5 Essential Songs by Siouxsie And The Banshees

Getting into post-punk tunes from back in the day? Few bands are as essential to that fairly broad genre as Siouxsie And The Banshees. This legendary gothic rock outfit has quite a discography to poke through, but I think the following five songs are essential listening for any old or new fan of Siouxsie And The Banshees. Let’s dive in, shall we?

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1. “Hong Kong Garden”

You just can’t beat the song that started it all. “Hong Kong Garden” was released in 1978 as the band’s debut single, and it was a killer way to kick off an incredible career. According to Siouxsie, she wrote the song as a tribute to the Chinese immigrants who ran her local takeaway, who were often terrorized by skinheads and racists during a dark time in England’s history. The song was a national hit, reaching no. 7 on the UK Singles chart.

2. “Peek-A-Boo”

Siouxsie And The Banshees produced the 1988 song “Peek-A-Boo” from a pretty surprising mistake. The band’s producer slipped up and played a track backward, and the resulting loop of sound inspired Siouxsie to write “Peek-A-Boo” based on it. The song was a pretty substantial hit and made it to no. 53 on the US Hot 100 chart.

3. “Spellbound”

This is by far one of Siouxsie And The Banshees’ most well-known songs. A standout from the 1981 album Juju, “Spellbound” is a magical, authentically post-punk tune. In my opinion, it was the perfect track to open up that album.

4. “Happy House”

This track was originally released as a standalone single in 1980 before it was added to Siouxsie And The Banshees’ Kaleidoscope. The song features the then-new addition of members Budgie and John McGeoch, and what a stellar addition those two were. “Happy House” mocks the often fake pretense of a “happy family” in a world where little happiness is to be found.

5. “Switch”

An earlier gem from Siouxsie And The Banshees, “Switch” was released on the band’s debut 1978 album The Scream. This gothic rock outfit changed their sound and style numerous times throughout the years, but there’s just something about that first record that really shines in the history of progressive music.

Photo by Steve Rapport/Getty Images

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