23 Best Songs About Magic & The Supernatural

The best songs about magic and the supernatural capture the wonder and amazement of an illusion and the magical feeling we get when falling in love.

It’s a subject that singers and bands of all genres have explored, leading to some of the most iconic ballads and anthems in music history.

Read on, and we’ll break down these magical songs in all their glory, detailing the performing artists’ success on the international charts.

The 23 Best Songs About Magic & The Supernatural

Magic comes in many forms, from a simple card trick to the feeling someone gets when they hear from the person they love.

We’ve put together this list of songs about magic to include music from a wide range of styles, covering the most iconic singers of the last few decades.

Let’s begin our magical mystery tour of the 23 best songs about magic and the supernatural:

23. “Witch Doctor” – David Seville

David Seville’s classic song from 1958. “Witch Doctor” looks at the arcane side of magic with lyrics resembling an ancient incantation.

Seville sings, “Ting tang walla walla bing bang,” mixing these nonsensical sounds with lyrics about a helpful witch doctor.

Released on the album of the same name, it’s one of many popular novelty songs released during this era.

22. “All The Magic” – Natalie Imbruglia

Natalie Imbruglia enjoyed massive success at the peak of her career, releasing some of the best 90s songs and regularly landing on the charts.

“With All the Magic,” she uses the concept of magic as an allegory for the mysteries of the world and opening your heart to new experiences.

It was released as part of the soundtrack for Winx Club, The Secret of the Lost Kingdom, which hit theaters in 2007.

21. “Magic” – B.o.B

B.o.B blended hip hop and R&B to great effect on their track “Magic,” released on the 2010 album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray.

In this context, magic relates to artistic skill, with the lyrics singing, “Every time I touch that track, it turns into gold.”

The track was produced in collaboration with Rivers Cuomo, who also serves as the lead singer for the rock band Weezer.

20. “The Summer Is Magic” – Playahitty

Italian Eurodance sensation Playahitty sang about the fact that “Summer Is Magic” in this debut single, released in 1994.

Celebrating the magic of the year’s hottest season paid off, with the song well regarded for bringing back memories of cherished vacations.

A big hit in Playahitty’s native Italy, it also charted in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Sweden.

19. “Superstition” – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder’s prolific career saw him perform on all topics, from songs about change to iconic songs about magic, such as “Superstition.”

A warning to the superstitious, Wonder sings, “When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer.”

It’s a magical song featured on the 1972 album Talking Book, exemplifying his outstanding use of synthesizers.

18. “Strange Magic” – Electric Light Orchestra

“Strange Magic,” taken from the Electric Light Orchestra album of the same name, was released in 1995 to critical acclaim.

Magic is explored here with a strong ballad and hooks that resemble those from the best pop tunes to create a magical effect.

It showcases the band’s ability to merge psychedelia with more traditional rock in a way that echoes the Beatles’ producer George Martin.

17. “Magic” – The Cars

While some songs about magic refer to literal spells, The Cars used it to describe being with someone you love.

Their song “Magic” sings about how When I’m with you (Oh, it’s magic), Just a little magic, You know it’s true.”

It’s a pop-rock classic from the 1980s, featuring on their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City, which was released on Elektra Records.

16. “Bring Back The Magic” – Jimmy Buffett

Another catchy pop tune about magic that was released in the 1980s is “Bring Back The Magic” by Jimmy Buffett.

The vocals opine, “Bring back the magic, don’t make life so tragic,” while encouraging people to “live straight from the heart.”

Buffett is responsible for one of the best party songs of all time, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” which he sang in collaboration with Alan Jackson.

15. “Magic Bullet” – Jacob Whitesides

Indie singer Jacob Whitesides is another great singer who uses magic as a metaphor for love, as in his song “Magic Bullet.”

He urges the woman in his life to “hit me with your magic bullet” so they “won’t have to hunt me down.”

This song about magic was a minor success for the artist, released in 2015 on his album, Faces on Film.

14. “Make A Little Magic” – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The prolific output of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band saw them release “Make A Little Magic” as the title track on their twelfth studio album in 1980.

It’s a chirpy, infectious blues and bluegrass piece that encourages people to “make a little magic before the night is through.”

The band would later win the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 1989 for “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

13. “Magic Road” by Al Green

The magic of the open road is the subject of this song from Al Green, one of the leading soul vocalists and producers of the 1970s.

The mysterious road in question is a gateway to the unexpected: “Down this magic road, you can have anything you want.”

It was released in the later years of Green’s career on the 2005 album Everything’s OK, his first to place in the top 50 since 1975.

12. “Witches Hat” – The Incredible String Band

“Witches Hat” was featured on the third studio album released by The Incredible String Band, titled The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter.

The song explores what they’d do if they were a witches hat, singing, “I’d fly away and be a bat across the air I would rove.”

It’s another classic track from the 1960s era of psychedelic rock from one of the most underrated Scottish bands of the time.

11. “Magic” – Olivia Newton-John

No stranger to hit songs, Olivia Newton-John’s track “Magic” was featured on the soundtrack to the 1980 movie Xanadu.

In this song, magic means “For you, I’ll bring all your dreams alive” and represents the destiny of two lovers.

Newton-John received many awards throughout her career, including a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1981.

10. “You Can Do Magic” – America

Sticking with classics from the 1980s, rock band America released the track “You Can Do Magic” in 1982 on their album View From The Ground.

Again, the magic referred to here is the magic of love, with the lyrics, “No, no magic could happen to me, and then I saw you.”

View From The Ground marked a return to form for America, who were at the peak of their popularity during the 1970s.

9. “Magic” – Kylie Minogue

Pop singer icon Kylie Minogue has been responsible for some of the best happy songs ever produced, and “Magic” is no exception.

Kylie sings about the magical feeling of a lover, saying, “Your touch is supernatural, oh, I can’t fight this feeling.”

Taken from the 2020 album Disco, it fuses disco music with pop and was recorded in Minogue’s home studio.

8. “Love Potion No. 9” – The Searchers

Heading back again to the 1960s for “Love Potion No. 9”, the Doo-wop song released by The Searchers at the height of their fame.

The song depicts a man in search of love, evoking sex magic and concluding with pondering on the effects of love potion number ten.

Featured in the movie American Graffiti, it was also the premise of the 1992 movie of the same name starring Sandra Bullock.

7. “24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars effortlessly fuses funk, disco, and pop to bring his fans “24K Magic”, the title track from his 2016 album.

It’s an ode to the power of money about a “dangerous man with some money in my pocket.”

Mars won numerous awards for the song, including Best R&B Song at the Billboard Music Awards and Best Song That Makes You Smile at the Radio Disney Awards.

6. “Abracadabra” – Steve Miller Band

The Steve Miller Band captured the magic moment when using the incantation “Abracadabra” in their classic rock song from 1982.

“Keep me burning for your love with the touch of a velvet glove” sums up how love can put a spell on someone.

The title track from their hit album, it charted in nine countries and reached the number-one spot in the German charts.

5. “Spanish Castle Magic” – Jimi Hendrix

Widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix could work true magic with his instrument.

His song “Spanish Castle Magic” is a bold and dynamic track about a “really groovy place” far, far away.

Taken from the album Axis: Bold As Love, it followed Hendrix’s hugely successful debut album Are You Experienced in 1967.

4. “Rhiannon” – Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac released their live album, Life Becoming A Landslide, in 1975, which included the popular song “Rhiannon.”

It’s a celebration of the eponymous woman and asks, “Would you stay if she promised you heaven?”

Fleetwood Mac would become known for releasing one of the best songs of all time, Dreams, released on the 1977 album Rumours.

3. “A Kind Of Magic” – Queen

Queen produced a string of hit rock ballads throughout their time together, with “A Kind Of Magic” being one of the fastest-selling records of their career.

Written by the band’s drummer, it’s a unifying song that sings about “One dream, one soul.”

It’s “A Kind of Magic” has been widely used in popular culture, including in the trailer for the 1996 movie, The Adventures of Pinocchio.

2. “I Put A Spell On You” – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Magic and love come together again for “I Put A Spell On You,” perhaps the best-known song from Screamin Jay Hawkins.

“I put a spell on you,” sings Hawkins in his inimitable style, “because you’re mine, you know I can’t stand it.”

Written in 1956, it has since been widely covered, including by Nina Simone, Bryan Ferry, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

1. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” – The Police

With some of the best 80s songs under their belt, The Police took aim at the magic of love with the song “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” in 1981.

The magic touch of a woman transforms lives, with lyrics singing, “Even though my life before was tragic now I know my love for her goes on.”

One of the most classic songs about magic, it showcases the ability of The Police to combine multiple genres, including rock, reggae, and new wave.

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed this playlist of the best songs about magic, exploring a broad range of genres catering to all tastes.

These classic and contemporary songs cover everything from the effects of a magic spell to magic as an analogy for love and relationships.

With more great songs about magic likely to come, check back on this playlist for the latest updated version.

What’s the best song about magic, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.