The perfect Halloween party playlist

Throwing a Halloween party? The best part about selecting the music is that you have options. You can go with Halloween classics, like the Monster Mash (a must, really), but you aren't as limited as you might be with Christmas party music, for example.

There's a vibe to match. You aren't stuck with holiday-specific songs, which (again, I'm making an example out of Christmas season) may be horribly overplayed on the radio already.

Here are my suggestions for a Halloween party playlist (with commentary as needed, of course):

1. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett, The Crypt-Kickers

As I said, the Monster Mash is a must. If you don't play the Monster Mash at a Halloween Party, did you really have a Halloween party? (The only acceptable answer is no.)

2. Miss Murder - AFI

3. Heathens - Twenty One Pilots

4. This Is Halloween - Marilyn Manson

There are a lot of versions of this song. You have options. If you're a Nightmare Before Christmas purist, maybe you'll go with the original. If you want to jam at a Halloween party, you know this version is the way to go.

5. bad guy - Billie Eilish

6. Graveyard - Halsey

7. Kids In The Dark - All Time Low

This just describes the feeling of being at a Halloween party with your friends (for me, anyway). It's also the same feeling I get at a concert.

8. Blurry - Stand Atlantic

9. You're so Creepy - Ghost Town

In general, Ghost Town fits the Halloween spirit. Their 2013 Party in the Graveyard album could be sifted through for a few playlist options. There's literally howling in the background of some of their songs.

10. Thriller - Michael Jackson

Halloween is the best time to listen to Thriller. It's expected for good reason. End of story.

11. Disturbia - Rihanna

Pop throwbacks have their place in every playlist, and this one will not be an exception. I stand by that opinion for every event I plan the music for, which happens to be a lot of them.

12. LA Devotee - Panic! At The Disco

Watch the music video. You'll understand why this fits so well.

13. Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid) - Fall Out Boy, Missy Elliot

This is another one where you could choose the classic. It doesn't really matter in this case, but the Fall Out Boy version is fun.

14. Your Ghost - Marianas Trench

15. Uma Thurman - Fall Out Boy

As long as Pulp Fiction remains an inspiration for Halloween costumes, this song belongs at Halloween parties. It's extra fun if someone comes dressed as Uma Thurman's character.

16. Superstition - Minshara

17. Freaking Out - The Wrecks

18. Misfits T-Shirt - DREAMERS

Listening to the Misfits would be fitting enough. I could've added their song Halloween to this list. I'm not going to do that, though.

19. VICES - Mothica

Ironically, this is a good party song in general.

20. Psycho Killer - The Wrecks

There's nothing better in our reality like psycho killers to fit the Halloween vibe. Horror movies. Thrillers. They're a year-round option that feel most applicable in October.

21. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

22. Spooky, Scary Skeletons (Undead Tombstone Remix) - Andrew Gold

Last but certainly not least, it would be an insult to leave Spooky, Scary Skeletons off a Halloween party playlist. The Undead Tombstone Remix mixes best with the rest of the songs here, and for a party, feels like the obvious choice anyway.

You can access this playlist on Spotify here. Grab songs and put them into your own playlist, or save the playlist for your own use. It's not going anywhere. I might need it.

Happy Halloween!