Stalker Pop

Maw, bolt the doors and go get the gun.

Gedge's creepier songs are his post-breakup ones, where one often wonders what the poor woman thinks about it all. "Leave me alone you little creep and take your petty little dissections of our relationship with you!"

It's all about context really. Stevie Wonder's 'I Just Called To Say I Love You' might be a sentimental piece of fluff, or it might be the soundtrack to a court order.

There was an episode of Cracker once where a disturbed fantasist would sit in her room listening to Dusty Springfield's 'I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten' over and over as she prepared to torture her victims. It was very effective.

glen campbell, "wichita lineman"

(PS: Yes Fred I know.)

There's also that Sonic Youth track 'Doctor's Orders' which was on Volume 9 or 10 being sung by Thurston; it's well creepy.

I can't remember the lyrics well enough, but isn't 'Hungry Like the Wolf' (by Duran Duran, obviously) a stalking song?

Also, don't forget his last great single, The More you Ignore Me, The Closer I Get. The title alone pretty much settles it.

"I love you so much I followed you today": I think this qualifies. From the days before stalking had a name; and a cracking record it is too.

You're saying you actually understand his lyrics? Me, I don't understand a word he's singing. He could be singing in Swahili and I wouldn't even realize it.

Never stalked no one never. Especially not members of "much hyped London dronepop band, the Channel 6" as Tom would call them. Not me, no.

"Since when is stalking a crime? I'm yours, and you're not mine..." - some indie girl band.

That said - the title should have tipped me off.

oops

club 8 - 'close to me'

don't know what the 'auburn' refers to

How about Tommy Tutone 867-5309/Jenny? It's essentially about a guy obsessing in a typical jilted lover fashion over a girl he's never even met - he saw her number on a bathroom wall and suddenly she's his fantasy of salvation and he (to paraphrase) needs to make her his. cree. pee.

I love how desperate the guy sounds in this song. There must have been a lot more of these songs in the the power pop early eighties. That period always gives me the creeps for some reason.

^good call. I can think of half a dozen songs off the top of my head. "Let Me Take Your Foto" by the Speedies, "Follow That Girl" by the Aliens, "C'mon" by the Artists, "Waiting Beside" by the B. Riff Band, "Can I Take You Home" by the Lookalikes.

'julie' by ripe

"i dream of you nearly every night.. i can't even spell your name.. i miss you and we haven't even met yet..."

Don't wantcha for the weekend, don't wantcha for a night
I'm only interested if I can have you for life, yeah
Uh, I know I sound serious; and baby, I am
You're a fine piece of real estate, and I'm gonna get me some land

Oh, yeah
So, don't try to run, honey; love can be fun
There's no need to be alone when you find that someone

I'm gonna getcha while I gotcha in sight
I'm gonna getcha if it takes all night
You can betcha by the time I say "go, " you'll never say "no"
I'm gonna getcha; it's a matter of fact
I'm gonna getcha, don'tcha worry 'bout that
You can bet your bottom dollar, in time you're gonna be mine
Just like I should - I'll getcha good

Yeah,
I've already planned it
Here's how it's gonna be
I'm gonna love you, and you're gonna fall in love with me
Yeah

So, don't try to run, honey; love can be fun
There's no need to be alone when you find that someone

"Emma Peel" by The Allies is a good one, and surprised that Animotion's "Obsession" hasn't been mentioned yet.

"Forty-seven cracks in the sidewalk that leads
From my house to yours
How do I know?
I count them every day
While following you
From my house to yours
And though you don't know
I'm with you all the way"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3IO3GKUbKg

... it's a Jimmy Webb song, a guy who has something of a track record for writing vaguely creepy "unrequited" songs.

Eddie Fisher's "I'm Walking Behind You", the creepiest pop song of all time. A miracle David Lynch has never used it, maybe it was a bit too on-the-nose for even him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9-bGTUG24o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FDzXcD1mDg

Surprised no-one's mentioned "I (Who Have Nothing)" yet:

He can take you any place he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it's I
Who loves you

Peter Hammill covered "I (Who Have Nothing)" on his album of cover versions a couple of years ago. He also has a couple of stalker-y songs of his own. "Somebody Bad Enough":

I keep the website stocked with pictures of you;
I love to scan your shocked expression.
I know that you're the only one
who really understands
all about possession.

"My Unintended":

I gambled it all on a single shot
I found myself in an awkward spot
It was another time, another place:
my unintended caught me staring her full in the face.

There's also his "I Will Find You", which some reckon is a stalker-y song, although personally I'm not seeing it:

Don't be afraid, there's no dark unknown,
no shadow stalking behind you;
don't be afraid,
when you're lost and most alone
I will seek, I will search, I will find you.

"Waterloo Sunset" is a kind of "stationary stalker" song, the protagonist being a recluse who every Friday night monitors the activities of Terry and Julie as they meet outside the nearby train station.

You'll Never Stop Me from Loving You, Sonia - When I know that you're alone/I wander to your home/And catch a glimpse or two

And not quite so explicitly stalkery but still from the 'refusing to acknowledge the complete lack of interest of the other party' subgenre:

Keep on Running, Spencer Davis Group
Keep on Running, Stevie Wonder

Robyn - Dancing on my own

Imogen Heap - Goodnight & Go

Follow you home
You've got your headphones on
And you're dancing
Got lucky, beautiful shot
You're taking everything off
Watch the curtains, wide open
And you fall in the same routine
Flicking through the TV
Relaxed and reclining
And you think you're alone

No mention yet of Everything but the Girl's "Missing"? I mean, it's not even like she's stalking her ex-boyfriend; she's stalking some random person who lives at her ex-boyfriend's old house...

Busted - 3AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M69jRU-vEyk