Be in to win an iPod! – read the list for our competition details. In just a few days it will be Halloween! The night of trick or treating, costumes, candy, and all things spooky. In celebration I have put together a list of the 10 songs that absolutely must feature at your halloween party – or, failing that, songs you must load onto your iPod to help you get in the mood. I have tried very hard to provide you with the most diverse and interesting set of songs possible – so while you may not see all of your favorites, you should see at least one or two new ones to add to your collection. Be sure to tell us your own favorites in the comments.
A list like this would not be complete without the awesomeness which is Ozzy Osbourne! This track is from the Bark at the Moon Album recorded in 1983. Ozzy is, of course, most famous for being the lead singer of Black Sabbath and it would be seriously wrong not to include him on this list.
We have two firsts on this list – things I never thought I would see! One is Marilyn Manson, and the other is country music! It isn’t my personal favorite, but this song definitely rates as a classic Halloween party song perfect to get people moving about and dancing. It contains brilliant violin playing by Charlie Daniels and even the most anti-country music people should enjoy it.
Granted it isn’t the most horrifying song, but it is a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe and provides a nice alternative to some of the heavier music on this list. This is probably the best song to play as your party is nearing an end – when people are either too drunk to care what you play, or sober enough to appreciate the lyrics which are taken directly from the Poe poem of the same title.
I have to be honest and admit that I had never heard this song before I started researching this list – but it is definitely going to rank high for those of our readers planning a more hardcore party than the others. Also, for those of you who are planning to spread humbug this Halloween, you can play this at a very loud volume and you will frighten all the kids and parents who are trick or treating – save on candy costs!
This is a great hit from the ’60s which went to number one in the UK. While it is not a particularly scary track, it is, for many people listening, likely to bring back many memories of Halloween parties of the past. This is one of my favorite songs on the list.
This song is a lighthearted song – most appropriate for the early stages of your Halloween party. This (and item 3 on the list) is perfect for playing as your guests are arriving and having their first drinks. It is also perfect for a kids Halloween party. And if you want some entertainment for the night, why not watch the film – you can buy it here.
The Addams Family was a 1964 hit series based on cartoons by Charles Addams. The theme will be familiar to most people either through the original series of the much more recently made movie. This is a great quirky hit for your party – a definite must-play.
This song is from the album of the same name by Alice Cooper. It is a concept album in which each track progressively details the passage of a nightmare. This is the opening track and what could be more perfect for a loud Halloween Party.
Rather than use the original soundtrack version of the song, I have chosen to use the Marilyn Manson version because I like it much more and think it has a better Halloween “feel” about it. I also love the Panic at the Disco version, but there is no doubt that the Manson version is the spookiest. The song is, of course, the title track of the brilliant Tim Burton film “The Nightmare before Christmas” which you can buy here.
Everyone knows this song – it has been used in hundreds of horror movies. While the song sounds very eerie, the translation of the Latin original is not quite so spooky – it actually means “O Fortune, you wax and wane like the moon”. Hardly frightening stuff, but most people don’t know what it means and it will chill everyone that hears it to the bone! A definite must-have for Halloween. Oh – and it is from the cantata called Carmina Burana. I have picked an excellent version of it for you to buy:
Anyone who has seen the Exorcist will appreciate the eeriness of this soundtrack. It plays at the start of the film as the main actress walks home from a day filming. The scene is full of moody shots of Washington in fall with children trick or treating. It lulls you in to a false sense of security before all hell breaks loose (literally) in the form of possessed girl Regan. This song will always be my favorite Halloween theme. Oh – and if you don’t already have a copy of the movie, you can get it here.
This excellent track by Warren Zevon features drumming by Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac. It will be familiar to most people through its constant (over-)use in movies. Everyone will expect to hear this song at a party – don’t disappoint them.
If there is any one song on this list that people will be expecting to see – it is this. Monster Mash is a hilarious and fun song from 1962 sung by Bobby “Boris” Pickett. In a bizarre and rather lame attempt at a comeback, Picket released a spin-off of the song in 2005 called “Climate Mash”, a version with re-written lyrics about global warming and new vocals which was released on the Internet by the organization Clear the Air. Forget clearing the air for now – fill it with spooky mist and party!
Of this most famous piece of classical music, Wikipedia says: The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, is a piece of organ music commonly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, composed sometime between 1703 and 1707. It is one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, and has been used in a variety of popular media ranging from film, to video games, to rock music, to cellphone ringtones and used for the autumn holiday Halloween. I doubt a single person here will not know it. Props to Bach for writing music so cool that even non-classical lovers still listen to it – 300 years later!
Michael Jackson had to be number one. This track was damned scary when it came out, and it is still damned scary (though perhaps for different reasons now). I am sure that no one will dispute this item’s placement as number one greatest halloween party song. Allow me to finish with a little inappropriate humor: do you know why Michael Jackson loves Halloween? Free delivery right to his door.
At Midnight (Pacific time) on Halloween (31st October), one commenter on this list will be selected at random to win a mug, shirt, or cap from the List Universe Store. In addition, the winner will receive an 8 GB iPod Nano (latest version) in any color of their choosing (most, but not all, colors are shown above)! The winner must be a registered user (registration is free and easy). As usual, comments must be related to the list and not designed just to increase the count or your chances of winning. Every comment is counted – so you can comment more than once. For those who can’t wait to get some merchandise, the store prices have now all been discounted! So be sure to check it out. All products sold at the List Universe Store are of a high quality. Shipping takes 7 – 11 days.
Notable Extras: Black Magic Woman (Santana), Psycho Killer (Talking Heads), The Stranger (Billy Joel), Legend of Wooley Swamp (Charles Daniels Band), Devil Woman (Cliff Richard), Frankenstein (Edgar Winter Group), Hells Bells (ACDC), Spooky (Steely Dan), Don’t Fear The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult), Purple People Eater (Sheb Wooley)
Wow, no theme from “Halloween”? I thought it would surely make the list after seeing “Tubular Bells.”
Maybe this should have been a top 20 list. Other notable absences:
“I Put a Spell on You” by Screaming Jay Hawkins
“Hey There Little Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs
“Halloween” by The Misfits (actually, most of their catalogue is appropriate
“Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo
“Cold Ethel” by Alice Cooper (again, most of his catalogue fits this category
“Psycho *****es Out of Hell” by HorrorPops
“Living Dead Girl” by Rob Zombie
You know, this list could go on for days…
“devil went down to georgia” – not so much. love the song, but not as a halloween song.
“monster mash” should be number one in my opinion. it’s the widest ranging halloween song…for kids and adults alike at numerous events.
Love this version of Monster Mash by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
During Halloween I’m also partial to Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo, The Munsters Theme and the soundtrack to the Rocky Horror Picture Show
I remember my sister and I having the record “Thriller”. I think I was five, yeah it was scary then. Scary now too, but as the list said for different reasons. I loooove Rob Zombie, I bet it’s Halloween at his house all the time! The notable mentions made me laugh. “Devil Woman”, my husband said all his friends would sing that to him when we started dating!! Everybody have a safe one!
My dad used to think they said “There’s a bathroom on the right,” not, “There’s a bad moon on the rise,” in the CCR song Bad Moon Rising.
I always picture gladiators going to war, or something like that, when I hear Carmina Burana.
From the Legendary Steely Dan Man WALTER BECKER NEW ALBUM ‘Circus Money’ OUT NOW
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Most people read this site from work. Most people have YouTube blocked at work. Most people wish you’d stop with the video lists.
Okay, how scary are those red eyes and teeth for #7? Definitely sent a tingle down my spine. EEK!
I still love listening to Thriller. Interesting #6 and #2, I assumed that they were made specifically for horror movies or scary scenes. The Exorcist one still gives me the creeps!
Great list Jamie! The only disappointment, mentioned by a few other folks already, is the omission of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is played in countless theaters at midnight on Halloween. Tim Curry in drag is nothing but scary.
Nice list! Well, numero uno came as no surprise
By the way free delivery at doorsteps joke reminds me of the sign to be put at ***** offenders’ doors “No candy at this residence,” I don’t think its really that great an idea why not also add something explicit and scary at the doors.
Monster mash is absolutely amazing.
Very happy to see Nightmare Revisited song by Manson
Definitely with everyone who’s mentioned “I Put A Spell On You”, except the rendition I remember the most is from watching Hocus Pocus (a favorite for a silly Halloween laugh).
Loving the Addams family just because it’s such a catchy tune, and seeing Monster Mash because it always plays at least once in any small party.
Ultimate favorite on the list, however has got to be Toccata And Fugue, Halloween or not.
My mom says that anything by Atreyu or my favorite band Cradle of Filth could be Halloween music.
Thriller being number one was no suprise!
I just knew it would be on here.
great list btw!
No-one so far has mentioned the Eagles’ “Witchy Woman”. Not sure if it should be listed, but perhaps an honorable?
BTW: If I post these and then register later, would these posts be included in the drawing?
bob: most people don’t fit into your “most people” category. i don’t check the list from work. don’t have you tube blocked anyway. and i like the video lists.
if you don’t like something, come out and express your opinion clearly. don’t try to hide behind the idea that you are doing the rest of us a favor.
A good halloween video.
http://tinyurl.com/3zytve
Here’s a good one from Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys, “Teenage Pussy fron Outer Space”.
http://tinyurl.com/5utkfq
Thriller will always be number once. I remember watching it as a kid and actually being scared to go outside…in the day light. lol the video still gives me the creeps
127. Bob: I really find it unduly annoying when someone uses “Most people” when they mean “I” simply because there’s safety in numbers. Even artificial numbers.
People with any intelligence at all, and with the capacity for delayed gratification, will wait until *after* work to play the videos. Has this not occurred to you?
I am lucky, I don’t read LV from work, I love the videos. If, however, I were working, I would save LV for my afterwork treat, and do my work while at work.
WOW! What a concept!
I also like I put a Spell on You from Hocus Pocus. Werewolves of London is awesome! Now I have that song stuck in my head…”oooooooo werewolves of london!!”
Great list – I’d like to add Modest Mussorsgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. We play it every Halloween! I’ve included a link to the clip from Disney’s original Fantasia, which scared me as a child and was definitely an unfair follow-up to a piece about dancing hippos and ostriches (Dance of the Hours).
Happy Halloween all
Ok, NOW I’ll include the link
Sorry about that.
15 songs and you couldn’t list this one. I’ll take this video over THRILLER any old scary night of the week, but if you really want a fright, check out Courtney Love’s version of this Halloween classic.
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is the greatest song ever.
Yeh I agree with thriller for #1, good list
Whoever said Werewolf Bar Mitzvah – Tracy Jordan, I’ll have to give a huge second (third, whatever) to-
Boys becoming Men, Men becoming Wolves. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Spooky-Scary!
segue: It is definitely the most diverse list I have ever written
i remember seeing the pemiere of “thriller” at the local roller rink when i was about 2nd grade. on that huge screen in the dark, when videos were still a new concept, scared the crap out of me. and vincent price in surround sound when there was all sorts of people i didn’t know skating around in the relative dark. *shiver*
Well, if its going to be a long party…must have more…Foo Fighters, maybe The Pretender. Also, any song by Leonard Cohen would be good, he can sing anything and make it kinda creepy…remember natural born killers? oh yeah!
I love this list. Being a fan of all things dark and weird, I feel like I should have some big list of suggestions, but my head’s to icky and foggy with sick to think of it. I was gonna be very sad if #2 wasn’t on here. XD
Bent guns, g, but no black metal??? No Darkthrone, no Burzum, no Bathory?
Wow Segue, you’re deserving of the Nobel prize for economics. Work at work; wonder why no-one else ever thought of that? And likely the same folks who despair all the jobs that are now located in other countries are the ones to whom the concept is most foreign.
Can’t watch videos at work Bob? Good!
I have a little suspicion that this will be a big list….
Nice list.
I must say, I’m kinda disappointed creature Feature wasn’t on here…
I really enjoyed the list. I love how their were classic music pieces from classic Halloween film were used.
I just thought of a couple- “Cry Little Sister” from Lost Boys always creeped me out, and would be thrown into the party for pure nostalgia (It’s not a great party/dance song).
“Space Lord” by Monster Magnet- This is a good party song… Not very scary, but it has horror/sci-fi themes.
Nice choices, but you totally missed Toccata and Fugue in D Minor!! Just the first 5 seconds are enough to scare you (and get you right into the spirit of Halloween)!
I would also recommend Night on Bald Mountain, which is sinister and scary (but bordering on the cartoony), although I don’t know how Halloween-ey that one is nowadays:
I’m telling you, that picture icon for this category is what Michael Jackson really looks like. Love “Thriller”, though.
Pink IPod Jane the “Librarian”
142. Ellycat: Two great songs. I Put A Spell On You was a good year ’round song, a sort of weird, sad love song.
Werewolves of London is one of the primo Halloween songs.
Aaaaaooooooooooooooo
154. Mom424
Wow Segue, you’re deserving of the Nobel prize for economics. Work at work; wonder why no-one else ever thought of that?
****
Mom, I do what I can, where I can.
One of my favourite Halloween themed songs is Monsters by Matchbook Romance.
Astute Guitar Hero players will recognize the song as being from Guitar Hero 3.
I didn’t see much organ music on the list though, organs are the scarest single instrument. The scariest organ I ever heard was in Bristol Cathedral when the organ player was practicing. The acoustics made it sound extremely creepy.
149. jfrater
segue: It is definitely the most diverse list I have ever written
****
You get my undying thanks for letting me know the name of one of my favorite pieces of music, O Fortuna.
And I checked, I am, indeed, registered. I did it so long ago I had no recollection of it but it absolutely means I’m in the running for the prizes!
TA-DA!
I’m so totally bummed right now! for absolutely no reason whatsoever…my computer is not playing thise videos! they each start to play & then stop 1 second in. When I go to youtube directly, I get no sound:(
devil went down to georgia!
Weeeee! Thriller! XD
Werewolf Bar Mitzvah – Tracy Jordan
Definitely! Why didn’t I think of that one?
kreachure: did you read the list?
Great list. I try to listen to (even though some people think it odd) Thriller every so often, keep it fresh in my mind. I’m glad to see that one at number one! The video for the song is even very fun to watch to get ‘into the mood’ of things:) Scary stuff…
There are some songs on the Queen of the Damned movie soundtrack that remind me of Halloween oh so much, as well. Different OVERALL theme (vampires and what not) but it still fits in with Halloween and the general theme of Halloween.
Either way, great list!
Most of the songs on the list make remember me bunch of things. But Thriller! Oh God! It pass on TV on every Halloween so it remember me every single Halloween day I lived since I am 4 years old! I am glad that it is on first place!
Also the bollywood version of Thriller is a good one! Haha!
Awesome, awesome list, I’ll have to go about procuring some of these tracks in preparation for the big night.
nice list, get to do the thriller dance for a halftime show with my band
If you want to watch a movie which is scary through and through, and filled with a sound track which will send shivers down every nerve in your body, rent “The Hunger”…and don’t plan on sleeping that night.
As for #6, O Fortuna – Carl Orff, I never knew the name of this! Thanks for that, I’d like to listen to this while driving around town:)
Also makes great background music for reading (any type of book in my case, but some people might be more prone to read one type or the other with certain musics being played.)
I think the AFI version of Halloween by the Misfits is awesome
Some very good songs! Thriller was a perfect choice for number 1. Honorable mention: The Monster Mash
NEEDS some E Nomine on here!
Mitternacht (Midnight) is an incredible one, so is Das Tier in Mir (the animal in me). Mixing pounding music with latin chorals and predominantly growled german lyrics, they’re a solid choice for any Halloween party.
You could also probably toss in anything by the Cruxshadows,, or indeed their entire genre.
I’m disappointed the musical scope of this list is so mainstream and narrow: face it, Halloween is the one night a non-goth can get away with listening to Darkwave.
yeaaa thriller
more appreciation for the info, love that o fortuna but didnt know the name (like a lot of others i see
but where is “Freaks come out at night” by whodini???