Artist Poll, Poll — March 20, 2018 at 7:51 am

Best of Siouxsie and the Banshees: All 176 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers

Today we unveil the results of Round 6 of our Slicing Up Eyeballs artist poll series, a ranking of all 176 songs officially released by goth/post-punk icons Siouxsie and the Banshees over the band’s decades-spanning career, from their debut single “Hong Kong Garden” in 1978 to the scattered once-unreleased tracks that have trickled out in the 2000s.

A little refresher: We asked readers to vote for up to 25 of their favorite songs recorded by the Banshees, choosing from a ballot that listed all 176 of the band’s singles, album tracks, soundtrack cuts (“Batman Returns”! “Showgirls”!) and cover songs. We didn’t include live versions or remixes.

RELATED: Playlist of all 176 Siouxsie and the Banshees songs, ranked — minus 48 not on Spotify

Based on a total of about 27,000 votes, the full results are presented below. As you can see, the No. 1 selection — not surprisingly, one of the Banshees’ bigger alt-rock radio singles — topped the list by about 40 votes over the No. 2 song, a perhaps more surprising selection in the runner-up spot.

PREVIOUS POLLS: The Cure | The Smiths | R.E.M. | Depeche Mode | New Order

As always, thank you all so much for participating.

And now, the results:

 

BEST OF SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES: ALL 176 SONGS, RANKED

 

 

1. “Cities in Dust”

Single; appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 957 votes

 

2. “Spellbound”

Single; appears on Juju (1981) | 918 votes

 

3. “Christine”

Single; appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 826 votes

 

4. “Israel”

Non-album single (1980) | 759 votes

 

5. “Hong Kong Garden”

Non-album single (1978) | 745 votes

 

6. “Happy House”

Single; appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 719 votes

 

7. “Kiss Them For Me”

Single; appears on Superstition (1991) | 713 votes

 

8. “Dear Prudence”

Non-album single (1983) | 684 votes

 

9. “Peek-a-Boo”

Single; appears on Peepshow (1988) | 680 votes

 

10. “Arabian Knights”

Single; appears on Juju (1981) | 673 votes

 

 

11. “Dazzle”

Single; appears on Hyæna (1984) | 655 votes

 

12. “The Killing Jar”

Single; appears on Peepshow (1988) | 538 votes

 

13. “Slowdive”

Single; appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 522 votes

 

14. “The Passenger”

Single; appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 517 votes

 

15. “Melt!”

Single; appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 453 votes

 

16. “Night Shift”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 426 votes

 

17. “Candyman”

Single; appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 417 votes

 

18. “Swimming Horses”

Single; appears on Hyæna (1984) | 400 votes

 

19. “Face to Face”

Single; appears on “Batman Returns” soundtrack (1992) | 399 votes

 

20. “The Last Beat of My Heart”

Single; appears on Peepshow (1988) | 393 votes

 

 

 

21. “This Wheel’s On Fire”

Single; appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 374 votes

 

22. “Fireworks”

Non-album single (1982) | 368 votes

 

23. “Halloween”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 367 votes

 

24. “Love in a Void”

B-side of “Mittageisen” (1979) | 347 votes

 

25. “Cascade”

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 346 votes

 

26. “Into the Light”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 344 votes

 

27. “Red Light”

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 330 votes

 

28. “Monitor”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 314 votes

 

29. “Helter Skelter”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 274 votes

 

30. “Sin in My Heart”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 262 votes

 

 

 

31. “Painted Bird”

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 244 votes

 

32. “Shadowtime”

Single; appears on Superstition (1991) | 235 votes

 

33. “The Sweetest Chill”

Appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 214 votes

 

34. “Ornaments of Gold”

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 200 votes

 

35. “Fear (Of the Unknown)”

Single; appears on Superstition (1991) | 192 votes

 

36. “The Staircase (Mystery)”

Non-album single (1979) | 190 votes

 

37. “Playground Twist” (TIE)

Single; appears on Join Hands (1979) | 187 votes

 

37. “Rhapsody” (TIE)

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 187 votes

 

39. “Mirage”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 182 votes

 

40. “Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 176 votes

 

 

 

41. “Voodoo Dolly”

Appears on Juju (1981) | 172 votes

 

42. “92°” (TIE)

Appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 171 votes

 

42. “Song From the Edge of the World” (TIE)

Non-album single (1987) | 171 votes

 

44. “Jigsaw Feeling”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 169 votes

 

45. “Icon”

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 166 votes

 

46. “Belladona”

Appears on Hyæna (1984) | 164 votes

 

47. “Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man”

Appears on Hyæna (1984) | 160 votes

 

48. “Scarecrow”

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 158 votes

 

49. “The Ghost in You”

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 157 votes

 

50. “Overground”

Re-recorded version on The Thorn EP (1984) | 156 votes

 

 

 

51. “Trust In Me”

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 153 votes

 

52. “Switch” (TIE)

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 152 votes

 

52. “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us” (TIE)

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 152 votes

 

54. “Desert Kisses”

Appears on Kaledioscope (1980) | 148 votes

 

55. “Land’s End”

Appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 145 votes

 

56. “Carousel”

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 144 votes

 

57. “Overground”

Appears on The Scream (1981) | 143 votes

 

58. “Green Fingers”

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 142 votes

 

59. “Cannons” (TIE)

Appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 138 votes

 

59. “Stargazer” (TIE)

Single; appears on The Rapture (1994) | 138 votes

 

 

 

61. “She’s a Carnival”

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 137 votes

 

62. “Party’s Fall”

Appears on Tinderbox (1986) | 134 votes

 

63. “Eve White/Eve Black” (TIE)

B-side of “Christine” (1980) | 132 votes

 

63. “Hall of Mirrors” (TIE)

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 132 votes

 

65. “The Rapture”

Appears on The Rapture (1994) | 126 votes

 

66. “Blow the House Down” (TIE)

Appears on Hyæna (1984) | 124 votes

 

66. “You’re Lost Little Girl” (TIE)

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 124 votes

 

68. “Placebo Effect” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 122 votes

 

68. “This Unrest” (TIE)

Appears on Tinderbox (1981) | 122 votes

 

70. “Carcass”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 118 votes

 

 

 

71. “Head Cut” (TIE)

Appears on Juju (1981) | 117 votes

 

71. “Pulled to Bits” (TIE)

B-side of “Playground Twist” (1979) | 117 votes

 

73. “Obsession”

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 106 votes

 

74. “Paradise Place” (TIE)

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 105 votes

 

74. “Turn to Stone” (TIE)

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 105 votes

 

76. “Suburban Relapse”

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 102 votes

 

77. “Tenant” (TIE)

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 101 votes

 

77. “We Hunger” (TIE)

Appears on Hyaena (1984) | 101 votes

 

79. “Lullaby”

B-side of “Candyman” (1986) | 100 votes

 

80. “Tattoo”

B-side of “Dear Prudence” (1983) | 99 votes

 

 

 

81. “Red Over White”

Re-recorded version on The Thorn EP (1984) | 93 votes

 

82. “Strange Fruit”

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 89 votes

 

83. “Little Sister”

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 84 votes

 

84. “Forever” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 82 votes

 

84. “Nicotine Stain” (TIE)

Appears on The Scream (1979) | 82 votes

 

86. “Rawhead and Bloodybones”

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 78 votes

 

87. “Dizzy”

Appears on The Best of Siouxsie and the Banshees (2002) | 77 votes

 

88. “O Baby”

Single; appears on The Rapture (1995) | 75 votes

 

89. “Skin”

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 73 votes

 

90. “Burn-Up” (TIE)

Appears on Peepshow (1988) | 72 votes

 

 

 

90. “Hybird” (TIE)

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 72 votes

 

92. “Silver Waterfalls”

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 71 votes

 

93. “Are You Still Dying Darling?”

B-side of “The Killing Jar” (1988) | 68 votes

 

94. “Lunar Camel” (TIE)

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 67 votes

 

94. “Something Wicked (This Way Comes)” (TIE)

B-side of “The Killing Jar” (1988) | 67 votes

 

96. “Shooting Sun”

B-side of “This Wheel’s On Fire” (1987) | 66 votes

 

97. “Take Me Back”

Appears on Hyaena (1984) | 65 votes

 

98. “El Dia de Los Muertos” (TIE)

B-side of “The Last Beat of My Heart” (1988) | 63 votes

 

98. “Little Johnny Jewel” (TIE)

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 63 votes

 

100. “Trophy”

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 62 votes

 

 

 

101. “20th Century Boy” (TIE)

B-side of “The Staircase (Mystery)” (1979) | 61 votes

 

101. “Cry” (TIE)

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 61 votes

 

101. “Red Over White” (TIE)

B-side of “Israel” (1980) | 61 votes

 

104. “Circle” (TIE)

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 59 votes

 

104. “Clockface” (TIE)

Appears on Kaleidoscope (1980) | 59 votes

 

106. “Love Out Me” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 58 votes

 

106. “Regal Zone” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 58 votes

 

108. “Drop Dead/Celebration” (TIE)

B-side of “Happy House” (1980) | 57 votes

 

108. “Placebo Effect” (TIE)

Re-recorded version on The Thorn EP (1984) | 57 votes

 

108. “Sleepwalking (On the High Wire)” (TIE)

B-side of “This Wheel’s On Fire” (1987) | 57 votes

 

 

 

111. “Gun”

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 56 votes

 

112. “I Could Be Again”

B-side of “Fear (Of the Unknown) (1991) | 55 votes

 

113. “Return” (TIE)

B-side of “Kiss Them For Me” (1991) | 54 votes

 

113. “The Lord’s Prayer” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 54 votes

 

115. “Drifter” (TIE)

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 53 votes

 

115. “Not Forgotten” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 53 votes

 

117. “Tearing Apart” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 52 votes

 

117. “The Quarterdrawing of the Dog” (TIE)

B-side of “Cities in Dust” (1985) | 52 votes

 

119. “Running Town”

Appears on Hyaena (1984) | 50 votes

 

120. “Coal Mind” (TIE)

B-side of “Fireworks” (1982) | 49 votes

 

 

 

120. “Cocoon” (TIE)

Appears on A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982) | 49 votes

 

120. “Mittageisen” (TIE)

Non-album single (1979) | 49 votes

 

123. “I Promise”

B-side of “Dazzle” (1984) | 47 votes

 

124. “Il est né, le divin Enfant”

Non-album single (1982) | 46 votes

 

125. “Fall From Grace” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 42 votes

 

125. “Something Else” (TIE)

B-side of “The Passenger” (1987) | 42 votes

 

127. “Poppy Day” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 40 votes

 

127. “Sick Child” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 40 votes

 

129. “Got to Get Up”

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 39 votes

 

130. “B Side Ourselves” (TIE)

B-side of “O Baby” (1994) | 38 votes

 

 

 

130. “Premature Burial” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 38 votes

 

132. “She’s Cuckoo” (TIE)

B-side of “The Passenger” (1987) | 37 votes

 

132. “Silly Thing” (TIE)

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 37 votes

 

134. “An Execution” (TIE)

B-side of “Cities in Dust” (1985) | 36 votes

 

134. “Catwalk” (TIE)

B-side of “Peek-a-Boo” (1988) | 36 votes

 

134. “New Skin” (TIE)

Appears on “Showgirls” soundtrack (1995) | 36 votes

 

137. “Softly”

Appears on Superstition (1991) | 35 votes

 

138. “Conga Conga” (TIE)

B-side of “Arabian Nights” (1981) | 34 votes

 

138. “The Double Life” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 34 votes

 

140. “Pointing Bone”

Appears on Hyaena (1984) | 33 votes

 

 

 

141. “Let Go”

B-side of “Swimming Horses” (1984) | 31 votes

 

142. “Umbrella”

B-side of “Candyman” (1986) | 30 votes

 

143. “Follow the Sun” (TIE)

B-side of “Spellbound” (1981) | 29 votes

 

143. “Pure” (TIE)

Appears on The Scream (1978) | 29 votes

 

145. “Voices (On the Air)” (TIE)

B-side of “Hong Kong Garden” (1978) | 28 votes

 

145. “Cannibal Roses” (TIE)

B-side of “Slowdive” (1982) | 28 votes

 

145. “Voices (On the Air)” (TIE)

Re-recorded version on The Thorn EP (1984) | 28 votes

 

148. “Sea of Light” (TIE)

B-side of “Shadowtime” (1991) | 27 votes

 

148. “Staring Back” (TIE)

B-side of “Kiss Them for Me” (1991) | 27 votes

 

150. “Supernatural Thing”

B-side of “Arabian Nights” (1981) | 25 votes

 

 

 

151. “Black Sun” (TIE)

B-side of “Stargazer” (1995) | 24 votes

 

151. “The Humming Wires” (TIE)

B-side of “Swimming Horses” (1984) | 24 votes

 

153. “Hang Me High” (TIE)

B-side of “Stargazer” (1995) | 23 votes

 

153. “Starcrossed Lovers” (TIE)

Bonus track on Tinderbox reissue (2009) | 23 votes

 

155. “Sea Breezes”

Appears on Through the Looking Glass (1987) | 22 votes

 

156. “She Cracked”

B-side of “This Wheel’s On Fire” (1987) | 20 votes

 

157. “Falling Down” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 19 votes

 

157. “Mother/Oh Mein Papa” (TIE)

Appears on Join Hands (1979) | 19 votes

 

157. “Spiral Twist” (TIE)

B-side of “Shadowtime” (1991) | 19 votes

 

160. “Make Up to Break Up”

Appears on The Scream reissue (2005) | 18 votes

 

 

 

161. “False Face” (TIE)

B-side of “Peek-a-Boo” (1988) | 17 votes

 

161. “Throw Them to the Lions” (TIE)

B-side of “Dazzle” (1984) | 17 votes

 

163. “A Sleeping Rain” (TIE)

B-side of “Melt!” (1982) | 12 votes

 

163. “The Lonely One” (TIE)

Appears on The Rapture (1995) | 12 votes

 

163. “(There’s A) Planet in My Kitchen” (TIE)

B-side of “Dear Prudence” (1983) | 12 votes

 

166. “We Fall”

B-side of “Fireworks” (1982) | 11 votes

 

167. “Baby Piano (Part 1)”

Bonus track on Hyaena reissue (2009) | 10 votes

 

168. “Baby Piano (Part 2)” (TIE)

Bonus track on Hyaena reissue (2009) | 10 votes

 

168. “Mechanical Eyes” (TIE)

B-side of “Song From the Edge of the World” (1987) | 9 votes

 

168. “Sitting Room” (TIE)

Bonus track on Kaleidoscope reissue (2006) | 9 votes

 

 

 

168. “Sunless” (TIE)

B-side of “The Last Beat of My Heart” (1988) | 9 votes

 

172. “Obsession II” (TIE)

B-side of “Slowdive” (1982) | 8 votes

 

172. “Slap Dash Snap” (TIE)

B-side of “Spellbound” (1981) | 8 votes

 

172. “The Whole Price of Blood” (TIE)

B-side of “Song From the Edge of the World” (1987) | 8 votes

 

175. “Hothead” (TIE)

B-side of “Face to Face” (1992) | 3 votes

 

175. “Infantry” (TIE)

Bonus track on Join Hands reissue (2006) | 3 votes

 

 

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

 

25 Comments

  1. I wonder what it would have been like if we could only vote for the b-sides…I know I left too many of them off the list because of limitations. Can’t say I blame anyone else for doing it, maybe I’m just surprised how low “I Promise” and “Let Go” ranked.

  2. With a couple exceptions, that whole list is a great playlist. The Banshees has such high quality output.

  3. Daniel Terg

    @ the website.
    If we had known that you would pigeonhole the group as “goth/post-punk icons” in your presentation, so they are more icons to you than a seminal band, we would have never taken part to the vote. And you chose the worst ever un-glamourous picture of her whereas for the Cure poll, 1) you didn’t mention any tag or labelled the Cure as “goth/post-punk”, you didn’t name a genre for them and 2) you chose a cool picture of Robert Smith from the late 1990s whereas you could have put a picture of him looking bad – equality of treatment.
    For Siouxsie, a bad image plus pigeonholing the group. Don’t you know that Steven Severin was the only other constant band member with Siouxsie, so logically you should have put a picture of “Siouxsie with Severin” !

    • This is a really odd criticism.

    • go away. This guy puts in a ton of work for this website. He then goes the extra mile by providing these types of polls pretty much every month. And you are bitching about the pix and the label? Why don’t you try operating a website like this? Or are you too busy registering mindless complaints? And, by the way, “goth/post-punk” pretty much fits Siouxsie and the Banchees to a T. And, as a “super-fan” who is so aggrieved by this website’s treatment of S&tBs, you should know that THERE ARE NO UN-GLAMOUROUS pictures of Siouxsie!!!!

    • Matt, thank you for a perfect poll. Don’t change a thing! We appreciate all the work you do!

    • dannysioux

      He has a point: the punk/goth icon label isn’t needed and yes, should’ve included a pic of the banshees too. The poll wasn’t based purely on Siouxsie.

  4. Daniel Turek

    Sad to see “Return” wasn’t in the top spot. Not ever in the top ten let alone top 100. How bout we all all listen to it and vote again?

  5. Spellbound was my top pick, followed by Arabian Nights – why is Spellbound a surprise? It is phenomenal in every way! Cities in Dust is haunting too and up there but those two are the duo that blew my mind. It looks like their live multi-album with Quarks artwork wasn’t in the balloting but several versions from that collection would be my 3,4,5 I think; much more energetic and manic than the album versions!

    • Agreed. I really wanted to vote for the live version of Paradise Place over the album version. The big surprises for me are Israel placing so high (snoozefest to me, I never listen to it by choice) and Arabian Knights not in the top 5.

  6. Murphy's Law

    Spellbound was the first Banshees song I ever heard – I saw the video on MTV before a lot of pop bands were making videos. I would guess this was a common entry point for the band.

  7. Murphy's Law

    Spellbound was my entry point into the Banshees – I saw the video on MTV in the early 80’s (maybe on IRS The Cutting Edge?) and was immediately taken. I would guess some other long-time fans started there as well.

  8. Marc Hemrick

    Matt, Love the website, great to have you back, much love, The sweetest Chill at 33, has 314 votes. should this not be #28/29?. The sweetest Chill is my favorite Souxsie Song.

  9. Matt. THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS…..MY FAVOUTITE BAND OF ALL TIME. I FELT THEY WERE OFTEN TIMES OVERLOOKED AS A RESULT OF LESSER BANDS (THE SMITHS, NEW ORDER, JOY DIVISION, U2). THE QUEEN!!

  10. Into The Light is my #1, followed by Switch, then a whole lot more Ju Ju & Kaleidoscope tracks.

    • Darryl Allison

      Completely agree with you Ben. Into the Light # 1, then Switch, and Carcass , and… there is soooo many!

  11. I could swear I came up with 181 songs by siouxsie and the banshees. Maybe I over counted?

  12. To JB70: since I cannot directly reply.

    Idk about there not being a bad siouxsie and the banshees song. There’s a planet in my kitchen isn’t all that great, and neither is Pulled to bits. ;)

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