I’ve always loved Halloween, but over the years it has become one of my favorite holidays. I suspect that’s because it’s so low-pressure. Many holidays require lots of work from adults, often women. If you’re married, you may have to negotiate where, with whom, and how you celebrate. But Halloween is easy… at least, it is for my family. Before COVID-19, I usually only had to buy fair-trade chocolate ahead of time and answer the door a few times on October 31. (Our neighborhood doesn’t get many trick-or-treaters.) That gives me plenty of time to just kick back and enjoy the season.
One way I celebrate is by listening to my Halloween playlist. I started pulling it together after I got tired of listening to an Internet-based Halloween station that played the same songs over and over. I enjoy Halloween classics like “Thriller” and “Monster Mash,” but I also like variety. My actual playlist includes the usual suspects, such as “This is Halloween,” “Werewolves of London,” and “Danse Macabre.” But in the playlist below, I’ll give you some of the more unusual songs I like to listen to as Halloween approaches. I’m sure some song choices will seem obvious to you, but I’m also confident that this list will inspire some new additions to your own playlist.
Music From Soundtracks
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) – David Bowie
It’s been decades since I watched Cat People, but I remember it fondly as a slightly cheesy, not-too-scary horror film. This is the title track, which has appeared in several other movies, most recently Atomic Blonde.
Coraline End Credits – Bruno Coulais
Based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name, Coraline is a perfect pick for family-friendly Halloween viewing. (Note: Like adults, different kids have different tolerance levels for scary films. Please read some reviews and check out some clips before you watch it with your little ones.)
Cry Little Sister (Theme From “Lost Boys”) – Gerard McMann
Last year I mentioned The Lost Boys as one of two Halloween movies that are “spooky but not too scary.” I love this song from the opening credits.
The Cyberman – Murray Gold
In a debate over the most frightening monsters from Doctor Who, I would pick the Weeping Angels. But the Cybermen would also rank high on my list, and they have better music.
Edward Scissorhands Introduction (Titles) – Danny Elfman
Even though Edward Scissorhands takes place around Christmas, the fact that it’s a Tim Burton film makes it a natural fit for Halloween. This piece sounds more magical than spooky, but not all Halloween songs need to be scary. Don’t believe me? Think of “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter series.
The Game Is On – David Arnold and Michael Price
I read mysteries year-round, but they feel especially appropriate as Halloween approaches. If you’ve watched Sherlock, wouldn’t you agree that music from its soundtrack belongs on this playlist?
Ghostbusters Main Title Theme – Elmer Bernstein
Sure, Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters” is a Halloween classic. The actual theme for the movie, written by the great Elmer Bernstein, is also excellent.
Great Pumpkin Waltz – Vince Guaraldi
Perhaps because it’s found on the album A Charlie Brown Christmas, this Halloween song gets overlooked too often. I always play “Great Pumpkin Waltz” in October. In November I listen to another song from the album, “Thanksgiving Theme.”
Grim Grinning Ghosts – Buddy Baker
Does music from a theme park ride count as a soundtrack? I think so.
By the way, if you want to listen to a story Disney made up to go along with the attraction, featuring Ron Howard as one of two teenaged protagonists, check out The Story and Song From the Haunted Mansion.
Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase) – Giorgio Moroder
Yes, there really are two songs from the Cat People soundtrack on my Halloween playlist.
Blade Runner End Titles – Vangelis
I deliberately veered from alphabetical order here, because you’re more likely to follow my odd musical reasoning for including this song if you listen to it immediately after “Paul’s Theme (Jogging Chase).” I don’t think of Blade Runner as a Halloween movie, but the mood of the end titles song seems to fit.
Stranger Things Title Sequence – Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein
As a member of Generation X, I am required to include this on my playlist.
Trust in Me – Scarlett Johansson (composers: Robert and Richard Sherman)
Sterling Holloway is a somewhat comedic Kaa, but Scarlett Johansson’s Kaa is seductive and evil.
Popular Music
Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo
This isn’t entirely ignored on popular Halloween playlists, but it’s vastly underplayed. That said, if this song was as ubiquitous as “Monster Mash” at this time of year, maybe I wouldn’t love it so much. (For those who don’t know, this is the second Danny Elfman song on this list. In addition to being a film composer, he used to be a member of Oingo Boingo.)
Don’t Pay the Ferryman – Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is best known for his ballad, “The Lady in Red,” which still pops up on oldies stations. In my opinion, this song is far better.
Ghost – Mystery Skulls
Most of the songs on this list don’t have a video to go with them. This is an exception. You must watch this dark homage to Scooby Doo. It’s the first in a series of animated videos for Mystery Skulls.
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
If I can fit a Stevie Wonder song into a playlist, I will. Superstition, Halloween… it works.
With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm – Water City Music Tower Voices
This old song, with lyrics by R.P. Weston and Bert Lee and music by Harris Weston, has been recorded many times, so I categorized it under “popular.” The relatively new recording below is so cute that I had to include this version on the playlist. This is another video you really should watch.
Classical Music
Cinderella’s Departure for the Ball – Sergei Prokofiev
Are you scratching your head and wondering just why I included this on a Halloween playlist? Well, just listen. Doesn’t it sound a little… sinister?
Ghosts’ High Noon – W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
With ghosts and a curse, Ruddigore is the spookiest of all of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas. This version of “Ghosts’ High Noon” from the opera comes complete with a ghost puppet.
The Gnome – Modest Mussorgsky
Classical stations often play Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” around Halloween, and with good reason. But this is one of two songs from Pictures at an Exhibition that I think also fit the Halloween mood. According to Wikipedia the “picture” this represents is of a nutcracker, but I always imagine the gnome as a malevolent little fellow.
The Hut on Fowl’s Legs – Modest Mussorgsky
This is the obvious choice for a Halloween song from Pictures at an Exhibition. On a personal note, I will always associate the witch Baba Yaga with my mom. When I was a kid, I used to get Jack and Jill magazine. They often included a Baba Yaga story in their October issue, and whenever they did, my mom would exclaim, “I love Baba Yaga stories!” This one’s for you, Mom.
Infernal Dance – Igor Stravinsky
Hmmm… the classical music on this list is mostly Russian. What do my music-loving readers think: Are Russian composers the best at scary music?