Top 20 Essential Halloween Songs

Top-20-Halloween-Songs

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best songs to include on your Halloween party playlist!

#20: “Bad Moon Rising” (1969)
Creedence Clearwater Revival
A lot of the fun around picking Halloween songs can be the creative subtext behind some old school classics. “Bad Moon Rising” was already a hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival years before its inclusion on the soundtrack to “An American Werewolf in London.” It’s a perfect fit for the film’s blackly comedic tone, however, since writer/director John Landis decided to include a soundtrack that was full of moon references. The decision to play “Bad Moon Rising” on Halloween should certainly succeed in waking the wolf within even the tamest devil’s night bash.

#19: “Runnin’ with the Devil” (1978)
Van Halen
This song from Van Halen’s classic self-titled debut album doesn’t need to be a theme to a horror movie to fit into the Halloween spirit. That obnoxiously hard-hitting bass thump from Michael Anthony leads the charge with this all-time hard rock banger. “Runnin’ with the Devil” is the sort of tune that makes us raise our collective fists and yell. It’s heavy but approachable, catchy and has plenty of attitude. There’s no real darkness or malevolence to the song, but the wordplay of the title feels right at home for the reason of the season.

#18: “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” (1996)
Andrew Gold
The 1980s was a halcyon decade for great, cheap Halloween tapes that could be found at your local department store. These cassettes were often jam packed with creepy music and sound effects that were perfect at parties. Andrew Gold attempted to fill this void in 1996, a period that was long since removed from Halloween music’s golden years. The original “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” hearkens back to the OG Halloween records of old, and the story could’ve easily ended at this point. However, modern internet forums have resurrected the ghost of “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” and its xylophone for a new, ironically appreciative audience.

#17: “The Purple People Eater” (1958)
Sheb Wooley
Every Halloween playlist needs a good novelty song, right? “The Purple People Eater” from Sheb Wooley is a fun and relatively innocent Halloween jam, a relic from the bygone past. Still, the sincerity of its execution makes it a perfect pick for younger kids enjoying a slightly less-spooky Halloween. The desire of this titular “People Eater” to simply rock out and have a good time allows Wooley’s song to be silly and lighthearted. The pop instrumentation is also catchy, with a chorus that’s instantly memorable. What can we say? They call ‘em “classics” for a reason.

#16: “Werewolves of London” (1978)
Warren Zevon
This one’s admittedly a softball, but no Halloween playlist is complete without this late seventies jam. Warren Zevon only reached the Billboard Top 40 charts once, and it was with this song that initially started out as a joke. “Werewolves of London” was inspired by the horror movie of the same name, but it’s far from scary. The song is instead just a classic rock jam with a jaunty atmosphere and lyrics inspired by timeless scary movies. The reference to famous werewolf actor Lon Chaney Jr. is fun and makes “Werewolves of London” a song that gets wheeled out every Halloween season.

#15: “Bring Me to Life” (2003)
Evanescence
The success of Evanescence back in the early 2000s was timed perfectly with rising public interest in gothic-influenced rock and metal. “Bring Me to Life” may not have been written with Halloween specifically in mind, but the atmosphere at play within the song’s production and execution lend it a comparable feeling. Then, there’s that title, which could cheekily be snuck onto a playlist of all things undead and rising. “Bring Me to Life” was a radio hit for Evanescence, but it was their dedication to expanding this sound that earned them fans for life.

#14: “Highway to Hell” (1979)
AC/DC
It’s a perfect storm of sorts, an AC/DC track that helped define their early career, while also serving as a swansong for the group’s inimitable lead singer, Bon Scott. AC/DC didn’t always sound malevolent, but songs like “Highway to Hell” and “Night Prowler” (taken from the same album) actually tied into some real-life true crime. The notorious Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez, was reportedly a fan, and took inspiration from the latter tune. “Highway to Hell,” in the meantime, possesses a less troubling pedigree, but is no less awesome a choice for a Halloween jam. That iconic riff, Scott’s wailing vocals…it’s simply one of AC/DC’s finest musical hours.

#13: “Dead Man’s Party” (1986)
Oingo Boingo
Danny Elfman is probably best known today for composing iconic film scores like “Batman” and “Beetlejuice.” However, those paying attention back in the 1980s will likely also remember Elfman’s old band, Oingo Boingo. Their song “Dead Man’s Party” was featured in the Rodney Dangerfield flick “Back to School,” the same year it was released on vinyl. The tune possesses throbbing bass and devilish melodies, while Elfman’s vocals are cool, quirky and unlike many of his contemporaries. “Dead Man’s Party” honestly enjoys a vibe all its own, and this is definitely a good thing.

#12: “Disturbia” (2008)
Rihanna
It’s unclear as to whether or not the writers that composed “Disturbia” for Rihanna back in 2008 were aware of the psychological thriller of the same name. That flick was released only a year prior, however, so it’s totally possible that “Disturbia” may owe some sort of debt to it. This song was a huge success for Rihanna regardless of any surmised thematic connections, and the accompanying video is executed with an appropriately moody darkness. It’s this combination of electro-dance beats and thick grooves that helps make “Disturbia” a comparatively more recent addition to your Halloween shenanigans.

#11: “Superstition” (1972)
Stevie Wonder
Those who are seeking to bring a little funk into their Halloween season need look no further than this ‘70s banger from Stevie Wonder. “Superstition” is one of the soul and jazz icon’s most well-known and beloved songs. This is with good reason, too, since Wonder basically sets a template here for other funk groups to follow in his musical wake. The spookiness of real-life superstitions play into the song’s lyrics, while Wonder’s clavinet creates an earworm melody for the ages. It’s basically impossible not to smile and get down when “Superstition” is on, and isn’t getting together with friends half the fun of any Halloween gathering?

#10: “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984)
Rockwell
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: “Monster Mash” (1962)
Bobby “Boris” Pickett
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.

#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
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
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 cow bell.

#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
Originally envisioned as a distinguished love ballad, 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
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: “This Is Halloween” (1993)
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” Cast
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.

#1: “Thriller” (1983)
Michael Jackson
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 have a go-to Halloween playlist? Let us know in the comments.