It’s that time of the year: spooky season! Horror movies, costume parties and trick-or-treating – what’s not to love? And you want to know the best thing about Halloween? The music! From 60s bops like “The Monster Mash” to more recent songs like “Cannibal,” there’s a lot of music that’s played around Halloween – so much stuff, you’ve probably never thought to update your playlist. Luckily for you, we’ve got some songs that will spice things up.
10. “21st Century Schizoid Man” by King Crimson: We know that a seven-and-a-half minute prog-rock epic isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea, but hear us out. You’ve got some heavy-hitting riffage, haunting saxophone wails, sirens blaring in the background and a distorted vocal from singer Greg Lake. Top it off with Robert Fripp’s atonal guitar solo and you’ve got yourself one heck of a Halloween song.
9. “Haunted” by Taylor Swift: This song meshes Swift’s iconic late 2000s sound with classic Halloween audio tropes to create an infamous and instantly recognizable tune. If you’ve ever seen this song performed live, you know it’s Halloween to the core, from Swift’s ripped dresses to the eerie, broken bell placed center stage. Even if you haven’t seen Swift’s theatrical performance, go ahead and let this song haunt your Halloween playlist.
8. “Creepin’” by Hayley Williams: Is this a song about depression or literal vampires? It’s probably the former, but that doesn’t stop it from being a grooving alt-pop number. Dark, moody and danceable, this song is a worthy addition to any Halloween playlist.
7. “Haunted House” by Sir Babygirl: With Sir Babygirl’s incredible vocal gymnastics and this song’s ability to get stuck in your head relentlessly, it’s no wonder “Haunted House” makes the list. If you’re looking for a high-energy jam to get the good times rolling, this song is perfect for you.
6. “Let’s Kill Tonight” by Panic! At the Disco: If a main message about killing tonight weren’t enough to convince you, this song packs a spooky punch with its echoing vocals, spine-chilling electronic backbeat and wicked imagery. If you can’t imagine yourself drinking a steaming goblet of blood through your vampire fangs or flying a broomstick while listening to this song, you just might have gone batty.
5. “Hex Girl” by The Hex Girls: Anyone remember “Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost“? Of course you do, it’s a classic! And what made it such a classic — besides our regular cast of meddling kids — were the Hex Girls. By far the best characters to come out of the franchise after the main gang themselves, the Hex Girls not only were a fun foil to Mystery Inc. but also brought some killer tunes to the series. Any one of them would’ve been perfect for this list, but we decided to go with “Hex Girl” because it’s the song that introduced the world to the goth rock trio we know and love. Sultry, sinister and hooky, there’s no denying the song’s charms.
4. “My Boy Builds Coffins” by Florence and the Machine: There’s just something about Flo’s eerie vocals and the imagery of a relentless coffin maker that speaks to Halloween. The horrible notion of endless death mixed with the overall peaceful vibe of the song speaks to the patient, all-encompassing nature of mortality. Plus, it’s just a catchy tune.
3. “Boris The Spider” by The Who: If you’re afraid of spiders, you might want to steer clear of this song. Besides the perverse subject matter, you get some psychedelic sounds, a descending bass line that suggests a trip to hell and a truly dynamic vocal performance from John Entwhistle. From the death growl of the chorus to the wispy falsetto work in the song’s bridge, Entwhistle does everything in his power to bring this “creepy, crawly” song to life. And wouldn’t you know, he does just that.
2. “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/” by My Chemical Romance: With its relaxed vibes and extensive use of major chords, you might have trouble believing that “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W/” would be a strong Halloween-playlist contender. But don’t let that fool you; this story of a flesh-eating scarecrow on the prowl and the killjoys that stop him provides a perfect narrative for your Halloween playlist.
1. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams: You’re probably thinking to yourself, “hang on a second, this is a Christmas song.” You’re absolutely right, but take out the references to “kids jingle-belling,” “caroling out in the snow,” “much mistletoeing” and “Christmases long, long ago,” and what you’re left with are “gay happy meetings,” “marshmallows for toasting” and “scary ghost stories.” Kind of sounds like a Halloween song, doesn’t it?