Overlooked Songs for Your Perfect Halloween Playlist

Overlooked Songs for Your Perfect Halloween Playlist

Mary Talbard, Editor in Chief

Halloween is vastly approaching as people add Michael Jackson’s Thriller or The Nightmare before Christmas album to their party playlists. However, some songs are definitely overlooked during this time of the year due to their indirect themes to the holiday. Here are a few that you should add to your playlist this season:

1. Voodoo by Godsmack

My father’s music taste has always been bizarre, and this is definitely one of the songs that I heard him singing in the shower as I grew up. I never gave the song much thought until I attended the production of Harriet’s Happiest Halloween at Harford Community College when I was around 8 years old. The dancers were wrapped in white fabric,  and their sleeves were pinned to their sides, as if they were hugging themselves. Fog engulfed the audience as they moved lifelessly around the stage, mimicking the acts of an insane person to the estranged lyrics to Voodoo. I got chills from the performance. Since then, this song has been a Halloween playlist necessity of mine, thanks to its eerie tone.

2. People are Strange by The Doors and Cry Little Sister by G Tom Mac

I lumped these two songs together due to their appearance in The Lost Boys, an incredible 80s flick on the vampires of sunny California. The movie opens with the family’s introduction  to their new state, as the looming lyrics “people are strange/when you’re a stranger” emphasize the bizarre culture of the murder city. People Are Strange is an odd song, but definitely a catchy one that many audiences can enjoy. Cry Little Sister, on the other hand, is an acquired taste of gothic rock and dark wave. Though, I do believe that everyone is a sucker for the chorus in which writer Gerard McMann belts out the line “cry little sister” with the ominous choir of children singing “thou shall not fall” in the background.

3. Banana Boat Song (Day-O) and Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte 

Before Lil Wayne ruined the tune of Banana Boat in his song 6 Foot, 7 Foot, Tim Burton used these two iconic songs to add both comical and disturbing elements to the film, Beetlejuice. The best scene in the film is when the family and their dinner guests are harmlessly possessed by Betelgeuse as he makes their bodies dance to Banana Boat until their faces get grabbed by some sort of shrimp-fingered creature in their dinner bowls. Lydia then finishes the movie by levitating and listening to Jump in the Line. Both of Belafonte’s songs aren’t scary in the slightest, but if you’re aiming to please a crowd of film fanatics, or just simply want to add a bit of calypso to your playlist, these songs are definitely for you.

4. A Nightmare On My Street by Will Smith

My first reaction to this song was the complete disbelief of knowing that I spent about 15 years of my life never hearing it. Smith’s interesting take on rap is one that will always amuse me, and when it’s paired with killer Halloween thriller references, the cake is officially iced. There should be absolutely no excuse for this song not to be on your playlist this year. With lyrics such as “the girls won’t be on you, Fred, your face is all burnt!”, how could you not?

5. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead by The Crash Test Dummies

Who ever thought the soundtrack to Dumb and Dumber would be as good as it is? I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it. It’s another one that really doesn’t have anything to do with Halloween. In fact, it makes many references to “Peter” being a Jesus-like figure. Despite this, it definitely gives a good vibe for this time of year, and will always be considered a favorite  of mine. Let’s just hope Peter doesn’t get made into a pumpkin spice latte.

6. Grim Grinning Ghosts by The Barenaked Ladies 

On the Haunted Mansion ride in Disney theme  parks, there is a section of the tour where you are taken through a graveyard. In this graveyard are five busts, singing the catchy tune of this song. It is also slightly featured in the film adaptation of Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy, though the busts only sing a few lines of the song before Murphy interrupts them. The song is fantastic for Halloween, whether you listen to the original by The Melomen or the amazing cover by The Barenaked Ladies.

7. Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula by The Diamonds

I discovered this song through my work place’s Halloween playlist, and I must say, I am embarrassed for not knowing it before. Its rhythm is bound to get stuck in your head, but you won’t even mind, despite the odd theme of the song. To be honest, I’m not even going to explain it. You’ll have to go listen to it for yourself.

8.  Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield 

If you mentioned this song to anyone, I guarantee they wouldn’t recognize it  by the name. However, if you pay just a few seconds of it to any horror-movie fanatic, and they’ll get it instantly. This song was featured in the classic, The Exorcist. It’s tune is not only extremely satisfying, but eerily blood chilling as well. Just a slight warning: I’d be careful looking it up if you’re scared of Regan’s possessed face. Many videos of the song display it as a thumbnail.

9. The Blob by The Five Blobs 

The Blob is a simple song with only seven lines repeated four times, but it is perfect for getting you up and making you dance. The noises featured in the song are quite amusing as well. It’s definitely a necessity for any Halloween party.

And last, but certainly not least…

10. Spooky Scary Skeletons by Andrew Gold

Spooky Scary Skeletons is the epitome of all Halloween songs. Like The Blob and Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein, or Dracula, its simplicity drives it to excellence. The song is not as fast as it could be, but there are plenty of remixes for the dubstep and hip hop fan alike. I urge you to add it to your playlists as soon as possible.

Well, there you have it, Bobcats. You better get those playlists pumping, because there’s only 16 days left until Halloween! Remember to stay safe and have fun during this amazing holiday.