Halloween is around the corner! As we prepare for the holiday, we begin to doomscroll for the perfect costume to wear. At the same time, we’re heading to the grocery store and spending hundreds of dollars on candy to hand out to children during trick-or-treating. We might also be decking our homes with Halloween spirit while being on the lookout for upcoming Halloween parties and events that are taking place in our college campuses or hometowns. Another crucial thing we may be doing is creating our Halloween playlists!
Music is a vital Halloween factor. We hear it at every Halloween party and event that we attend. Music is important for Halloween because it sets the tone at events and attracts hundreds of people. Based on personal experiences, houses that play Halloween music attract more trick-or-treaters than those that don’t.
Besides being beneficial for events, Halloween music is great to listen to. You get to experience jump scares and cold veins while dark, horror vibes fill your ears. If you want to acquire those jump scares, feel those cold veins, have a pack of people flood your house, or make your Halloween event a stellar time, here are six songs to blast your speakers with.
“Thriller”
If there’s any song that should be on your Halloween playlist, it’s this one. The classic Michael Jackson song is the definition of Halloween. From zombies to eerie parking lots filled with stellar dances, the song’s music video really brings it home. Meanwhile, “Thriller’s” upbeat music and lyrics will turn your Halloween party into a spooky version of prom.
If you’re curious to see what magic Jackson incorporated into the “Thriller” music video, here’s a snippet.
“Ghostbusters”
If you’ve never watched Ghostbusters, you’re missing out. Not only is it an immensely popular film, but it’s got an amazing storyline that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Sometime before Halloween, you should watch Ghostbusters. It can be found on Disney+, Hulu, Fandango, and fuboTV. If you’ve got time, I recommend watching the other Ghostbusters films. They’re just as amazing!
Like “Thriller,” the Ghostbusters theme song can be heard everywhere, making it hard to miss. The opening lyrics immerse you into the Halloween scene by addressing the concept of seeing “something strange,” followed by, of course, calling the Ghostbusters. The uplifting background music of “Ghostbusters” contradicts the traditional spooky vibes that Halloween depicts. However, the song will make your Halloween party vibrant for attendees, given its colossal fame and outstanding lyrics.
“Monster Mash”
Despite Halloween being full of horror, some of its songs will fill you with laughter. “Monster Mash” is one of them. What I like about this song is that it’s very humorous. The uplifting background music and Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s playful storytelling will keep you smiling throughout the song. It’s also a fun one for people to sing along to at karaoke events.
While the song doesn’t sound like a Halloween tune, if you look closely at the lyrics, you’ll realize the song does center on the holiday. Also, if you’ve read or watched Frankenstein, you’ll recognize a good portion of its plot in the song’s opening lyrics.
“Vampire”
Many eminent Halloween songs are classics. In other words, they were released before your parents, or even your grandparents, were born. However, there are some popular modern tunes that’ll qualify for a Halloween playlist. One is Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire.”
Released in 2023, the song received over a billion listens on Spotify. Furthermore, it was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the year it was released. “Vampire” isn’t directly about Halloween, however, one of the song’s main elements is a vampire, which is associated with the holiday. If you want to play a Halloween tune that’s different from the classics, this is a good one to consider.
“This Is Halloween”
The Nightmare Before Christmas is another outstanding Halloween film. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you take some time off to watch it before Halloween.
The film has a lot of excellent songs. One that stands out is “This is Halloween.” If you’re looking for a Halloween chant to add to your playlist, this one’s perfect. The background music really brings out the typical dark, spooky environment that Halloween contains. The lyrics are also very catchy, making way for a groovy trick-or-treating experience, Halloween party, or both.
“Somebody’s Watching Me”
Another 1980s tune, “Somebody’s Watching Me” paints an astonishing Halloween image. From its catchy vocals to nifty background music, Rockwell combines suspense with humor. In the song, we know someone is watching Rockwell, but the exact person or thing is never determined. This is symbolic of Halloween because the holiday is full of unsolved mysteries, such as an unknown figure spying on you. If you plan to host an event that involves a haunted house or a mystery game, this song is perfect for that vibe.
There are many other Halloween songs out there. But for a Halloween party and trick-or-treating event, these are a must! From amazing classics like “Thriller” to pop tunes such as “Vampire,” these six tunes will make your Halloween event a memorable experience for attendees.