SPOOKYSONGS

Every Day is Halloween – Ministry

Up until I wrote this post, I thought Al Jourgensen, frontman and brains behind Ministry, was British, and its mostly because of this song. It’s one of their very early singles (1984), and Al sings in a distinctly British accent. This song wouldn’t have been out of place on a Depeche Mode album. But, turns out, he’s from Chicago. Also, he looks like he hasn’t showered since 1984.

“Nope. Not once.”

Ministry was formed in 1981 in Chicago and recorded a string of synth-pop singles that didn’t quite light the world on fire. Their debut album did ok, but Jourgensen and Arista Records did not get along, so they parted ways. To start their “comeback”, they released a series of singles on Wax Trax records. The second of these was “Every Day is Halloween”.

The song kicks off with a great drum and synth line before cutting into the main keyboard riff – it always gives me the feeling of being in a club and the lights finally turn on, maybe some disco ball or something. Then Al lets us have it:

Well, I live with snakes and lizards

And other things that go bump in the night

‘Cause to me everyday is Halloween

I have given up hiding and started to fight

In 4 short lines, Ministry pretty much defines the “Goth” lifestyle. The lyrics go on to say people always question the way he’s dressed and how absurd he looks, hearkening back to the moment in Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” where people question whether Bob’s a woman or a man.

Beats me!

Turns out for Al, every day is Halloween, and people just don’t realize it! Fools! Every day, it’s the same in the whole wide world. If only we got candy every day! I mean, I guess as an adult, I can eat candy every day… but it’s more fun when an old lady hands you a Snickers.

Ha, remember that terrifying Snickers commercial where the kids dressed as an old lady? This is horrific, the least of which being the thing wearing a Jocelyn Wildenstein mask.

In the 90s, Ministry went full-on industrial and recorded a ton of landmark albums for the genre. Jourgensen was asked about the change in direction and I love that he doesn’t have any long-winded answer – he says he heard hardcore music and decided to change to that sound. Love it.

This song first came to my attention on one of the finest Halloween collections ever made, Just Can’t Get Enough: A New Wave Halloween. It’s the “Very Special Christmas” of Halloween discs. A bunch of random 80s bands singing about our favorite holiday. The perfect addition to any Halloween party.

Stabbing Westward did a pretty cool cover of the song in 2020. Maybe a little too heavy for a dance party, but a great nod to the classic!