3 Charming Songs About Magic That Are Sure To Leave You Mesmerized

When Lady Gaga debuted her latest single “Abracadabra” during the 2025 GRAMMY Awards, it brought to mind another song with the same name. That song, by the Steve Miller Band, played a crucial role in closing the book on a hip-hop legend’s provocative alter ego.

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But music history has no shortage of classic tunes with similar themes.

“Black Magic Women” by Santana, “Magic Man” by Heart, “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf, “Puff, the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary, and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police, to name a few.

Music is full of odes to mysticism, the occult, and all things charmed or otherwise hard to explain. The Lovin’ Spoonful tried to explain the thrill of music on their debut single “Do You Believe in Magic?” in 1965. Singer John Sebastian put it this way: If you believe in magic don’t bother to choose / If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues.

So, to celebrate the magic of and in music, here are three charming songs for those wanting to be mesmerized.

“Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band from Abracadabra (1982)

Steve Miller wrote his “Abracadabra” more than 40 years before Gaga’s banger. He said he wrote it after seeing Diana Ross while skiing. It became a signature song for Miller alongside “The Joker.” Last year, Eminem built his track “Houdini” atop Miller’s classic hook. It was the lead single from The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).

But before Slim Shady’s death, Dua Lipa released her own “Houdini.” Thanks to Lipa and Eminem, the famous illusionist Harry Houdini briefly became the namesake of modern pop and hip-hop.

“Spellbound” by Siouxsie and the Banshees from Juju (1981)

Lady Gaga recycles a melody from “Spellbound” during the pre-chorus of “Abracadabra.” Siouxsie Sioux’s 1981 goth hit was a hugely influential song and has enjoyed several rebirths. It was featured in episodes of Stranger Things and True Blood before Gaga’s interpolation introduced the post-punk legends to her Little Monsters. So if you like magic, a goth rock band with an album called Juju is for you.

Also, guitarist John McGeoch’s dark arpeggios in “Spellbound” shaped future rock icons like The Smiths’ Johnny Marr and John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Magic” by Pilot from From the Album of the Same Name (1974)

These days, most probably know this song from Ozempic ads. But before “Magic” was reborn as a jingle, it was a mid-’70s hit for Scottish rock band Pilot. Also, Selena Gomez covered the song in 2009 for Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place soundtrack.

Pilot’s singer David Paton told The New York Times how he rerecorded “Magic” for the pharmaceutical ad. Paton, now 73, arrived at Abbey Road Studios in London to sing the hook but he wasn’t sure he could still hit the high notes. Indeed, he reached the notes. But he had to change one word in the lyrics: Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic.

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