10 Scariest Tracks In Hard Rock
5. Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson
When the song "Sweet Dreams" was released upon the world in the 1980's, there was no escaping the relentless bop of the quirky synth sound of the Eurythmics. While the original is essential listening for anyone interested in 80's pop, the 90's Antichrist had much nastier plans for the song.
After coming off his debut album, Marilyn Manson featured his version of "Sweet Dreams" on his EP Smells Like Children, where it was filled to the brim with ethereal dread. The initial keyboard riff of the original was replaced by a bone-chilling guitar riff, which saunters its way across your speakers as Manson sings about people using and abusing each other at will. By the time we reaches the breakdown with Manson's powerful shriek, the listener is left reeling in musical mayhem.
The song struck a chord with so many rock fans that it eventually became a hit worldwide, nearly surpassing the star power of the original. On the surface, this song's instrumental is not the most unsettling in rock's canon, but the delivery given by Manson tilts the song from off-kilter rock to industrial-fueled Hell. With the world at his feet, the Antichrist Superstar was ready to take his place on his throne.