Halloween is arguably one of the most fun holidays of the year, and yet, so few seem aware of the incredible plethora of Halloween music. Some stores have even started playing Christmas carols, but rarely do I walk into a store and hear Halloween music. It's my dream to walk into a Kohl's and hear rattling chains and maniacal laugher. Halloween novelty music is out there, waiting to be consumed.
Therefore, I have complied a list of the spookiest, scariest songs for a perfectly balanced Halloween playlist. A variety of styles and monsters have been represented, to show the creative breadth of Halloween music. Whether for a party or just to listen to on the train, these 27 songs will make any day feel like October 31st.
1. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
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The Monster Mash. This song is the straight-up definition of a Halloween song. It is a classic, and a song that inspired TONS of other songs. Monsters of all kinds just wanna dance when it's Halloween!
Behold, the ever-catchy grandfather of the "Halloween Novelty Song" - The Monster Mash.
2. Nightmare on My Street- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
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It's hard not to smile when listening to this nostalgic, dope song. Featuring spooky storytelling - the hallmark of any good Halloween novelty song, and the 80's freshness you can only get from The Fresh Prince.
The best part is, of course, the commitment to emphasizing "MY" to point out the contrast between "Nightmare on My Street" versus "Nightmare on Elm Street."
This is one of my newest loves, and really something I just want to treat you all to.
see - treat - see what I did there? trick or TREAT.
halloween joke cauldron is bubbling you guys
3. Time Wrap - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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What spooky celebration is complete without seeing all your friends united in a spooky line dance?
4. Lame Monster Party - Paul and Storm
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One of many parodies inspired by "Monster Mash," "Lame Monster Party" imagines a world where the monsters are little more socially awkward than those in the original "Monster Mash."
5. The Devil Went Down to Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band
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It goes without saying that The Devil and Halloween go together (like rama lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong), and the fiddle in this song is so utterly impressive. Maybe we can get Mumford and Sons to release a Halloween album with an updated version of this?
6. This is Halloween - The Nightmare Before Christmas
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So firstly, this is a great Halloween song for any playlist - even for a party - because it's the only well-known Halloween song that has "Halloween" right there in title. Secondly, there's going to be at least one person at your party who has all the lyrics to this memorized, and you've got to give them their moment of glory.
yes this person is me
please let me do this
please i don't have a lot else going for me
7. Thriller - Michael Jackson
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Once again, you have to play this. You don't really have a choice. And hey, after "Time Wrap," all your friends will be screaming for more choreographed group numbers! Keep the party going!
8. Zombie Jamboree - Rockapella
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Was I lying when I said this list would be full of "Monster Mash" inspired Halloween novelty songs? No, no I was not.
Here's a song just for the zombie lovers out there! Zombie Jamboree" is clearly a monster-species-specific spin on the Monster Mash idea, but the reggae-inspired style of this song is what really carved it a spot on this list.
9. Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
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Outside of Remus Lupin from Harry Potter, werewolves don't get a lot of love these days. Everyone's all about zombies or vampires. We'll, I'll bite. Show them some love! Play this for all your werewolf friends and let 'em howl for some doggone rock n' roll.
10. Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
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Halloween and being incredibly paranoid go hand in hand. Exploit this truth in order to work this awesome 80s number into your playlist.
11. Monsters Wedding - The Aquabats!
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In this Halloween novelty song, the monsters join for a wedding and hilarity ensues. Let's see, does that remind of us anything? Scary creatures joining for an event? Talk-singing? Monster Mash influence strikes again!
12. I Put a Spell on You
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This song has been sung and recorded by so many artists, but I think I speak for all dedicated Halloween fans when I say, it's most well-known for being immortalized by Bette Milder's rendition in Hocus Pocus.
13. I Was a Teenage Werewolf - The Cramps
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If listening to this song makes you think about Remus Lupin (and how amazing a miniseries just about The Marauders' time at Hogwarts would be), consider adding some old school Wizard Rock to your playlist - maybe start with "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" by The Remus Lupins.
If listening to this song makes you think about Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf, skip to #19 on this list - and add "Hungry Like the Wolf" to your personal party playlist right now.
If listening to this song makes you think about Teen Wolf the T.V. show, consider adding "Monster" by Kanye West (that Nicki Minaj's rap tho), "E.T." by Katy Perry, and/or "Ghost" by Katy Perry to your playlist.
14. Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
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Another Halloween classic. I love any song where a monster wants to get down.
15. Witch Doctor - David Seville and The Chipmunks
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"Witch Doctor" - for all my witches. This song is especially spooky because it will haunt you for hours, even days, after you play it - repeating itself in your mind over and over and over without your consent. It's also on every Halloween Novelty Song CD you'll pick up last minute at any Walgreens, Target, or CVS in America, so it's completely mandatory to include.
16. Rest in Peace - "Once More With Feeling" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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"Once More With Feeling" is the absolutely adored musical episode of Joss Whedon's Buff the Vampire Slayer. While any song from the episode would make a great addition to a Halloween party playlist, my weakness for Spike's cheekbones and gravelly voice pushed this one just a touch above the others.
17. Spooky Scary Skeletons - Andrew Gold
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The word "Spooky" is in the title of this song and in the title of this list - of course this song is going to be here.
18. Strange Magic - Electric Light Orchestra
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Having a party, and need to slow it down a bit? This is a love song just spooky enough that no one will notice your smooth moves.
19. GhostBusters Theme Song
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Look, don't miss this chance to listen to the GhostBusters song without any sidelong glances. Seriously.
20. Grim Grinning Ghosts - Haunted Mansion
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In case that last song offended any of your friends on the other side, include this one on your party's playlist. This will get you in the SPIRIT. Aw, sheet! Sorry for all the puns, boo, but on Halloween, anything ghost!
21. Weird Science
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I love this song not only because its 80's, but also because from a Halloween fan perspective, it's sort of an homage to the Dr. Frankenstein's of this spooky time, and people rarely show musical appreciation for the man behind the monster. Also, it's a great, high energy way to boost your day without having to realllly stretch that far out of the bounds of what can be considered a Halloween song.
If you're loving this song, you'll probably also love including "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Shock Treatment," "Sweet Dreams (are Made of These)," or "Tainted Love" in your playlist.
22. Pumpkin Head - The Misfits
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Choosing just one song by The Misfits on a Halloween playlist is hard, because The Misfits are the pioneers of Horror Punk, and really just sound like Halloween is meant to feel. They also add a great bit of tonal variety to a party, and have some great covers of spooky songs on this list (including, you guessed it, the inescapable Monster Mash.)
23. Let's Twist Again (Mummy Time is Here) - John Zacharle
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This one gets a place on my list for being one of the very few Halloween songs about a mummy. We really want all monsters to feel included.
24. Dragula - Rob Zombie
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You can't just not have Rob Zombie on your Halloween playlist.
25. The Monster Hop - Bert Convy
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Fun, silly, and very Monster-Mashish. I almost love it just because, gosh, this song really wants to be the Monster Mash.
26. Show Me Your Fangs - Matt Nathanson
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This is a great new song by Matt Nathanson that will add some fresh, contemporary style to your playlist. Maybe you don't want something so Halloween Novelty, but you still want some of that spook factor. "Show Me Your Fangs" is just that - a good song without losing the blatant monster appreciation that makes this song certifiably spooky.
27. Werewolf Bar Mitzvah
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And finally, the most fun of all Halloween Novelty Songs. 30 Rock's "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah."
Werewolf Bar Mitzvah/Spooky Scary/Boys Becoming Men/Men Becoming Wolves.
This parody of Monster Mash hits all the marks. The best part for me is the ending, where, #spoileralert - Tracy Jordan gets scared by the subject matter of the song. Tracy Jordan spooking himself because of his lines about a werewolf turning 13 is just, for me, the true meaning of Halloween.
And with that, our list comes to its end.
There are so many others I didn't include. Monster-Mashish songs are in excess, and I'm surprised because I did not know that so many monsters need to blow off that much steam. I have some suggestions for some other Monster-Mashish songs to help cover some of the more unpopular monsters or try out some new dance styles:
Bigfoot Ball
Harpy Party
Centaur Shindig
Chupacabra Fiesta
Cyclops Surprise!
Goblin Graduation
Monster Macarena
Sasquatch Shower (bridal or baby variations accepted)
With only six spooky days left on the calendar, it's time to get listening (and try everything pumpkin-related in every store). So hurry up, listen, and share - after all, everyone will be dying to know where you got your music.