Yahoo Lifestyle30 Halloween Songs for Your Playlist This Year
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“This Is Halloween” by Danny Elfman
Almost as ubiquitous as the "Monster Mash," this Nightmare Before Christmas classic is an October 31st essential.
Danny Elfman - Topic@Youtube - 2/30
“Halloween Theme” by John Carpenter
If you prefer your spookiness without lyrics, try the iconic score from 1978's blockbuster Halloween.
Rodrigo Cantillano@Youtube - 3/30
“Dancing with the Devil” by Demi Lovato
364 days of the year, you have to be good. On Halloween, you have a free pass to dance with the devil—might as well get into it.
DemiLovatoVEVO@Youtube - 4/30
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
If you dance with the guy for long enough, eventually you're going to have some sympathy for him.
ABKCOVEVO@Youtube - 5/30
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
Yeah, there is something strange in the neighborhood—the fact that you're not already playing this '84 classic. Why would you ever not be listening to "Ghostbusters"?
RayParkerJuniorVEVO@Youtube - 6/30
“Somebody's Watching Me” by Rockwell
Another 1984 synth- and bass-heavy favorite—what's spookier than being watched?
RockwellVEVO@Youtube - 7/30
“Heads Will Roll” by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Zombie" by The Cranberries may actually be too scary a song for Halloween, since it is about the horrors of senseless violence. Instead, if you want a zombie anthem that's not about national trauma, enjoy this sinister dance hit by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Also consider the same album's more low-key macabre track, "Skeletons."
YeahYeahYeahsVEVO@Youtube - 8/30
“Halloween Parade” by Lou Reed
Okay, just one historical trauma song—this laidback Lou Reed song commemorates the loss of many of the rock icon's friends from New York's LGBTQIA+ communities to the AIDS epidemic. It's also a great song.
Brian Eno@Youtube - 9/30
“Dracula's Wedding” by OutKast
"I wait my whole life to bite the right on, then you come along and that freaks me out," sings André 3000 in this song that's about exactly what the name suggests. Spooky.
RasputinStream@Youtube - 10/30
“Boogie Monster” by Gnarls Barkley
With the spookiness of a novelty song and the artistry of a genuine bop, this Gnarls Barkley song is a Halloween must-have.
Gnarls Barkley - Topic@Youtube - 11/30
“Demons” by Hayley Kiyoko
A song for the spooky creatures within and without, this Hayley Kiyoko tune will either have you dancing or calling your therapist—maybe both.
Hayley Kiyoko@Youtube - 12/30
“bad guy” by Billie Eilish
On Halloween, we celebrate the villain. Plus, aesthetically, Billie Eilish is celebrating Halloween every day of the year.
BillieEilishVEVO@Youtube - 13/30
“Poor Unfortunate Souls” by Pat Carroll
While we're celebrating the villains, it's great to have at least one Disney villain anthem in the mix. If you're not an Ursula fan, consider Scar from The Lion King's "Be Prepared." Plus, since Marvel's owned by Disney, you may as well throw "Agatha All Along" in the mix.
Disney Movie Geek@Youtube - 14/30
“Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” by Jeff Richmond and Tracy Morgan
Did you know that there's a full-length version of this one-off 30 Rock joke? The song features lyrical gold like "Tomorrow you will stand at the bimah and pray / but tonight let's gaze at the moon and bay."
Jeff Richmond - Topic@Youtube - 15/30
“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon
Another werewolf dance hit—who can forget this Warren Zevon '70s classic?
RHINO@Youtube - 16/30
“Time Warp” by Nell Campbell, Patricia Quinn, and Richard O'Brien
If you want to go all-in on camp this Halloween, you've gotta do the Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show (again).
Little Nell - Topic@Youtube - 17/30
“Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” by David Bowie
Speaking of camp.
Puzzle96@Youtube - 18/30
“Lost Souls” by Raury
If it's haunting enough for Hunger Games film Mockingjay Part 1, it's definitely haunting enough for your Halloween party.
DouglasGriezmannVevo@Youtube - 19/30
“Yes, I'm a Witch” by Yoko Ono
Embrace the holiday Yoko Ono style, by proudly proclaiming your witchy-ness to the world.
Yoko Ono - Topic@Youtube - 20/30
“I Put a Spell On You” by Nina Simone
Witchy? Sure. Also just an incredibly beautiful song.
TheJazzStreet@Youtube - 21/30
“Ghosts Are Good Company” by Bishop Allen
Not all Halloween songs have to be dark and ominous. Sometimes you and the ghosts can just be good pals. Celebrate the undead with this sweet tune from '00s cult favorites Bishop Allen.
lizethyo@Youtube - 22/30
“Walking with a Ghost” by Tegan and Sara
Now that you're friends with the ghosts, you may as well go for a walk together with this 2010 Tegan and Sara hit.
Tegan and Sara@Youtube - 23/30
“Halloween” by Phoebe Bridgers
Admittedly not the best pick for your party playlist—this downtempo song is a great one to put on when you're starting to sober up, and the feelings are coming back.
Phoebe Bridgers - Topic@Youtube - 24/30
“Trick Or Treat” by Otis Redding
Is "Trick Or Treat" the best Otis Redding song? No. Is it the most Halloween-y? Absolutely. Plus, a mid-tier Otis Redding song is better than most artists' best.
Otis Redding - Topic@Youtube - 25/30
“Frankenstein Twist” by The Crystals
If you're going to go for a novelty song, it may as well be…novel. This one by The Crystals, of "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me" fame, will have you dancing like Frankenstein's monster. (Dr. Frankenstein himself probably isn't the best dancer—academics generally aren’t known for their moves.)
AnimalMySoul@Youtube - 26/30
“Cemetery Gates” by The Smiths
Looking for more of a sad boy Halloween tune? Consider this melancholy option by The Smiths.
Into the Music@Youtube - 27/30
“Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” by The White Stripes
It's late October, and people have been partying all night—the leaves are going to be dead, and the ground is going to be dirty.
The White Stripes@Youtube - 28/30
“Black Cat” by Janet Jackson
If there's an official animal of Halloween, it's the black cat. Though the cat may be a bad omen, this song is a great time.
JanetJacksonVEVO@Youtube - 29/30
“(Don't Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult
At the end of the day, Halloween is about death. Still, that doesn't mean you need to fear the Reaper.
BlueOysterCultVEVO@Youtube - 30/30
