Is it the original "Monster Mash" the creepy creatures were dancing to or an interpretation?
Sure, it's a graveyard smash hit... but have you actually heard the song they're dancing around to and singing about?
If you really think about it, what does it even mean?
Is the "Monster Mash" some sort of dance, a super catchy song, or perhaps it's both. Part of me feels like it's the Electric Slide or Macarena.
The most important question of all is this: is the song we’re hearing every Halloween the actual "Monster Mash" the creepy creatures were dancing to in the story, or is it just an interpretation of the original "Monster Mash" by the person singing the tune?
Let's figure this out...
The narrator is basically describing the origin of the "Monster Mash" while he witnessed it happening. The one thing that's missing from the song is that he never confirms that the song we're listening to is the same "Monster Mash" that he saw that eery night.
Are you still following me?
The investigation begins...
Esquire reached out to the music legend Darlene Love, who sang backing vocals on the 1962 original version of the song. Here's her thoughts on the song, dance, or whatever it is:
“I think it's the interpretation of it,” Darlen Love told Esquire. “I really do, because I think you can make this all about anything. I don't think Bobby figured this song would be a hit either. I think they're going there with the idea that this is a cute song, let's record it. So, I don't need to understand it. If they play it, it will be a hit. You never know what little kids are thinking.”
The second question was "Have we ever heard the real "Monster Mash?"
“No we haven’t. You make whatever you want of it when you hear it. But whatever you do, do some kind of mash."
In conclusion...
So, it's settled, I suppose.
"Monster Mash" is a song and a dance craze. However, no one has ever heard the original version that the narrator witnessed on that fateful night.
By Matthew Sterner.
Mish, Mosh, Mash...😎