Popdust's Spooktacular Halloween Playlist
Are you tasked with hosting a Halloween party this year? Let us help you with the music.
Howl you doing boys and girls? What's up, my witches?
Spooky season is drawing nearer, and with Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, it means that there is only one weekend to curate a spooktacular party playlist, and one opportunity to throw a fa-boo-lous Halloween party. It is no easy task, but if you want your guests to shake their BOOty, eat, drink, and be scary all night long, Popdust has just the playlist that will give your friends pumpkin' to talk about.
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Carly Simon
Have you ever heard such an elegant and moving interpretation of this spooky nursery rhyme? In this version, I wasn't rooting for the rain to "wash the spider out"; instead, Simon's mash up of the nursery rhyme with her hit "Comin Around Again" paints a darker picture. "I know nothing stays the same, but if you're willing to play the game, it's coming around again," Simon sings. The Spider's journey is a complex one: He is tenacious in his dream of scaling the water spout and is an inspiration to us all. "Nothing stays the same," little Spider, keep climbing. One day, you may just turn your dream into a reality. It's a reminder of our mortality and serves as the perfect song to kick off the night as your guests eat hors d'oeuvres and pour their first cup of spiked punch.
▲Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon
Zevon's 1978 classic is extremely relatable, especially in today's feminist climate. "It's about a really well-dressed ladies' man, a werewolf preying on little old ladies," said Zevon of the song. "In a way it's the Victorian nightmare." Maybe he's a predator, maybe he's a serial killer, maybe he's just a douche; regardless, we've all met someone who we suspect is the "Werewolf" described.
▲Hounds of Love by Kate Bush
Again, extremely relatable in today's culture, Kate Bush's 1986 hit describes the singer's fear of falling in love, lest the "hounds" catch her. "I don't know what's good for me," she sings. Me neither, sis.
▲David Bowie - Scary Monsters
To be frank, David Bowie was one of the spookiest artists around (remember when he played The Goblin King in Labyrinth?), but "Scary Monster's" aggressive drive, along with the occasional scream and growl from Bowie himself, makes us feel all types of creeped out.
▲Batdance by Prince
Batman's jumping all around, the Joker screaming "Get the funk out!, " the gnarly dance routine, the slappin' beat, all of it adds up to a guaranteed Halloween smash. Plan for your guests to start tapping their feet at this point, maybe crank the volume a bit, and start letting the playlist take over the room.
▲Dracula's Wedding by Outkast
As a deep cut off of 2003's eclectic Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Outkast's "Dracula's Wedding" never got the attention it deserved. The spooky synths, Andre 3000's muted howls, the creepy giggles and deadpan marriage officiant will all make Outkast fanatics super happy as they pour their next beverage.
▲Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Are you really surprised by this? This song is needed on every Halloween playlist. It's mandatory. Next question.
▲She Wolf by Shakira
Who knew Shakira's hips could be so spooky? The 2009 smash hit aged beautifully and is still an absolute bop ten years later. With the bump of the 808's, the tasty guitar strum, the autotune, it's infectious as hell. Prepare for mischief once this jam starts. If people don't start at least loitering around the dance floor when "She Wolf" hits, you need some new friends.
▲Thriller By Michael Jackson
Is this even a question? Is there a spookier song? No, there isn't. This song is overplayed, sure, but it serves as the perfect track to kick off the late night festivities. The vibe cannot be matched; it is officially time to party.
▲Dracula by Gorillaz
A lowkey yet infectious deep cut off Gorillaz's 2001 self-titled debut, "Dracula" serves as a perfect intermission from non-stop hits. While this song keeps the spooky vibes going, use this time to refill your drink, grab some food, and towel yourself off from what's starting to become a steamy evening. Make sure to reapply that ghoulish makeup, because we've still got a long night ahead of us.
▲Boogieman by Childish Gambino
"Boogieman" slaps you in the face and takes off almost immediately. It's non-stop psychedelic funk from start to finish. Get back on that dance floor, and be sure to share a dance with the three people who will inevitably be dressed as the album art for Awaken, My Love! This is their moment, so just let them have it.
▲Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell
This one requires very little justification. It serves as the perfect follow up to "Boogieman," in that it keeps the retro aesthetic at full blast. It's impossible to not sing along, plus people will be getting pretty drunk at this point in the night, making Rockwell's 1984 smash the transition song of the night from casual Halloween "party," to full blown rave.
▲Zombie by The Cranberries
As those drinks are swallowed down, guests will use "Zombie's" hard-hitting intro to find that guy or girl with whom they went to karaoke one time. They will wait for the chorus, because they don't know any other lyric, and they'll relentlessly sing "zombayyy" in a super exaggerated drunken stupor. It's gonna be a long five minutes of nonstop "zombayy," but remember that you decided to have this party and that the louder your guests are crying out "zombayy" the more fun they're having, and for you, that is a win. Take this time to pat yourself on the back.
▲Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
Another creepy karaoke song, Evanescence's breakout anthem will keep the early aught babies singing at full blast. No one does goth better than Amy Lee herself. She is a Halloween queen in her own right.
▲Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
Another karaoke go-to, My Chemical Romance's 2006 emo anthem will garner even more drunk carolers than "Zombie" did, but once again, just pat yourself on the back. Look around at your intoxicated guests as they wrap their arms around each other and belt out, "When I was a young boy." They're absolutely smashed. This party is an absolute success. "Welcome to the Black Parade" is another 5-minute-long endeavor, so if MCR isn't your cup of tea, use this time to get some water, check the status of your apartment, maybe go talk to that cute girl you eyed a few hours ago who's friends with your former fraternity brother's cousin. Ask her what she's dressed as (even though you know it's the sexy cat costume from Spencer's Gifts).
▲Midnight City by M83
Enough karaoke for right now, it's time to get back to dancing. Ideally, "Midnight City's" bounce will enter as you're talking with sexy cat girl. She'll talk about how she loves this song, and how they used it in their Keane State Tri Delta promotional video to try and attract pledges. She'll ask to show you the video sometime, you'll say maybe after this song, because this song deserves everyone's full drunken attention.
▲Disturbia by Rihanna
Around now is when the late arrivals will start to pour in. Your old college buddies will arrive and show you the fancy Halloween-themed tequila bottle they got just for you. Shots will be taken, limes will be sucked, all while this song bumps relentlessly in the background.
▲Icy by Kim Petras
Kim Petras is a spooktacular new pop star, and her most recent smash, "Icy," is driven by a pulsating bass and Petras' ghostly vocals. It's a welcomed new addition to Halloweekend playlists everywhere and will no doubt initiate drunken grinding and more shots.
▲Monster by Lady Gaga
Of course, no party playlist is complete without an appearance from Lady Gaga. This song is a deep cut, but it's harrowing and ghostly in all the best ways.
▲5% Tint By Travis Scott
Another fittingly eerie yet catchy intermission song, the piano chords help this song creep along and keep the spooky vibe alive when Travis sings "who's that creeping through my window?" Refill your beverages, maybe catch up with the boys, shotgun some sando's, spark a spliffy. This song will generate some attention, as rabid Travis Scott worshipers are everywhere these days, but for the most part use it as a time to rejuvenate and re-up.
▲Monster by Kanye West
As another mandatory addition to the Halloweekend playlist, make sure you save this gem for when people are nice and sloppy. The guys in the room will tackle Kanye's verses, but every guest will claim they remember Nicki's verse word for word and drunkenly rap it to you to prove it.
▲Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr.
You're 10 drinks deep at this point, and everyone around you is rapidly approaching blackout, but this song snaps you back to reality. The dance floor is littered with beer cans, everyone's makeup is rubbing off, and this song is a signal that it's time to really get after it. Without "Ghostbusters," is it really a Halloween playlist?
▲MONSTER. MASH.
Yes. It is that time. Crank this up to full volume. Everyone's sweaty, hammered, and slowly exiting reality. Send them on their way in good spirits with this mandatory Halloween track, and just watch what ensues.
▲You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi
The post-Monster Mash blues is real. In a way, it feels like Halloween is over. But fret not, no one takes drunken energy to a reckless level quite like Bon Jovi. "You Give Love a Bad Name" is the only song able to keep the energy alive and keep your drunk guests raging onward until the early dawn.
▲Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
There is no turning back now, the energy of the party is at an all time high, and no one can capitalize on that quite like Meat Loaf's 10-minute odyssey "Bat Out Of Hell."
▲Don't Stop Me Now by Queen
As the first round of guests begin to get their cabs home, bask in the good time. Grab your buddies, grab some brewskis, and just let loose. Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" will keep those late night guests raging, while also serving as a fitting exit soundtrack for the squares who have to work in the morning.
▲Creep by Radiohead
People are starting to make out, a lot of people are leaving, but you and your blackout buddies wanna keep it going. Sure, "Creep" by Radiohead is an incredibly depressing song, but frankly, it's 2 am at this point, it has the word "creep" in it which loosely implies spooky, and you and your friends know the chorus like the back of your hand. Scream it loud and proud.
▲(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight by
In a last ditch effort to get the party going again, Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight" serves as your Hail Mary. It'll rile some people up with its anthemic chorus and overall cheese factor, but can also serve as candid background music when you realize the girl in the cat costume left hours ago.
▲Yes, I'm A Witch
It's really late at this point. Like really late. It's just you and some stragglers and things are starting to get awkward and weird. You're in Yoko Ono's hands now. Bask in the awkward alt-metal/spoken word poetry of "Yes, I'm a Witch" as you slowly start to clean up from a stellar night.
▲Lacrimosa by Mozart
The stragglers have left, it's just you and the guy passed out on your couch. Conclude the night with some beautiful, yet still creepy, classical tunes. This is your victory song. Good work.
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