Best Halloween songs: Your spooky party playlist ft. Rihanna, The Weeknd, Rita Ora and The Prodigy
Because all the best Halloween parties boost a suitably scary soundtrack and this year it falls on a Saturday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Halloween is creeping up fast and this year's celebration of all things ghoulish takes place this Saturday night. Meaning one thing – it's time to organise your Halloween party.
Scroll down for Spotify playlist
Guests dressed in obligatory fancy dress (no, a white sheet doesn't count as a costume) are a must, as is a vile-coloured punch, trick or treat sweets and carved pumpkins. But if you're missing the spooky soundtrack, your night will likely be a bit, well, dead.
From classics such as "Ghostbusters" and "Monster Mash" to Marilyn Manson's vampy "Tainted Love" and the theme from The Exorcist, there are tons of terrifying (and terrifyingly-tacky) tunes out there.
Of couse there's Michael Jackson's "Thriller" too, of course, so be sure to have those zombie dance moves prepared.
See below for our most devilish Halloween playlist suggestions, from the eerie and obscure to popular crowd-pleasers.
1) "Tainted Love" – Marilyn Manson
'I really felt the music world needed something a little less serious right now," Manson said of the record in 2001. "If you don't get it or like it, that's your call." Certainly for Halloween, we get it.
2) "Zombie" – The Cranberries
Written as a protest song in 1993 in memory of two children killed in an IRA bombing, "Zombie" will help create a suitably grungy vibe in your living room.
3) "Thriller" – Michael Jackson
The most-downloaded Halloween track of all-time should be a staple on your scary soundtrack. That moment when the King of Pop's eyes turn zombie green at the end sends shivers down our spines. Good shivers.
4) "Tarantula" – Pendulum
Few things are scarier than a massive black tarantula - and Pendulum are singing about just that in this drum and bass hit.
5) "Ghostbusters" – Ray Parker Jr
'Who ya gonna call?' is the big question every Halloween and "Ghostbusters" is the answer. You might get sick and tired of hearing this song in every bar's themed night for the next two weeks but it's hard to deny it's a classic.
6) "Insomnia (Monster Mix)" – Faithless
This dance classic was been given a monster makeover and remains a firm favourite with many club-goers. One to get the demons dancing this Halloween.
7) "Every Breath You Take" – The Police
Many people thought this was a love song when it was first released in 1983, with some even choosing it as the first dance at their wedding. It's actually about a sinister stalker who is watching 'every move' his lost lover makes. Creepy.
8) "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" – The Charlie Daniels Band
This Seventies bluegrass song is about the devil's failed effort to 'steal' a young man's soul in a fiddle-playing contest. Not your conventional Halloween track but pretty cool nonetheless.
8) "Can't Feel My Face" – The Weeknd
Not your standard Halloween song as such, but we reckon the lyric "I can't feel my face when I'm with you" sounds pretty terrifying, even if he does "love it".
10) "Bring Me To Life" – Evanescence
Hard rock band Evanescence won their first UK number one with this powerful song which should have the zombies are your party springing into life.
11) "Omen" - The Prodigy
12) "She Wolf" – Shakira
13) "Sympathy For The Devil" – The Rolling Stones
14) "Black Widow" – Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora
15) "This Is Halloween" – The Citizens of Halloween
16) "Psycho Killer" – Talking Heads
17) "True Blood" – Justin Timberlake
18) "Die Monster Die" – Misfits
19) "Monster Mash" – Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
20) "Disturbia" – Rihanna
21) "Howlin' For You" – The Black Keys
22) "Don't Fear (The Reaper)" – Blue Oyster Cult
23) "Voodoo Child" – Jimi Hendrix
24) "Nightmusic" – Grimes ft. Majical Cloudz
25) "Somebody's Watching Me" – Rockwell
26) "Running With The Devil" – Van Halen
27) "Monster" – Kanye West, Jay Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver
28) "Superstition" – Stevie Wonder
29) "Dracula" – Gorillaz
30) "Werewolves Of London" – Warren Zevon
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments