By Gary Bennett
OK, so Halloween songs may not be as beloved as Christmas songs, but there’s no denying they’re right up there with Fourth of July songs, at least. There are plenty of good patriotic tunes to spin on July 4, but how many Easter, Thanksgiving or New Year’s Day songs can you name?
Halloween is a time for candy, costumes and, for some of us, partying! So, to liven up your Halloween bash, here are 25 terrific spooky songs. Give them a spin to set the right fright-filled mood in late October.
1. “Monster Mash”
Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, 1962
Classic fun-filled romp (complete with a Transylvanian accent) that introduced a new “monster” dance craze.
2. “Thriller”
Michael Jackson, 1983
The King of Pop unleashed this one on us from his blockbuster album. A newfangled thing called a “music video” propelled it along.
3. “Halloween Theme” (from “Halloween”)
John Carpenter, 1978
An eerie piano melody that foretells bad things to come.
4. “Tubular Bells” (featured in “The Exorcist”)
Mike Oldfield, 1973
Haunting instrumental featured in one of the best and scariest movies of all time.
5. “This Is Halloween” (from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”)
The Citizens of Halloween, 1993
The bouncy and gently scary opening song from Tim Burton’s classic movie, composed by Danny Elfman.
6. “Time Warp” (from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”)
Richard O’Brien and cast, 1975
A glam rocker with an audience-participation dance (of all things) that has become a Halloween staple.
7. “Disturbia”
Rihanna, 2008
Dark and disturbing. Rihanna practically spits out the words.
8. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
Blue Öyster Cult, 1976
Melodic and sensitive rocker that matter-of-factly speaks of death.
9. “Halloween”
Siouxsie and the Banshees, 1981
A weirdo, bouncing jam from these new wave gothic rockers.
10. “Dead Man’s Party”
Oingo Boingo, 1985
This six-minute anthem is the group’s best and most lasting song.
11. “I Put a Spell on You”
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, 1956
A cult classic delivered with scary, boozy exuberance by Screamin’ Jay.
12. “Bad Moon Rising”
Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969
This classic, ominous rocker has a feel of impending doom.
13. “The Addams Family” theme
Vic Mizzy, 1964
This kooky classic features delightfully strained rhyming, distinctive finger snaps and a harpsichord.
14. “Feed My Frankenstein”
Alice Cooper, 1991
Featured in the 1992 comedy “Wayne’s World,” this rocker showcases Cooper at his scary best.
15. “Spooky, Scary Skeletons”
Andrew Gold, 1996
The playful lyrics and bouncy tune make it great for kids of all ages.
16. “Vampire”
Olivia Rodrigo, 2023
Rodrigo’s meandering song describes a love that bled her dry.
17. “Werewolves of London”
Warren Zevon, 1978
Silly, uptempo song with ingenious wordplay and a signature howl that will delight any crowd.
18. “Ghost”
Justin Bieber, 2021
This superstar’s tuneful song deals with loss and grief, featuring the late Diane Keaton in the music video.
19. “Demons”
Imagine Dragons, 2013
Heartfelt ballad about battling your inner thoughts and desires that hold you back.
20. “Dragula”
Rob Zombie, 1998
Headbanging song that pays homage to a monster’s car, the “Dragula.”
21. “Halloween”
Misfits, 1981
A classic, energetic horror punk track that comes in at just under two minutes.
22. “The Munsters” theme
Jack Marshall, 1964
Lively, unique instrumental that perfectly introduced the iconic TV show.
23. “Highway to Hell”
AC/DC, 1979
Legendary, guitar-driven rocker that perfectly represents one of the biggest hard rock bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
24. “Ghostbusters”
Ray Parker Jr., 1984
Catchy theme to the movie of the same name hits the perfect vibe of carefree scariness.
25. “Frankenstein”
The Edgar Winter Group, 1973
Rollicking instrumental that somehow hit No. 1 with a wild mix of synthesizer, guitar, saxophone and percussion.
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.