Ghostly Grooves

Halloween is one of the most unique holidays out there: it perfectly showcases humanity's interest in both the frightening and the grotesque like no other holiday. What was originally an ancient Celtic holiday has evolved into something much more...a holiday that focuses on ghosts, ghouls, "Psycho Killers," and monsters doing the "Monster Mash."

In terms of pop culture, Halloween has inspired numerous movies, television series, and video games of prominence. The horror genre has even transcended movies and made its way into our ears through music. In the spirit of Halloween, weʼll be taking a look at a few of the holidayʼs greatest songs that you're bound to hear throughout the spooky season. So, "(Donʼt Fear) The Reaper," because itʼll certainly be a "Thriller. "

Starting this list is "Purple People Eater," a song created by Sheb Wooley all the way back in 1958. This two-minute song perfectly represents the goofier side of Halloween, as it features a monster that purely eats people who are purple, a subversion of expectations for sure. This blues song reached the No. 1 U.S. Billboard pop chart shortly after its release, and quickly became a cult classic for the holiday. This song is an oldie but goodie, as many may say, and definitely deserves a listen or two if you're trying to get in the Halloween mood.

The next song came out nearly ten years after the previous entry, titled "Bad Moon Rising," and was created by the band Creedence Clearwater Revival. This song was never meant to be a Halloween song, nor was it even released around the holiday; however, its themes of the supernatural and eerie vibe have cemented the song as a fall classic. This classic rock song has heavy themes of bad omens and classic Halloween folklore, which definitely earns it a listen.

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is yet another older song that has taken its place amongst the great Halloween songs. Created by the band “Blue Öyster Cult” (a fitting name), this rock song features motifs of accepting death as a natural part of life, as well as understanding that life continues on even after death in the form of an afterlife. So although this song may not exactly have such a gritty or edgy theme as other Halloween songs, it focuses on a core part of Halloween...death. The song itself is definitely another rock classic, featuring heavy usage of the guitar and other hard rock elements, and thus makes its way onto this list among the greats.

Sung by one of the most talented vocalists of her time, "I Put a Spell on You," by Screaminʼ Jay Hawkins, is another older song that was revitalized into the horror genre by a feature film; 1993ʼs Hocus Pocus, an extremely influential Halloween movie, features Hawkinsʼ iconic musical piece. The themes of magic and the supernatural are strong throughout the song (perfectly fitting the Halloween setting), while the vocals are loud and crazy-sounding. Due to the R&B genre of the song, it gives off an eerie and comically evil vibe. Although this song is only at the ninety-second mark, it captures the craziness and chaotic nature of Halloween perfectly, and thus deserves to be near the top on any Halloween playlist.

"Psycho Killer" was released by The Talking Heads in 1977 and is the first alternative rock entry on this list. This song was a part of their debut album and launched the band into the spotlight due to its popularity. This defining track has made its way into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fameʼs 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” and continues to be one of the band's most covered and listened-to songs. This song follows motifs of flawed social behavior, as well as themes of anxiety and instability. "Psycho Killer's" dark and unsettling subject matter has made it a widely accepted Halloween song in the eyes of many. The alternative rock genre-defining classic helps to convey a less-sane side of the holiday that is oftentimes depicted in movies and television. Itʼs definitely a good listen if you're into rock or are looking for a song that doesnʼt quite fit the norm.

"Monster Mash" is debatably THE Halloween Song. Created by Bobby Pickett in 1962, this song was literally made for the spooky holiday. Pickettʼs tune has reached the top-100 nearly every Halloween for years since its release, and has had a lasting impact on popular culture. Dozens of films have featured this song, and it has inspired several Halloween-themed films as well. The lasting cultural impact of this song can not be overlooked; it has become a staple of every Halloween since 1962, and is projected to stay that way for years to come.

And now for the song youʼve all been waiting for, the Halloween Song that contends annually with "Monster Mash" for the top spot... "Thriller." Released by Michael Jackson in 1982, "Thriller" was a part of an album of the same name and was the King of Pop's best-selling album. The song specifically broke multiple records, and the music video is widely considered one of the best music videos of all time (if not the best). Calling back on classical horror films such as Dracula, Jackson's piece uses spooky and cinematic imagery to evoke classical horror tropes. The album itself has not only reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts multiple times, but also stayed on the billboard for thirty-seven consecutive weeks. The song “Thriller” is still considered one of Michael Jackson's greatest hits, placing it as the #1 Halloween song on this list.