Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or getting ready to carve your pumpkin, you’ll need a spooky soundtrack to accompany your frightful festivities. Here is a list of my favourite songs to add to your Halloween playlist this year.
“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
A classic Halloween hit, “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers is an obvious choice for the first track on this list. The song’s silly narrative lyricism, catchy background vocals and spooky sound effects make it perfect for your upcoming Halloween party. While there are various renditions of this fun-filled track, Bobby Pickett’s is the original and by far my favourite.
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
While some may debate the link between this catchy song and the spirit of Halloween, it remains a popular choice on many Halloween playlists, and for good reason. Even though the film Ghostbusters was released in June, there is no denying that due to its ghostly content, it too has become a Halloween classic, making this iconic track a perfect addition to this list.
“Spooky, Scary Skeletons” by Andrew Gold
An undeniably fun track that became popular when I was a kid, I simply couldn’t leave this song off the list. Its electronic beat makes the song a popular choice for Halloween parties where dancing is highly encouraged, but that doesn’t mean “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” won’t fit the mood for an evening spent carving pumpkins. It is clear why this track has maintained its popularity over the years.
“This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack
From the widely loved film The Nightmare Before Christmas, “This Is Halloween” is a spooky and fun inclusion for a Halloween playlist soundtracking any occasion. For many older members of Generation Z, this track — along with other songs from the film such as “Oogie Boogie’s Song,” “What’s This?” and “Sally’s Song” — is incredibly nostalgic. The quirky musicality that makes up “This Is Halloween” makes it a unique and memorable song for this kind of list.
“Season of the Witch” by Donovan
Although not necessarily a Halloween song, Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” has been used in conjunction with spooky season for a long time, likely due to its title. Although a somewhat niche addition to this list, “Season of the Witch” would still be a fun part of your Halloween playlist this year.
“I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow
The Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy” is another track that doesn’t necessarily nail Halloween on the head with its lyrical contents but is one of those tracks that has always been on my playlists around this time of year. As a result of this, it would feel strange not to include it in this list. A fun, upbeat track, “I Want Candy” feels like the perfect song to get a lulling party going and to bring life to the dance floor this Halloween.
“The Great Pumpkin Waltz” by Vince Guaraldi
An absolute classic, “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” is one of the most iconic parts of the movie It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Although nothing about the instrumental track reminds me of Halloween, the many years I spent watching this film with my family make it the perfect addition to my own personal playlist. Therefore, it felt important to include it in this list too.
“Halloweentown Theme” by Mark Mothersbaugh
Another instrumental, “Halloweentown Theme,” is one of the most memorable soundtracks to my childhood Halloween parties. The integral ’90s film was incredibly important to many of our childhoods and my annual re-watching remains a huge part of my Halloween fun, meaning that it could not be skipped on this list.
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With Halloween just around the corner, we all need to get started on our Halloween playlists. Hopefully, this list helped you get started on putting yours together.