Halloween is almost here—and it’s time to plan what tunes you’ll listen to in order to get into the spooky mood. Whether you’re throwing a party or simply want a playlist for yourself, here are some of the top songs to play on Halloween.
Must-Haves:
“Thriller,” Michael Jackson
A classic. Need we say more?
‘Cause this is thriller / Thriller night / And no one’s gonna save you / From the beast about to strike
“I Put a Spell On You,” Screamin’ Jay Hawkins/Bette Midler
There are two versions of this song: Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins sang the 1956 original, while Bette Midler modernized it in the Halloween movie, “Hocus Pocus.”
I put a spell on you / Because you’re mine
“Somebody’s Watching Me” Rockwell
With Michael Jackson’s vocals in the memorable chorus, this creeptastic song from Rockwell is great for your get-together.
I always feel like somebody’s watching me / And I have no privacy (ooh ooh) / I always feel like somebody’s watching me / Who’s playing tricks on me?
“Highway to Hell,” AC/DC
A fun rock song everybody will recognize.
I’m on the highway to hell / On the highway to hell / Highway to hell / I’m on the highway to hell
“Superstition,” Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s well-known song will make you want to dance this Halloween.
Very superstitious, / Writing’s on the wall, / Very superstitious, / Ladders bout’ to fall
“Bad Moon Rising,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
Another classic. Play it outside in the moonlight for extra effect.
Don’t go ’round tonight / It’s bound to take your life / There’s a bad moon on the rise
“This Is Halloween,” Danny Elfman/Marilyn Manson
What kind of Halloween would it be if you didn’t play this song? You may remember it from The Nightmare Before Christmas. You can play the original by Danny Elfman or the cover by Marilyn Manson, depending on your tastes.
This is Halloween, this is Halloween / Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
From TV, Movies and Musicals:
“Ghostbusters Theme,” Ray Parker Jr
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
If there’s something strange in your neighborhood / Who you gonna call? (ghostbusters) / If there’s something weird / And it don’t look good / Who you gonna call? (ghostbusters)
“Addams Family Theme”
Play the theme song of the kookiest family of all.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky / Mysterious and spooky / They’re all together ooky
“Timewarp” (Rocky Horror Picture Show)
If musicals are more your thing, then look no further than The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s “Time Warp.”
I remember doing the Time Warp / Drinking those moments when / The blackness would hit me / (Magenta:) And a void would be calling
“The Phantom of the Opera”
While none of them are necessarily spooky-themed, there are a lot of great songs with creepy undertones from this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The titular song is the most well-known and will send shivers down your spine.
Those who have seen your face / Draw back in fear / I am the mask you wear / It’s me they hear
A Little Less Serious:
“Spooky Scary Skeletons,” (Remix) The Living Tombstone
This often meme-ed song is great to lighten the mood.
Spooky scary skeletons / Send shivers down your spine / Shrieking skulls will shock your soul / Seal your doom tonight
“Monster Mash,” Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
A quirky classic from 1962.
He did the mash, he did the monster mash / The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash / He did the mash, it caught on in a flash
Romantic:
“That Old Black Magic” Frank Sinatra
Listen to these lyrics if you’re on a Halloween date night with your bewitching significant other.
Old black magic has me in its spell / Old black magic that you weave so well / Those icy fingers up and down my spine / The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
Classic Composition:
“Danse Macabre,” Camille Saint-Saens
In 1874, a French composer created this Dance of Death, tapping into centuries-old imagery of skeletons literally dancing people to their graves. Creeped out yet? Turns out this song is about how death is unstoppable and comes for us all.
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