As the leaves change color and the temperature drops, the warm nostalgia of Halloween slowly casts its spell upon us. Here are 13 classic spooky songs that will get you into the Halloween spirit, bringing back fond memories of pumpkin patches and trick-or-treating on a cool fall evening.
“The Great Pumpkin Waltz” – Vince Guaraldi
Starting off with a classic, “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” is from the quintessential Halloween movie, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The fall season is not the same without a mug of spiced cider and this heartwarming Charlie Brown classic. Soft piano and mellow upright bass combine with a riding jazz drumbeat to make this an iconic Halloween song.
“This is Halloween” – Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman has crafted the soundtracks of countless classic movies, and his distinct composition style clearly shines through in the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is another one of those definitive songs that brings back memories of shoving a VHS into the VCR, and sitting on the floor staring up at the TV in wonder. It’s also an especially fun sing-along.
“Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.
The third and final spooky movie soundtrack comes from the 1984 classic, Ghostbusters. It’s hard not to picture the glowing green Slimer as this slightly silly call and response tune plays. A giant evil version of the Michelin Man may also come to mind. This song is a bit different to the others on this list, as it is more upbeat and doesn’t necessarily have the uneasy, eerie nature that most of the other songs have.
“Thriller” – Michael Jackson
Many of our first memories of being spooked definitely come from the music video for “Thriller,” where Zombies dance in unison to create a silly and spooky atmosphere. It’s difficult to remember a Halloween party that didn’t have this song somewhere on the playlist. The haunting laughs that occur at various moments throughout the song undeniably stick with the listener long after the song is over.
“Monster Mash” – Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
Be honest, this was the first song that came to mind when you read the title of this article. This song is synonymous with the Halloween season, and no October 31st is the same without it playing at least a few times. Pickett’s campy voice carries the song to an otherworldly, spooky dreamland where skeletons and zombies dance together in foggy graveyards. This song might be the most fun to listen to on this list.
“Season of the Witch” – Donovan
This song is on this list primarily for its title and lyrics. Donovan expresses a strange feeling that he gets when looking over his shoulder, which he explains this by declaring that it “must be the season of the witch”. The song opens with a tight guitar riff and coasts over a groovy drumbeat. Donovan is hailed as the father of psychedelic rock, and that is certainly apparent in this song.
“Ghost Town” – The Specials
“Ghost Town” is the second most streamed song by The Specials, behind their classic, “A Message to You Rudy”. “Ghost Town” carries some of the same ska/reggae elements that their original hit makes use of, but adds in some special flair. The background noises throughout and the chilling tonal quality of the song all contribute to the creepy atmosphere. This song is unique, as it combines the mellow mood evoked by reggae with the spooky nostalgia that comes with Halloween.
“Spooky” – Dusty Springfield
The title of this song speaks for itself. “Spooky” is a classic love song by Dusty Springfield with a uniquely mysterious feeling. Love can often have a sort of ghostly and unsure quality, and Springfield perfectly captures this idea. This is one of Dusty Springfield’s most iconic and widely enjoyed songs. “Spooky” elicits feelings of being in a dark nightclub filled with ghosts and vampires, which makes it perfect for this list.
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” – Metallica
Metallica is often identified with gruesome and gory imagery, which fits the Halloween theme perfectly. This song is actually inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s novel of the same name, and both pieces of media describe the events of the Spanish War. This dark message concerning the horrors of war suits the halloween motif. The song was also a Zombieland soundtrack, which is an ideal Halloween movie.
“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult
Much of Blue Öyster Cult’s discography contains elements of creepiness, with many of their lyrics mentioning death or the darkness of night. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is no exception, boasting probably the most frightening title on this list. This is a good one for a spooky night drive along the coast. This song was also famously featured in the Saturday Night Live sketch More Cowbell featuring Will Ferrell.
“Wicked Game” – Chris Isaak
From the very first note in this song the atmosphere is eerie. It begins with a dissonant guitar pluck and slide, which brings you to a dusty haunted desert from the cowboy days. This song went fairly viral on TikTok recently, and ever since then it has been synonymous with creepiness even for the younger generations. Aside from the spooky feeling it gives off, it is also a great classic love song.
“Zombie” – The Cranberries
A gratuitous mention at best, “Zombie” by The Cranberries lands on this list primarily for its name. While there are some spooky elements in the song, like the vocal flares that late lead singer Dolores O’Riordan employs, or the dark grungy guitar riffs throughout, the overall vibe of this song is more sad than it is eerie. Nevertheless, a spooky song list would not be the same without an undead zombie mention.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” – Bauhaus
Last but certainly not least is a dark and scary song from Bauhaus. Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian-American actor that appeared in many horror movies in the mid twentieth century. Most famously, Lugosi played Dracula in the 1931 version of this iconic character. The eerie echoes throughout set the tone for this spooky song about the death of a classic horror actor. A hair-raising bass guitar riff and howling vocals add to the atmosphere of this Bauhaus hit.
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