These songs have some killer beats.
When I was younger, my parents had a Halloween CD with all the classic Halloween music on it: Ghostbusters, Monster Mash, The Addams Family. I love those songs as much as the next oddly Halloween-obsessed gal, but when I eventually made my own Halloween playlist, I decided that I wanted to add some fresh blood. From then on, whenever I found a song I liked that seemed in any way Halloween-adjacent, I was quick to add it to my playlist. Here are ten of those songs.
If You're A Ghost - Rusty Clanton
I love Rusty Clanton. His songs just have that cozy, warm-and-fuzzy vibe that's perfect for studying on a rainy afternoon. This song gets a special shoutout for being not only cozy but also spooky; it describes different things that the singer's partner could do as a ghost, such as playing the piano or shaking the bookcase, suggesting that the singer would love them all the same.
Pet Sematary - The Ramones
I've never been able to finish a Stephen King novel. He has a short story called Willa, which is pretty cool, but that's the only work of his that I've managed to read all the way through. However, I did listen to about half of an audiobook of Pet Sematary before throwing in the towel. This song, on the other hand, I have no trouble listening to all the way to the end. It roughly follows the plot of the book, and the verses are chock full of creepy imagery, describing a moonlit cemetery full of goblins and spirits.
1980s Horror Film - Wallows
Wallows also has another Halloween-appropriate song called 1980s Horror Film, which has some shoutouts to the Halloween franchise. However, Drunk On Halloween actually has the word Halloween in the title, so I figured it should be the one to make the final cut. The lyrics, fittingly, wallow in disappointment after the singer finds out that their partner/crush lied to them about being sober at a Halloween party.
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie
Honestly, we would have been robbed had David Bowie never written a Halloween song of some kind – although the soundtrack to Labyrinth could probably also qualify. Apparently the lyrics to this song were inspired by something David Bowie saw on a box of Corn Flakes. Maybe the super creep in question is a cereal killer?
Mr. Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne
Aside from being about Aleister Crowley, this song just has a creepy vibe to it. Far from the likes of If You're A Ghost, which is a calm, cozy song with some slightly spooky lyrics, everything about Mr. Crowley is spooky. If you're not familiar with Aleister Crowley already, he was a famed British occultist who resembled a prototype of Uncle Fester.
Little Ghost - The White Stripes
While The White Stripes are perhaps best known for their hit Seven Nation Army, this cute novelty song about falling in love with a literal ghost is also worth a listen. It's short, clocking in at two minutes and eighteen seconds, and sweet, perfect for listening to while you eat Halloween themed snacks.
Baby, You're A Haunted House - Gerard Way
Perhaps weirdly for the vocalist of a well known emo band, this song is one of the most upbeat on this list so far. The song, which features Mikey Way on bass, describes the singer's partner as a "haunted house", but promises to stay in love with them regardless.
Vampires Will Never Hurt You - My Chemical Romance
Speaking of Gerard Way and his well known emo band, I had to put at least one MCR song on this list. Vampires Will Never Hurt You is probably their most Halloween-appropriate song literally about being attacked by vampires, but shoutout to Blood, Cemetery Drive, The Ghost Of You, Vampire Money, Early Sunsets Over Monroeville (which is about Dawn Of The Dead), House Of Wolves, and Astro Zombies (a cover of the Misfits song), as well as the fact that the band announced they were getting back together on Halloween.
Ghosting - Mother Mother
There are, apparently, a lot of songs about ghosts. This song describes the singer's decision to stop "haunting" their ex and move on. It's a pretty laid back song – definitely better for reading a book and drinking a pumpkin spice latte then for a Halloween party – with a lot of ghostly imagery in the lyrics.
Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... - Arctic Monkeys
This song, which uses vampires as an allegory for the band's critics, features a strong riff and a jokey title. It's not strictly a Halloween song, but it's still a bop worthy of any Fall playlist.
There you have it: ten underrated Halloween songs to add to your playlist. Comment below and let me know what you think of the songs on this list, and what underrated songs you have on your Halloween playlist!
Comments