100% Confirmed: The Coolest Halloween Party Playlist Ever

1. “Little Dark Age” by MGMT

To pretend you are the main character in your own version of the show Stranger Things.

Another dimension where giant psychedelic spiders are our great nemesis, and it’s forever cool to wear 80's poofy jackets. These oversized jackets protect you from the vile, hairy Walkers, shielding you from their poisonous 6ft long legs that at first touch can turbo speed you through the aging process and turn you into a gruesome pile of rot. Blink! Or is it all in your head??? You can’t tell because you’re mentally exhausted from trying to both attack AND dodge these damn monsters all inside a strobe light paradise. Is it blurry? Yes. But does it feel that bad? Weirdly, not really. It’s freaky, but in the end you’re still safe (phew!) and it all ends in a groovy dance party with imaginary skeleton friends.

2. “Spooky Scary Skeletons” (Extended Remix) by PerSixs Memes

In case you’re worried your friends think your Halloween playlist is too abstract to convince your guests that it is in fact a Halloween party.

In this fire jam, goblins and one-eyed monsters with frat boy hats sing, “spooky scary skeletons” almost the whole time. All 3 minutes and 50 seconds! It’s very overt. No one will dare doubt what kind of party this is, and your coolness points will go way up after you blast this dub-steppy electronic mayhem that says dangerous drinking may or may not happen tonight (wink).

*Warning: If played loudly, your neighbors will either A) get jealous that you didn’t invite them and show up unrecognizable in their sexiest costume yet or B) they’ll be horrified your spooky party might turn into the next Project X and will make sure to call the police and literally scare your buddies all the way home. #bummer!

3. “Charlie puth- Betty boop” by Droppe Bass

Are you afraid of puppets?

I can’t help but see aggressively dancing marionette dolls with creepy, overly smiley faces when I hear this play. It’s upbeat in a way that makes me slightly uncomfortable and doesn’t feel normal... It’s just the right amount of ‘playfully silly’ that it keeps you convinced the whole ordeal is just a performance, and it’s totally fine. But something inside you just says, “I should’ve gotten the heck out of here minutes ago!” Yikes! Now you’re dancing like crazy, and you just can’t make yourself stop! A portal to a dimension in which jazzy 20s ghosts can collab with top shelf - I mean (cough cough) - top-notch DJs at a hipster rave opens. Woah! You’re thrusted into this wacky carnival, and I mean, you’re already here soooo.... mine as well keep thrustin’ the night away!?

4. “Brittle Bones Nicky” by Rare Americans

Who’s brittle bones Nicky? Beats me! But it sounds like a character from an Invader Zim-style comic.

If you’re planning to dress up as an angsty fifteen year old during their full fledged emo phase, for some reason I can see this song being the perfect one to play during your safely socially distanced mosh pit. (‘Wicked Black’ eyeliner and vintage backpack not included).

5. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

Because if you don’t play it at the Halloween bash YOU KNOW someone else will.

6. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People

Okay, hear me out. So it doesn’t "sound Halloweeny"...

“But he’s coming for you, yeah he’s coming for you”

“You’d better run, better run”

Yeah, that sounds Halloweeny enough to me! Also the album cover is monsters with torches, so I say, “Eh, what the heck!”

7. “When You Die” by MGMT

Miscellaneous spooky chuckles in the background, synth-y light strings, build-ups and explosions that are totally magickal! Need I say more?

This is a 100% fail-proof potion for whimsical astral travel. Who even needs a witch’s broom when we’ve got songs like these! But don’t let this delightfully dreamy soundscape fool you! It’s not all peachy here. The lyrics can summon guts and ghoulish slime - it’s neon, but still... Also, spoiler alert: YOU DIE. In the middle of the song you “you die”, “words don’t do anything” , and “it’s permanently night”. #Oof!

8. “Devil Eyes” by Hippie Sabotage

For some reason I feel if Satan owned a strip club he would definitely have this playing everyday in hell - not just on Halloween night!

So, why not indulge!? Indulge in the gloriousness of sensuality! Why not embrace your inner Lilith (or Dorian Gray), and give your low vibe party a major bass boost with this golden track.

9. “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett

I have a love-hate relationship with this song.

It’s so burned, and yet, it’s a classic. I kind of like that the singer sounds like a real a** Frankenstein, but very velvety and expensive, chillin with a fancy Russian martini. (At least that’s how I picture him). I wish I felt that cool when I had to perform to this song in a child-size brown paper bag “costume” for my Halloween Showcase in second grade. #smh

10. “ To the Bone” by J.T. Machinima

I can’t tell if this performance features two underworld creatures doing their first standup appearance or -

Actually yeah, I think that’s what it is, but they actually lied their way to a spot at the club, claiming they would deliver with a full on rap battle.

PS. Let’s just say neither happen because they’re both always happening. Sheesh!

11. “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell

In case your mom shows up...or my mom shows up….(My mom actually loves this song!)

Okay, but in all seriousness taxes are scary, and if you actually close your eyes in the shower I think you might very well be a psycho. 100% confirmed!

12. “all the good girls go to hell” by Billie Eilish

TBH I would rather play this as I’m getting ready for a Halloween party, but my husband, I know, must have included this song in the actual party playlist for a reason.

Probably not because it reminded him of one of the witchiest shows ever, Sabrina, duh! But still, get your red glow on with this eerie mélange of otherworldly vocals, ominous beats, and lyrics that say, “don’t say I didn’t warn ya”! Maybe hell is not so bad...? Billie, I’m convinced! Take me to the Dark Lord! #halloweenconvert

13. “Oblivion” by Grimes

This dimension: Say hello to the mystical sexy sea nymphs that cried to create the lake they’re always bathing in.

Also, everything is a shade of black or blue here, and it’s fresh, like a clear blue night, it touches your soul somehow...but your not quite sure what you are to do about it. Dance?...I would say yes - especially if you decided to do the ‘sinking underwater’ move! The twist or the 60s jerk would also work just fine! Go ahead, impress the crowd with your whimsical, other worldly spirit moves.

14. “ilomilo” by Billie Eilish

There’s just something about the ghostly, twinkling piano and her almost-whispering voice (that somehow sometimes has tracers?...) that I don’t know man...

It’s just freaking creepy AF! Which means: perfect for Halloween!

15. “Creep” by Radiohead

The word ‘creepy’ has the word ‘creep’ in it, and that is undeniable proof that it rightfully belongs in any Halloween playlist!

Also, wouldn’t this make for a killer karaoke performance!? Whether you hate your neighbors or not, you owe it to yourself to unleash your inner weirdness from the deepest parts of your soul at least one time a year - no matter how strange! And this song is perfect for that.

16. “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd

Again, you can probably tell I’m a Stanger Things fan...But hey, can’t you picture this as the soundtrack for a highly glamorized spooky maze run through?

Your hair: flowing slow-mo in the wind. You’re young, and you feel like taking a risk. Maybe it’s asking out your crush at the Halloween party - after all, you’re in a costume! And you’re wearing a mask, right?? Too spooky? Then maybe taking a risk on this sexy “horror movie” chase loop tune is just enough for the night.

17. “1980s Horror Film II” by Wallows

Oh, come on! The name says it all! Just do it. They will love it. I swear it on Bloody Mary!