All a Halloween party needs to be a hit is just enough scares and all the right tunes. So kick off your holiday plans with the right playlist to make even the shyest ghouls want to get up and BOOgie.
10. “Dr. Bones” by Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
By the band that brought you “Zoot Suit Riot”, this fun swing song conjures up images of dancing skeletons every time you hear it.
9. “Rock Lobster” by The B-52’s
Forget the overplayed “Love Shack” — this B-52’s hit has an eerie organ, plenty of shrill voices, creepy “oohs” and “ahhs,” the strangest of animal noises and a cowbell!
8. “Hell’s Bells” by AC/DC
The opening is epic. It places you alone in a graveyard with this hellish bell making you feel like your time is running out. After the creepy intro, get ready to rock out to this classic AC/DC song.
7. Nekromantix (various tracks)
This band’s style seems to revolve solely around Halloween, demonstrated by
songs like “Alice in Psycholand,” “Howlin’ At the Moon,” “Curse of the Coffin,” “Trick or Treat” and “Return of the Loving Dead,” to name just a few.
6. “I Put a Spell on You” (by various artists)
This song is for all the witches at the party. It is doubtful you can listen
without thinking about the childhood movie classic “Hocus Pocus.”
This song has been recorded by many artists — the best version for a party, in my opinion, is either the Creedence Clearwater Revival or Screamin’ Jay Hawkins version.
5. “Ghostbusters” theme song
Sing along and dance to this perfectly poppy theme song. It fits the theme of Halloween and reminds you just how good of a film “Ghostbusters” was. You also might ask yourself, “What has Rick Moranis been up to?”
4. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
This song will bring the house down for obvious reasons. The catchy bass line and famous chorus are sure to have people dancing and singing along.
3. “This is Halloween” by Danny Elfman
The song, from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a masterpiece of composition and lyrics. The movie is worth watching at least once a year come Halloween and this song deserves a few listens, as well.
2. “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Prickett
What would Halloween be without it? It’s being played everywhere during the season and for that reason it isn’t the No. 1 song on the list. But of course, listening to this song is one of the joys of the season. If you don’t play it at your Halloween party, then it isn’t a Halloween party at all.
1. “Halloween” by The Misfits or AFI
This is the best Halloween song for a party because the song itself is a party. It seems The Misfits wrote this song to proclaim all of Halloween’s glory. Deciding whether to chose the original Misfits’ version or AFI’s version is up to discretion. AFI’s version is cleaner and faster, but if you’re going for that grungy unpolished sound, then go for the original.