By MTN Reporter: Trey Godsey
Halloween is a long-standing American holiday celebrated on October 31st every year. While children spend their time going door-to-door trick-or-treating, and many adults want in on the fun too. Thus, giving us what is known as a Halloween party. A staple amongst teens and adults, complete with spooky décor, costumes, and specially themed food and drinks. But no party is complete without an excellent playlist, and if you’re struggling to come up with some thrilling tunes, then we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of 10 songs that will get every person (and monster) out on the dance floor.
“Calling All the Monsters” – China Anne McClain
“Calling All the Monsters” is an electropop dance song recorded by China Anne McClain for the hit Disney Channel show “A.N.T. Farm”. The lyrics center around Halloween themes, even mentioning that “tonight all the monsters gonna dance”. The song was first introduced to the world when it was featured in the Halloween-themed episode titled “mutANT farm” which premiered on October 7th, 2011. The song gained a cult-like following and has been a Halloween staple amongst Y2K babies ever since.
“Disturbia” - Rihanna
“Disturbia” was released on June 17th, 2008,as the third single from Rihanna’s “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” album. It went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 and received nominations for various awards. Sonically, the song exhibits dark undertones while still being in the dance-pop realm. The lyrics portray Rihanna as being confused and scared. Although the song doesn’t have any direct links to Halloween, the mention of darkness and monsters has made this song a Halloween party favorite.
“Demons” - Doja Cat
“Demons” was released on September 1st, 2023, as a promotional single from the hip-hop star’s fourth album “Scarlet”. The cover art for the song depicts Doja as an all-black “demon” with horns, long claws, and piercing red eyes hanging from the ceiling. The eerie, horror movie-esque music video shows Doja’s demon character possessing an innocent woman and taking over her home. As creepy as the video is, the song is an up-tempo catchy hip-hop anthem with disgruntling undertones that repeat “how my demons look?” Perfect for any spooky Halloween celebration.
“Bloody Mary” - Lady Gaga
“Bloody Mary” was originally released on May 23rd, 2011. The song was a fan favorite off of Lady Gaga’s third studio album, “Born This Way”. It wasn’t until 2022 though when “Bloody Mary” hit radios. After the show “Wednesday” was released on Netflix, an edit was made on Tik Tok of Jenna Ortega dancing to the song. The Tik Tok went viral, giving Lady Gaga another hit. “Bloody Mary” charted in the top 40 eleven years after its release. Since the song is about the ghost of “Bloody Mary”, it is now a Halloween fan favorite.
“Zombie” - The Cranberries
“Zombie” was the lead single off The Cranberries’ album, “No Need To Argue”. Released back in September of 1994, the alternative rock song became a classic. The song about a brain-eating creature is the perfect track for any Halloween playlist.
“Cannibal” - Kesha
“Cannibal” is an electropop dance song by Kesha. The song went viral on TikTok last year with a dance created by Briana Hantsch. Being released on the album with the same title, the track has lyrics about wanting to eat boys and drink their blood. Who knew that a song about cannibalism would make you want to dance?
“Heads Will Roll” - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Heads Will Roll” is an alternative rock song by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. A track about the creepy topic of decapitation somehow makes the perfect dance anthem. “Heads Will Roll” was also performed on the television show, “Glee”, as a mashup with Thriller by Michael Jackson. If you are wanting to scream, shout, and dance, add this hit to your Halloween playlist now!
“Thriller” - Micheal Jackson
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson is the top Halloween song for many reasons. It's a timeless, spooky song with lyrics about creatures like zombies and ghosts that perfectly capture the Halloween spirit: the iconic music video, choreography, and horror movie visuals. The dance and rhythm make it a favorite Halloween party song, and people often include the dance moves from the music video in their parties.
“Monster Mash” - Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
“Monster Mash” by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers is a top Halloween song because of its catchy and playful classic rhythm. With its upbeat, rock 'n' roll style, fun atmosphere song for Halloween gatherings. The lyrics describe a monster party, filled with iconic characters like Frankenstein and the monster making it a perfect fit for the spooky season. Additionally, the song has become a timeless masterpiece and tradition for those who grew up with it.
“Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker Jr
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. is a great addition to any Halloween playlist. First and foremost, the song's lyrics are directly about ghosts. The song's catchy tune and memorable chorus make it enjoyable for listeners of all ages. "Ghostbusters" is an iconic and unforgettable song that has stood the test of time, and its connection with the popular Ghostbusters movies. All of these features make it a great choice for a Halloween playlist.
We hope these ten tantalizing tunes get your party crawling with ghouls, goblins, and everything in between.