Track or Treat
The Perfect Halloween Playlist
Halloween. Arguably the best holiday of the year. The cool, fall air brings relief from the hot, summer sun, kids are running about dressed up as their favorite heroes and characters, and free candy. Even as an adult, I can’t say no to free candy (I sneak all my kid’s Reese’s). However, Halloween is not complete without these three things: watching Hocus Pocus, binging horror movies with the woman I love, and the perfect Halloween playlist. On that note, I present to you the soundtrack for your next Halloween party.
1. I Put A Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Maybe too obvious of a first song choice, but as people are pooling into the party, it’s the perfect background track, and if you really listen closely, you just might feel the nausea brewing from Screamin’ Jay’s snorts and snarls. It's been done many times, by many different artists, but Screamin' Jay's is an instant Halloween classic!
2. Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Karen O’s hypnotic and spooky vocals with Nick Zinner’s mesmerizing guitar/keys makes this the perfect Halloween dance number. Heads will roll and bodies will shake to this one.
3. Where Is My Mind? by The Pixies. A haunting guitar riff and off-key melodic lyrics make for one of the most beautiful rock songs ever written. There is just something chilling, yet romantic about this track. Grab your favorite costumed partner and hold him/her/them close for this one.
4. Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Maybe not labeled as a traditional Halloween song, but whether you have seen RHPS or not, people know the dance. And nothing better than a group of costumed adults bringing their knees in tight and driving people insane with their pelvic thrusts.
5. Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups. When Brian Aubert wrote this track he said he wanted a song that would induce anxiety in you. He nails it. Rhythmic bass that just loops over and over in your head. Fuzzy, shrieking guitar riffs. Loud drums. You’ll be searching for that panic switch before this one is over.
6. Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett. At this point, half way through the playlist, someone is going to ask, “when is Monster Mash coming on?!” Well, wait no further. A classic song, fun for all ages, and gets everyone up, moving, and singing along.
7. Teenagers from Mars by The Misfits. Isn’t it true that this entire playlist could be Misfits songs? The band personifies Halloween with their dark lyrics and chilling personas. This is the perfect sit down and catch your breath song, but I guarantee your foot won’t stop tapping.
8. Mouth (Stingray Mix) by Bush. I remember hearing this song for the first time in the movie American Werewolf in Paris. It was so perfect for a movie about werewolves, if only the movie had been better, but it did give us this must have Halloween track.
9. Thriller by Michael Jackson. Arguably the greatest music video of all time and a song everyone knows. Vincent Price graces us with narration that will haunt your soul and an evil laugh at the end that will give you nightmates. People will get up, get up, get up and do their best zombie dance impression.
10. If I Was Your Vampire by Marylin Manson. This song has that edginess and grittiness to it that makes it the perfect Manson song yet is is also sexy and entrancing. Grab a partner and sway slowly to this closer. You just might end up taking this one to the bedroom.
There you have it! Ten tracks for the perfect Halloween party. Enjoy!
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