Halloween is all about the atmosphere. Chilly dusk breeze? Check. Meticulously planned, pop-culture savvy costumes? Check. Enough pumpkins for a patch or two? Check. Finger sandwiches that, well, look like fingers? Yup. So, it sounds like the finishing touch on your spooky celebration should be a playlist full of devastatingly creepy tunes that will rattle your bones.
Here are the 34 best songs to listen to on the scariest night of the year.
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson
First, get everyone together and make them learn the moves.
"Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra
It's witchcraft, pure and simple.
"How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths
This might not be an inherently creepy tune, but since it became the Charmed theme song? It definitely qualifies.
"Happy Phantom" by Tori Amos
For those who would rather meet a happy ghost.
"Season of the Witch" by Donovan
You can play this one all the way until the end of October, honestly.
"Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Well, it's Halloween, isn't it?
"Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett
ISN'T IT?
"Black Magic Woman" by Fleetwood Mac
Why is it always women who have black magic? Oh, wait—I know why.
"Devil Woman" by Cliff Richard
Those bad, bad women!
"Evil Woman" by Electric Light Orchestra
Seriously!
"Magic Dance" by David Bowie
Look, if the Goblin King really were David Bowie, there's no way I would have come back from that Labyrinth.
"Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence seem awfully jolly about the bad stuff that's about to go down.
"Transylvanian Concubine" by Rasputina
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be Dracula's bae, this quirky cello ditty will give you a pretty good idea.
"I Put a Spell on You" by Nina Simone
And you, and you, and you, and you.
"Yes, I'm a Witch" by Yoko Ono
For the unbelievers.
"Haunted" by Beyoncé
If Beyoncé's the one haunting me, I'm fine with it.
"Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads
Fa fa fa fa, fa-fa fa fa fa fa.
"Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
Feeling a prickle on the back of your neck?
"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker, Jr.
Hopefully Melissa McCarthy and Leslie Jones will drop by your Halloween party.
"Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
Do you believe in things you don't understand? Here's your Halloween anthem.
"Spooky" by Dusty Springfield
This song may be about love, but there's something spooky about that boy, alright.
"Monster" by Kanye West feat. JAY-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross
Get ready to scream that Nicki verse!
"The X-Files Theme"
This #tbt will probably make people laugh instead of frightening them to pieces, but still.
"Disturbia" by Rihanna
Get your costume inspo from the video, too.
"Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon
Even werewolves like Chinese food.
"Phantom of the Opera" by Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum
What's creepier than a live-in ghost(?) boyfriend who is also a stage dad?
"Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
Works if you think about it as a plea from the undead!
"Runnin' With the Devil" by Van Halen
Wouldn't necessarily encourage doing this IRL.
"Take a Chance on Me" by ABBA
Listen, the lyrics say "It's magic" at one point, and you want to have ABBA at your party, don't you?
"Candy" by Mandy Moore
Put that in your pumpkin-shaped bucket and suck it!
"I Am a Witch" by Helium
"Did I tell you I’m not your bitch on loan?"
"Brujas" by Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia is the head of this and pretty much any coven.
"Born to Die" by Lana Del Rey
For those who prefer their Halloweens to be a little more existential.
"Your Ghost" by Kristin Hersh
Heartbreak is scary too.
Listen to the playlist on Spotify:
