The Quick Report

A Haunted Playlist For Spooky Season

These songs will get you in the mood for Halloween. Read on to see if your favorite song made the list.

10. Where the Wild Roses Grow

Katherine Lanpher and Nick Cave 2009 New York City by David Shankbone
Openverse

Written by Nick Cave. Performed by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue.

Halloween can be a very romantic time. This is the time of year for couples costumes and holding each other tight while watching a scary movie. So I had to include a love song on the playlist. Wait, did I say “love song?” I meant to say murder-ballad with an aesthetically pleasing music video!

9. Zombie

The Cranberries
Openverse

Written and performed by The Cranberries

Okay, so this isn’t really a spooky song. This is a thinly-veiled war metaphor. But between the power chords, the minor keys, amd melodic shouting of the word “zombie,” it’s hard not to associate this rock ballad with Halloween.

May we always remember the artist who originally sang this song, Dolores O’Riordan.

8. Werewolves of London

Run for Cover: The See BS Orchestra (Warren Zevon)
Openverse

Written and performed by Warren Zevon. Co-written by LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel.

Sometimes you just want to bust a move while walking through the streets of Soho. Sometimes you want to let loose and howl at the moon. When this desire strikes you, you should listen to this classic song with fun lyrics and a funky beat. 

7. Witchy Woman

Don Henley
Openverse

Written and performed by The Eagles.

This is the season of the witch. It’s time for all the witchy women to come out of hiding and dance under the full moon. All of you magickal people will love the lyrics “she got the moon in her eyes” and “she drove herself to madness with a silver spoon.”

6. Dead Man’s Party

Danny Elfman
Openverse

Written and performed by Danny Elfman.

Buckle in kids! This is just the first Danny Elfman song on this playlist. Everyone knows that a party doesn’t really start until someone puts on the tune composed by the master of spooky music himself. We can listen to this song while we are all dressed up and waiting for an invitation to arrive.

5. Superstition

Stevie Wonder
Openverse

Written and performed by Stevie Wonder.

The true lovers of spooky season have an innate love for spiritual, philosophical, and metaphysical studies. So one could assume that they are just a tad bit superstitious. Which is why they will identify with this Stevie Wonder classic!

4. This Is Halloween

Nightmare before christmas
Touchstone Pictures

Written by Danny Elfman for the film Nightmare Before Christmas.

This is the second Danny Elfman song on the list! But sadly, it is also the last. This song is a perfect ode to the mystifyingly macabre holiday that we all love. This song will make you feel like the pumpkin king himself.

3. Vampires Will Never Hurt You

My Chemical Romance
Openverse

Written and performed by My Chemical Romance.

This is a scary time of year. Not only are ghosts and ghouls out running amok. Ever since that one psycho poisoned some Halloween candy back in the 70’s, we have all become quite protective over their friends and family. So we will all relate to this song about protecting your loved ones from creatures of the night.

Read More: A Very Virgo Playlist to Get Your Day Started Right

2. Monster Mash

BOBBY (BORIS) PICKETT and the CRYPT-KICKERS - MONSTER MASH
Openverse

Written and performed by Bobbie Pickett. Co-written by Leonard Capizzi.

Some of you out there have a penchant for science. Some of you may even be mad scientists. But regardless of how scientifically minded we may be, we will always be down for some good old fashioned revelry. We can listen to this song while we are working in the lab late one night or throwing a party with all of our monstrous friends.

Read More: 10 Not-So-Scary Halloween Movies

1. I Put A Spell On You (Hocus Pocus Version)

Hocus Pocus
Walt Disney Pictures

Written by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Performed by The Sanderson Sisters.

So the original version of this song is iconic and you should listen to it. Sometimes we want iconography, but other times we want nostalgia!  And nothing is more nostalgic than hearing Winifred Sanderson bewitch an entire town with this upbeat rendition.

Read More: The Zodiac Signs, Ranked From Least To Most Spooky