Looking for some spooktastic tunes to listen to this Halloween? Whether you’re hosting a party or hanging at home and handing out candy, we’ve got you covered.
“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
“Very superstitious, writings on the wall; very superstitious, ladders ‘bout to fall”
If you like your Halloween tunes with a bit of ’70s flair, then this groovy Stevie Wonder hit will not disappoint. “Superstition” is the perfect soundtrack for getting ready for a costume party, baking some ghoulishly good Halloween cookies or pondering the complex phenomena that is the supernatural. If the lively horns and funky bass line don’t get you dancing, nothing will.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson
“‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night, and no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike”
Ever the quintessential Halloween jam, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is legendary, and rightly so. What with its spooky subject matter, werewolf howls and the late Vincent Price’s creepy dialogue about decaying flesh, “Thriller” has always been both groovy and ghastly. Not to mention the track’s iconic music video, which at nearly 14 minutes long is really more of a short film. Those dance moves! The zombies! Those yellow eyes! Red jumpsuit not included.
“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett
“They did the mash, they did the monster mash; the monster mash, it was a graveyard smash”
No Halloween playlist is complete without the spooky yet upbeat “Monster Mash.” The song is a classic, with a danceable, almost bouncy beat, and is just whimsical enough so as to not scare grandma. What’s more, you could probably play this song on loop at your Halloween party without it ever getting old. It’s scary good.
“Monsters” by Angus Stone
“Cause in the dark there’s monsters, they cry alone; they’re waiting for you to come along and play”
For all you folk fans wondering if there’s a spooky song for you, look no further. This banjo-backed track by Angus Stone is not only monster-themed, but also pleasantly introspective and acoustic, proving that sometimes even subtle spooky songs can creep up on you unexpected.
“The Gravel Road” by James Newton Howard (The Village Soundtrack)
This eerie violin song is one of the things that makes scary movie director M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village” so creepy. Both hauntingly beautiful and chill-inducing, “The Gravel Road” evokes images of a dark, moonlit night. Give the entire soundtrack a listen if you want to feel sophisticated and thoroughly creeped out.
“Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
“Through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets; when you’re gone, we want you all to know”
Rekindle your inner emo child this Halloween by listening to this classic My Chemical Romance jam (RIP). What’s spookier than a theatrical, marching band-themed tune about death and nostalgia? Nothing, that’s what.
“Time Warp” by The Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast
“I remember doing the Time Warp; drinking those moments when the blackness would hit me”
Speaking of theatrical, this tune from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is pretty much unbeatable as far as Halloween dance tracks go. It’s pretty easy to do (“It’s just a jump to the left”), and would make for a killer flash mob. LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAAAAIN!
“Overture” by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack)
When have organs ever not been creepy? “Overture” is the iconic instrumental theme to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” and is the perfect background music to intimidate guests with as you descend the stair in your haunting Halloween costume.
“Nature Boy (Acoustic)” by AURORA
“There was a boy, a very strange enchanted boy; they say he wandered very far, very far”
Only listen to this song if you’re prepared to feel like someone’s watching over your shoulder as you walk through the cold, dark woods. AURORA’s high, soaring vocals are unsettling enough, but the low hum of the cello takes this song into frightful territory very quickly.
“On the Run” by Pink Floyd
“Live for today, gone tomorrow, that’s me, hahahahaha!”
Snatches of mechanical sounds and maniacal laughter make up this tune, making it the perfect background track for a creepy evening. For the ultimate eerie Halloween experience, listen to the entire “Dark Side of the Moon” record while watching “The Wizard of Oz.” Some of the album lyrics and musical cues match up to the movie, and the result is rather unnerving.
