxic, I’m slippin’ under,” this song is a perfect fit for the trio. While the meaning behind the song might have a different connotation in real life, using “Toxic” in the film would easily encapsulate the feeling of being put under a spell and being powerless to stop it.
In 1966, Scottish singer Donovan released “Season of the Witch” which blended the genres of folk music and psychedelic rock to create a truly original sound. Since its release, the song has remained a staple during the Halloween season and has been covered by many popular artists, including Lana Del Rey.
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The eerie instrumentals of the song do a lot to set the unsettling tone, making it just right for Hocus Pocus 2. Besides the obvious reference to it being “the season of the witch,” there’s also a mention about an “other cat lookin’ over his shoulder at me” which any fan of the movie could correlate with the tragic character, Thackery Binx.
Rihanna is no stranger to releasing catchy dance tracks, but her 2008 single “Disturbia” managed to bring a more serious tone to the genre by referencing feelings of anxiety and fear. The song was a universal hit, topping the charts of many different countries all over the world. Rihanna’s music video was also considered to be a work of art.
The enticing beat and bewitching lyrics makes the entire song feel as though it was written specifically for Winnie Sanderson. “It’s a thief in the night to come and grab you, it can creep up inside you and consume you” this not only explains the Sanderson sisters’ modus operandi but sounds as though they are reciting an incantation.
Rock group Yeah Yeah Yeahs released “Heads Will Roll” in the summer of 2009. The song took elements of punk rock and combined theme with pop-synth crafting a catchy, but rebellious dance track.
If lyrics like “off with your head” and “dance till you’re dead” don’t cause one to instantly think of Hocus Pocus, it’s important to call back to the original musical number. After the witchy women finish their performance, Winnie infamously commands everyone to, “Dance, dance, dance until you are dead!” which perfectly encapsulates what a scary Disney villain she is. What could be a more fitting way to convey that proclamation other than this song?
“One Way or Another” is the hit single by the rock band, Blondie. The song depicts a time in singer Debbie Harry’s past when she was stalked so intensely that she had to move out of state. First released in 1979, the song was praised for its compelling lyrics and Harry’s commanding vocal performance.
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This song is an ideal choice for the malevolent threesome to rock out to on stage. It would be a delight to hear Bette Midler cover Debbie Harry’s iconic lyrics with her own trademark flair. “One Way or Another” would not only be an entertaining choice, but one that warns the audience that eventually these sisters are gonna get ya!
The legendary band Fleetwood Mac first released “Black Magic Woman” in 1968. A song all about being corrupted by an evil woman, the simplistic lyrics allow the message of the song to resonate in a more powerful way.
Santana’s recording of “Black Magic Woman” might be the most popular, but Fleetwood Mac’s original version gives a more enchanting and haunted essence to the song, making its inclusion in the witchy Disney film an obvious choice. “You got your spell on me, baby,” is a near word-for-word lyric mirroring the first movie’s “I Put a Spell on You,” which has already shown to resonate with viewers.
Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” first appeared on the airwaves in 2017, and many were surprised to hear such a different sound from the popular artist. Fans and critics alike noted the heavy pop elements and darker thematic tones, which was a change of pace for Swift at the time.
“Look What You Made Me Do” is a fun and upbeat dance track that would be a welcome addition to the film. The song is about a metaphorical rise from the ashes and coming back stronger than ever. Not only does that sound like the plot for Hocus Pocus 2, its inclusion in the soundtrack would also attract the mountainous amount of Swift fans to Disney+. “Look What You Made Me Do” works both as a warning to the town and also as a reference to the horrible acts the Sanderson sisters enact on each other.
Arguably one of the most famous songs of the early 1980s, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” catapulted The Eurythmics and singer Annie Lennox into stardom. Critics hailed the heavy use of synths and Lennox’s enchanting vocals as fresh and exciting, breaking the mold of female pop performers at the time.
While the lyrics have very little to do with witches or magic, the thumping and appealing beats in the song have made it a crowd favorite. Because Hocus Pocus is a highly rewatchable Halloween movie, using a song everyone loves to hear repeatedly would benefit the sequel. There is a dreamlike element to both Lennox’s voice and the instrumentals, which in some way could mirror the feeling of falling under an evil witch’s spell.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was released in 1983 to critical and commercial success. The song was a huge hit all over the globe, often thought of as one of the artist’s best songs of all time. “Thriller” is a mix of funk and pop with musical references to horror films of the past, resulting in a truly original and dynamic record.
“Thriller” has come to be one of the most popular Halloween anthems ever, and the song’s music video is regarded to be one of the best videos of all time. Not only would the inclusion of the song in this Halloween movie make complete sense, but it would also undoubtedly be an extremely entertaining experience to witness the witches attempt Jackson’s iconic choreography.
“Evil Woman” is the 1975 rock song responsible for being Electric Light Orchestra’s introduction to mainstream audiences. This song was the group’s first successful hit, praised by critics for its inventive combination of the blues and rock genres.
The simplest and most appropriate way to describe each of the Sanderson sisters is evil. They’re evil women on the prowl for personal glory with no regard for others. This song not only conveys that message, but the backing vocals would give Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy a chance to shine. Its funky beat would also be a welcoming change of pace for the spooky film.
