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“11 Songs About Nightmares and Suspect Dreams” features music courtesy of EXO, Juice WRLD, Kane Brown, Kim Petras & The National.

“A thousand times, a thousand times / I’ve had that dream a thousand times.” Well Hamilton Leithauser, that’s no problem as long as the dreams are ‘good’ as opposed to being bad – nightmares.  Unfortunately, the dreams (or visions) on this particular playlist – 11 Songs About Nightmares and Suspect Dreams – are nightmarish and suspect to some degree.  If you’re looking for dreams less troubling, perhaps you should check out These 13 Songs Depict Vivid Dreams.  But, if you’re up for a little pessimism, well, this playlist is chocked-full! ‘Nightmares’ features music courtesy of EXO (“Bad Dream”) , Juice WRLD (“Lucid Dreams”), Kane Brown (“American Bad Dream”), Kim Petras (“Tell Me It’s a Nightmare”), and The National (“The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”) among others. Hope you sleep tonight!

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1.Kane Brown, “American Bad Dream”

Experiment » Sony Music Entertainment » 2018

“I remember goin’ 10 over the limit would just get you a ticket / Just an inconvenience / Bad cops played the jury, made the good ones worry / About showin’ up and doin’ their job.” Yeah, ‘shit just got totally real’ on “American Bad Dream,” the 11^th track from Experiment, the sophomore album by country standout Kane Brown. “Remember when ninth grade was about gettin’ laid / Skippin’ class tryin’ not to get caught,” Brown sings prior to the aforementioned excerpt on the first verse, continuing, “Now you gotta take a test in a bulletproof vest / Scared to death that you might get shot.” On this minor-key crossover country joint, Brown discusses the more unfortunate aspects of America, and criticizes folks for “fallin’ for the Devil’s disguise.” One of the most relatable, honest lyrics appears on the chorus: “I’m becomin’ numb to all this tragedy.”

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2. Juice WRLD, “Lucid Dreams”

Goodbye & Good Riddance » Grade A Productions, LLC / Interscope » 2018

“You left me falling and landing inside my grave / I know that you want me dead / I take prescriptions to make me feel A-okay / I know it’s all in my head / I have these lucid dreams where I can’t move a thing / Thinking of you in my bed.” On breakout, hit single “Lucid Dreams,” Rising Chicago rapper Juice WRLD (Jarad Higgins) keeps things pretty simple, and extremely relatable.  Clearly in a mood on this slickly produced, melodic gem, he’s being tortured by a broken heart.

“I still see your shadows in my room
Can’t take back the love that I gave you
It’s to the point where I love and I hate you
And I cannot change you, so I must replace you, oh
Easier said than done, I thought you were the one
Listenin’ to my heart instead of my head
You found another one, but I am the better one
I won’t let you forget me.”

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3.EXO, “Bad Dream”

DON’T MESS UP MY TEMPO – The 5^th Album » SM Entertainment » 2018

“To me that was so strange / A bad dream / I cannot move without being paralyzed / Locked in your turbulent place…” Well – at least that’s what a select passage of the English translation of “Bad Dream” says… You see, K-Pop has become kind of a big deal these days – in the United States.  Yes, Korean pop experienced a breakout year in 2018, particularly in the hands of BTS.  That said, there are other notable collectives, including EXO, who appear on this nightmarish compilation, thanks to “Bad Dream.”  “Bad Dream” serves as the slick, urban-pop seventh track from the South Korean-Chinese boy band’s LP, DON’T MESS UP MY TEMPO – The 5^th Album, released November 2, 2018.  Notably, the album debuted at no. 23 on the Billboard 200.

As the random, aforementioned lyrical excerpt suggest, the boys of EXO are addressing matters of the heart.  That’s not surprising considering that that’s familiar and optimal subject matter for any boy band.  Prior to earlier passage, EXO sings (again, translated):

“Even if I listen to it, sleep is getting out of my mind
All good memories
Tinged with the color of regret, oh no, no, no
I do not believe I do not have you…”

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4. Kim Petras, “Tell Me It’s a Nightmare”

TURN OFF THE LIGHT, VOL. 1 » BunHead » 2018

“Tell me it’s a nightmare / And you ain’t going nowhere / Tried to save ya, warn ya, keep you alive / Tried to stop ya, but you paid the price.” Clearly, Kim Petras isn’t playing around on “Tell Me It’s a Nightmare,” taken from her 2018 album, TURN OFF THE LIGHT, VOL. 1.  A moody, minor-key record, “Tell Me It’s a Nightmare” has ample glorious attributes in spite of its nightmarish tendencies.  Petras delivers assertive, powerful vocals worth ‘dying for,’ while the groove is nothing short of infectious.  “Should’ve seen it coming, baby / Should’ve seen it in my eyes,” Petras sings on the first verse, later adding, “I’m a demon in the shadows / And you stepped into the dark.” Can you say, da-yum? Despite the fact that she’s “only out for blood,” and her lover has clearly bitten off more than they can chew, the pain of “Tell Me It’s a Nightmare” feels right… something along those lines.

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5. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, “Bad Dreams”

Apart (EP) » Boyletown Music, Inc. / Capitol » 2018

Following a nine-year hiatus, singer/songwriter Pete Yorn, and actress/singer Scarlett Johansson joined forces, musically, once again in 2018.  The product of the ‘fruits of their labor’ is Apart (EP), which features promo single, “Bad Dreams”. “Bad Dreams” features relatively standard pop/rock production work, led by guitars, and a driving groove. Initially a thudding kick holds down the beat before the groove expands. Johansson delivers clear, pleasant vocals by on the first half of the verse, while Yorn contrasts on the second half with his gruff, deeper vocals.

The two officially join forces on the chorus:

“Pessimistic as it seems sleep will never come that easy
We will always have bad dreams, we will always have bad dreams
We will always have bad dreams.”

On the second verse, it’s a similar script to the first, though the pair duets on the line, “If it gets too close, if it gets too much I’m scared I’ll disappear.” All in all, Yorn and Johansson deliver an enjoyable, well-rounded record with “Bad Dreams,” exhibiting undeniable vocal chemistry.

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6. Hands Like Houses, “Bad Dream”

Anon. » Hopeless » 2018 

“Still in a daze, head in a haze, somebody please put me back to sleep / Put me back to sleep, yeah / I’m slipping away, starting to fade, circling the drain.” Sounds like quite an experience, if I do say so myself… Anyways, following their third album (Dissonants, 2016), Canberra, Australian rock band Hands Like Houses returned with their fourth album, Anon. in 2018.

Among the 10 tracks gracing the set released via Hopeless, is the closing cut, “Bad Dream,” fitting for this nightmarish list.  Throughout the verses, as well as the chorus, frontman Trenton Woodley paints an unfortunate picture that is, thankfully, “just a bad, bad dream, yeah.”

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7. The National, “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”

Sleep Well Beast » 4AD » 2017

“Maybe I listen more than you think / I can tell that somebody sold you / We said we’ve never let anyone in / We said we’d only die of lonely secrets.” “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” serves as the crown jewel of Sleep Well Beast, the Grammy-winning alternative music album courtesy of The National. Frontman Matt Berninger described “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” as, “An abstract portrait of the weird time we’re in”. That explains the odd vibes of the record.

On the first verse (aforementioned), lyrically, he’s disappointed and arguably, deceived.  He first references the title on the pre-chorus which follows.

“The system only dreams in total darkness
Why are you hiding from me?
We’re in a different kind of thing now
All night you’re talking to God.”

Deceptive vibes continue throughout the chorus section.  Likewise, the second verse finds Berninger surprised by the condition of things, approached like a relationship.

✓ Also Check Out: How Closely Did You Listen to ‘Sleep Well Beast’ By The National? | Quiz

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8. All Time Low, “Nightmares”

Last Young Renegade » Fueled by Ramen » 2017

“Now there’s a ghost in the back of this room / And I don’t like it / I fall asleep with my covers pulled up / And try to fight it / I gotta say, it’s hard to be brave / When you’re alone in the dark / I told myself that I wouldn’t be scared / But I’m still having nightmares.” On their 2017 album Last Young Renegade, emo darlings All Time Low seem to realize that youth doesn’t last always. Last Young Renegade finds Alex Gaskarth and company in full-on reflective mode, embracing newfound maturity.  Yep, a stark departure from “Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass” (sick song BTW). The song at hand, “Nightmares,” reminisces back on youthful fears and overcoming such fears. As childish or melodramatic as a lyric like “I fall asleep with my covers pulled up” may seem, those ‘covers’ are metaphorical, and many adults do just as the lyrics suggest.

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9.NF, “Dreams”

Perception » Capitol » 2017

“Yeah, most of my life’s full of sad days / Started at a young age / Yeah, bought a house, but I’ve been livin’ on stage / Tryna find the real me, but I ain’t found it yet / Wake up every morning feelin’ like I’m guilty.”  Hmm, realistic bad dream?  In 2017, NF scored a rare no. 1 Christian rap album for Perception, best known for the hit single “Let You Down”.  In the context of Perception, “Dreams” finds NF a bit down because his job keeps him busy, and to some extent, he feels he’s lost his identity/lacks identity.  On the third verse, he reminisces back on a relationship, regretting being neglectful: “I know I’ve been distant, you know I never meant that.” Still, per the chorus, NF asserts, “I’ve been doin’ me / Followin’ my dreams.”

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10. Offset & Metro Boomin, “Nightmare”

Without Warning » Epic / Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol / Republic » 2017

“Come in the night, you won’t see ‘em (woo) / Black gloves, black hoodie, and Timbs (woo) / You don’t wanna be him ‘cause soon as they see him they shoot off his limbs (pew pew).” Without Warning.  Yup, that’s exactly how the collaborative album/mixtape between 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin arrived in October 2017.  All parties involved had plenty of success throughout the course of 2017 prior to the arrival of the project.  While the majority of the tape finds 21 Savage and Offset collaborating, there are a couple of solo cuts. “Nightmare,” is an example of such, finding Offset taking the reins.  Safe to say, the Migos member is on autopilot, excelling at flexing and talking shit, with his flows are agile, shining like a beacon.

The hook is fire:

“Freddy Kruger, give ‘em a nightmare
Soon as you close your eyes, nigga, we right there
Come in the middle of night, like it’s a nightmare
You open your eyes, not dreamin’ nigga we right there.”

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11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Anthrocene”

Skeleton Tree » Bad Seed Ltd » 2016

Sometimes, nightmares or suspect dreams are, or become reality – at least purportedly.  That’s a pretty choppy and wordy statement, but it’s a fitting characterization of “Anthrocene,” a highlight from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ 2016 album, Skeleton Tree.  Of Skeleton Tree, Esquire Magazine asserts Nick Cave Finally Tells His Most Painful Story. True, Skeleton Tree is  an epic, downer album, marking the first LP released by the collective following the death Cave’s son, Arthur.  Skeleton Tree doesn’t only tackle Cave’s emotions following Arthur’s death, but listening to it, it’s hard not to hear the influence that the traumatic experience has had on Cave. But enough about that, let’s focus on “Anthrocene,” and what it means.

“All the things we love, we love, we love, we lose
It’s our bodies that fall when they try to rise
And I hear you been looking out for something to love.”

“Anthrocene” definitely isn’t ‘a ray of sunshine’ – it possesses suspect and unsettling vibes.  Perhaps that’s because it references to the current geological period, the Anthropocene, a label that Smithsonian asserts, has “ignited a scientific debate between geologists and environmentalists,” regarding  how “human beings permanently changed the planet.” Can you say, nightmare? Anyways, one of the distinct features of “Anthrocene” is its jazzy groove, which sounds uncharacteristic compared to the rest of Skeleton Tree.

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Photo Credits: 4AD, Bad Seed Ltd, Boyletown Music, Inc., BunHead, Capitol, Epic, Fueled by Ramen, Grade A Productions, LLC, Hopeless, Interscope, Motown, Pixabay, Quality Control Music, Republic, Sony Music Entertainment

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