Top 10 Halloween Songs
Top 10 Halloween Songs
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Some people would say that this is the most wonderful time of year and at the very least it’s a great excuse to party with some friends. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Halloween songs. The songs on the list did not have to be explicitly about the Halloween, nor did the songs have to come from movies. Rather, we focused on songs that exemplified the fun and spooky nature of the holiday and are great to groove to at a Halloween-themed party.
#10: “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984) Rockwell
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This song combines fear with paranoia to play on the spooky theme of having that feeling that you’re being watched. On this debut single from Rockwell, Jermaine and Michael Jackson provide backing vocals to give the chorus a slick Motown feel. The song is well produced and feels cinematic, like listeners are the stars of their own horror movie, which is great for a day like Halloween.
#9: “This Is Halloween” (1993) “The Nightmare Before Christmas” cast
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Wouldn’t you like to see something strange? This song is reminiscent of older tunes of the 1960s like the theme from “The Munsters.” Performed by the citizens of Halloween Town, and headed by none other than composer Danny Elfman himself, it humanizes the strange characters but still keeps that element of scary fun, attractive to both children and adults. Marilyn Manson later re-recorded the song for the 2008 album “Nightmare Revisited” but it’s the original that remains a Halloween favorite.
#8: “Bark at the Moon” (1983) Ozzy Osbourne
This song has great narrative content that makes it perfect for Halloween. Ozzy tells the story of a town terrorized by a mythical beast which kills many of the townsfolk. Just when they thought it was gone, it comes back and the instrumentation parallels the return of the beast with frantic power chords. The song was promoted with Ozzy’s first music video, which flips the script as Ozzy becomes the beast in question before being committed to a mental institution.
#7: “Welcome to My Nightmare” (1975) Alice Cooper
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Cooper excels at creepy, fun songs like, “Feed My Frankenstein,” but this song is by far the best executed of the two. It’s a mixture of different genres like jazz, hard rock, and disco, and that all comes together to give the song a theatrical quality that’s great for a day of make-believe. Cooper plays up the song’s creepy vibe in the music video, performing in demonic makeup and combating ghoulish forces. Cooper later performed the song on “The Muppet Show,” cementing its status as a Halloween staple for people of all ages.
#6: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (1976) Blue Öyster Cult
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The hypnotic signature riff off this track is enticing enough to put anyone in a weird trance. Also, on top of that, the song’s subject matter is pretty macabre as the lyrics focus on the inevitability of death and the futility of fearing it. The way the singer’s voice echoes throughout the chorus gives a haunting effect that is perfect for listeners getting themselves into an eerie mood. In fact, it’s so eerie that it was featured in “Halloween,” and inspired Stephen King to write “The Stand.” But, we still think it could use more cowbell.
#5: “Ghostbusters” (1984) Ray Parker, Jr.
This song has a fun, playful tone that matches the film it accompanies one hundred percent. After watching late night TV, Parker was inspired by the cheesy commercials that would come on during that time. The kookiness of the song’s content over that upbeat ‘80s groove gives the song a nostalgic vibe that is perfect for Halloween. The song was such a hit that it stayed at number one on the charts for three weeks. In addition to that, it was nominated for an Oscar.
#4: “I Put a Spell on You” (1956) Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
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Originally envisioned as a distinguished love balled, the entire band was intoxicated during the recording session, leading to Hawkins raw and guttural vocal delivery. Inspired by the unnerving vocals, radio DJ Alan Freed offered Hawkins 300 dollars to emerge from a coffin on stage. Hawkins embraced this new performance aesthetic, developed an eccentric stage persona to go with it – which included the prominent use of voodoo imagery – and inadvertently became a pioneer of shock rock in the process.
#3: “Time Warp” (1975) “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” cast
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Taken right out of the film, this song has come to have a life of its own. The track may be a parody of instructional dance songs but that hasn’t stopped it from getting people out on the dance floor. Due to the film’s over-the-top attitude and quirkiness, the tune has a playful quality that people can relate to, especially around Halloween time. “Time Warp” has been covered many times over the years and is one of the main audience-participation activities during screenings of the film.
#2: “Monster Mash” (1962) Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett
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Even though it was a simple “novelty” song, it seems that the novelty still hasn’t worn off for this Halloween tune. Released just three days before All Hallows’ Eve in 1962, the song is a comedic retelling of the Frankenstein story in which a mad scientist creates a dancing monster. The song recognizes its own kitsch-iness and plays with it by incorporating sound effects like the sound of a bubbling cauldron and nails on a chalkboard. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Superstition” (1972) Stevie Wonder - “Dragula” (1998) Rob Zombie - “Werewolves of London” (1978) Warren Zevon - “Pet Sematary” (1989) Ramones - “Howlin’ for You” (2011) The Black Keys - “Disturbia” (2008) Rihanna
#1: “Thriller” (1983) Michael Jackson
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At our number one spot, we have one of the most recognizable songs of all time. Coming as the title track off history’s best-selling album ever, the tune also has all the makings of a horror movie with the sound of the creaking door, howling dogs, and Vincent Price’s ominous voice interspersed between Jackson’s singing parts. The 1950s B-movie inspired music video only adds to the song’s reputation as a Halloween classic. In the video’s most iconic scene, Jackson leads actors costumed as zombies in a choreographed dance routine that – admit it – we’ve all tried to duplicate more than once. Do you agree with our list? Which song is your Halloween jam? For more spooky Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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