Your ultimate Halloween playlist for a howling good time
From Black Friday to Christmas Day itself, it is impossible to turn on the radio and not be bombarded by the incalculable renditions of Jingle Bell Rock or Mariah Carey belting about what she wants for Christmas. I think it’s fair to assume the holiday most Americans associate with music is Christmas. However, there’s one other holiday that definitely deserves its own soundtrack. I’m talking about Halloween.
To quote Halloweentown’s Marnie Piper, “Halloween is cool.” I love Halloween especially now that I’m older. As much as I loved trick-or-treating, I feel empowered buying my own candy and much prefer going to costume parties than running around cul-de-sacs begging for Butterfingers all evening. However, nothing is more tragic than when you get to a party and the hosts clearly don’t know what they’re doing with the aux cord and sound system. As much as I love Thriller (and yes, spoiler, it is included in the playlist I have made), playing obvious choices on a constant loop doesn’t give Halloween the respect it deserves. So, to help you get started with your own party playlists, I’ve thrown together a list of songs that I believe covers all the loveable clichés (i.e. “Monster Mash”) while doing the holiday some justice.
- “Spooked” by Bro Safari feat. DJ Craze
- “Scylla” by RL Grime
- “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
- “EDM Death Machine” by Knife Party
- “Genesis” by Grimes
- “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge
- “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon
- “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” by Father John Misty
- “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
- “Coronus, The Terminator” by Flying Lotus
- “Kingpin” (Wuki Remix) by RL Grime feat. Big Sean
- “Heads Will Roll” (A-Trak remix) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- “Bankrupt!” by Phoenix
- “Frankenstein Stomp” by Count Lorry and the Biters
- “Control Movement” by Gesaffelstein
- “I Put A Spell On You” by Bette Midler (from film Hocus Pocus)
- “Seven Devils” by Florence + the Machine
- “Obedear” by Purity Ring
- “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett
- “Weekend” by gLAdiator
- “Casper The Friendly Ghost” by Daniel Johnston
- “Light Years Away” by Oliver
- “The Sun” by The Naked And Famous
- “Night of the Living Dead” by Misfits
- “Hey!” by MF Doom
- “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran
- “Talk” by XXYYXX
- “Sweet Transvestite” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- “Night Is On My Mind” by Oliver
- “Don’t be Afraid, You’re Already Dead” by Akron/Family
- “Disturbia” by Rihanna
- “Demons” by Sleigh Bells
- “Black Magic Woman” by Santana
- “Season Of The Witch” by Donovan
- “Suffocation” by Crystal Castles
- “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.
- “Yung Rapunxel” by Azealia Banks
- “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult
- “Hip To Be Square” by Huey Lewis & The News
- “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy” by Justice