Halloween is one holiday that we reliably get excited about (no, it’s not just for kids), and it’s right around the corner. That said, a little music goes a long way towards setting the mood and getting those creative juices flowing before you start planning a killer costume. Still, Halloween music isn’t a genre per se...or is it? We’re ready to challenge that assumption with our list of the best Halloween songs—featuring murder ballads, eerie tunes to set a spooky tone and songs that make explicit references to werewolves and witches. Suffice it to say, we’ve got your Halloween party playlist covered. (Enjoy.)

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1. “Spooky” by Lydia Lunch

We think you’ll agree that Lydia Lunch of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks gives Dusty Springfield’s classic a considerably spookier edge.

2. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

No Halloween playlist would be complete without “Thriller.” May the creepy choreography inspire you to hit the dance floor.

3. “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads

David Byrne’s impression of a psycho killer is so upbeat you’ll be bopping right along to it. Even scarier is that it makes the Norman Bates type seem kind of, er, relatable.

4. “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran

Is it Indiana Jones? No...It’s 80s heartthrob Simon Le Bon, and his jungle romp will have you howling at the moon.

5. “Henry Lee” by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey

No surprises here: Nick Cave is the king of murder ballads. That said, this duet with PJ Harvey turns a sinister storyline into something oh-so romantic.

6. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

More 80s gold—get ready to rock out on the highway to Halloween.

7. “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

The powerful bass line here makes a fine backdrop for Cave’s chilling description of a mysterious (and terrifying) man.

8. “Zombie” by the Cranberries

There’s no denying that a) Dolores O’Riordan has a serious set of pipes and b) this song will indeed be “what’s in your head, in your head...”

9. “Climbing Up the Walls” by Radiohead

Thom Yorke takes the creepiness factor to new heights with this haunting track.

10. “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath

Is anyone surprised that Black Sabbath wrote a real rocker about Satan’s reign of terror?

11. “Season of the Witch” by Donovan

The vibes might be more flower power than anything else, but the refrain is spot-on and it's almost impossible not to sing along.

12. “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” by David Bowie

David Bowie’s inimitable voice is almost a growl when he sings the chorus on this rocker: “Scary monsters / Super creeps / Keep me running / Running scared.”

13. “Super Freak” by Rick James

Rick James’s punk-funk classic is guaranteed to get everyone freaking out on the dance floor.

14. “The Monster” by Eminem ft. Rihanna

It’s no secret that Eminem raps about some very scary stuff—and with Rihanna singing the hook, there’s no doubt this grammy-awarding track will be the monster in your head.

15. “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The topic is plenty terrifying (and stomach-turning)—but oddly the song kinda just makes you want to party.

16. “Carolina Drama” the Raconteurs

This bluesy ballad from the Raconteurs is an epic one, and it’s all about (yep, you guessed it) murder.

17. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by the Beatles

A disturbingly cheerful little ditty about a serial killer who bludgeons his victims with a hammer. (You never listened closely, did you?)

18. “Your Ghost” by Kristen Hersh

Kristen Hersh of Throwing Muses shows off her hauntingly beautiful voice and Michael Stipe chimes in on the refrain—the effect is equal parts eerie and elegant.

19. “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” by the Cramps

Hilarious and just plain fun, this song about a teenage werewolf features the Cramps’ signature surf guitar stylings and punk-rock attitude. In other words, it will make you want to move.

20. “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones

Nothing says Halloween like a song about Satan...but let’s be honest, this one is a good listen any ol’ time.

21. “The Freaks Come Out At Night” by Whodini

An example of old school hip hop at its finest that just so happens to be a perfect fit for a costume party playlist.

22. “Little Drop of Poison” by Tom Waits

Tom Waits’ raspy growl is pretty spooky no matter what he’s singing about—but when the lyrics revolve around poison, you’ve got a Halloween winner.

23. “Lake of Fire” by Nirvana

“Where do bad folks go when they die? / They don’t go to heaven where the angels fly / They go to a lake of fire and fry…” Okay, so the end of the chorus mentions the Fourth of July, presumably for rhyming purposes, but we can all agree that Nirvana’s cover of the Meat Puppets’ song has Halloween written all over it. (Right?)

24. “Gimme Danger” by the Stooges

A writhing, shirtless (duh) Iggy Pop begs for danger against guitar that is best described as, well, Raw Power...need we say more?

25. “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon

Who knew werewolves paired so well with upbeat 70s keyboard? Whimsical Warren Zevon, that’s who.

26. “Day of the Lords” by Joy Division

There’s no better way to create a gothic atmosphere than by turning on pretty much any tune from Joy Division—and this one will certainly do the trick.

27. “Ava Adore” by the Smashing Pumpkins

Synth-pop sounds with a gothic vibe and a solid dose of 90s nostalgia—it’s a recipe for Halloween magic.

28. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

Everyone knows the ghosts come out on Halloween and...who you gonna call? (Sorry, couldn’t help it.)

29. “Monster Mash” by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

This 1960s classic is a staple of every Halloween playlist, and we probably don’t need to explain why.

30. “Witchy Woman” by the Eagles

As the kings of soft country rock, The Eagles are likely not the first band that comes to mind when you think of Halloween. They did, however, write a chart-topping song about a witch and it’s (unsurprisingly) quite catchy.

31. “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow

Bow Wow Wow’s 1982 anthem might as well be an ode to trick-or-treating.

32. “Halloween Theme” by John Carpenter

You don’t even need to watch the slasher movie to get scared silly, since it has one of the spookiest scores of all time.

33. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult

If you’re looking for a song that fits the Halloween theme and will also stay stuck in your head until Christmas, Blue Oyster Cult has got you covered.

34. “Black Magic Woman” by Santana

Turn on this sexy and soulful number from Santana and you’ll change up the vibe without straying from the theme.

35. “Welcome to My Nightmare” by Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper wants you to take a nocturnal vacation. (We’ll let you decide if that’s sexy or spooky.)

36. “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

There are countless covers of this classic blues song by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, but none can match the creepiness of the original. (Sorry, Bette.)

37. “People Are Strange” by the Doors

A great song in any season, but particularly well-suited for a celebration of all things strange.

38. “Halloween” by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Siouxsie Sioux is basically the unofficial queen of Halloween, so it should come as no surprise that she wrote a rockin’ song about the occasion.

39. “Evil Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra

Just try not to dance to this snazzy 70s number from Electric Light Orchestra—the bad vibes are wicked good.

40. “Halloween Parade” by Lou Reed

A holiday narrative sung in the nonchalant monotone you’d expect from Lou Reed—reserve this one for your Halloween party wind-down.

41. “A Nightmare on My Street” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Will Smith lays down some serious bars about his terrifying encounter with Freddy Krueger in this 1988 single. Prepare to sleep with the lights on...

42. “Dracula’s Wedding” by Outkast (feat. Kelis)

Welcome to Dracula's wedding, where thirsty vampires are aplenty. (No judgment if you decide to play this one at your own ceremony.)

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