It’s that time of year again! Halloween is here, which calls for some creepy tunes to get you in the mood. Many of my favorite artists have that one perfectly eerie song that will get you ready for tricks and treats. Big names like Michael Jackson and underground sensations like Glass Animals all have songs to get ready for a night of mischief and haunting.
How can I talk about songs for Halloween and not mention “Thriller” by Michael Jackson? A true classic Halloween anthem that we all know and love, this funky throwback will have you dancing and singing all night long. “It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark,” MJ begins, pulling you into his mysterious, groovy world. “Thriller” wouldn’t be complete without the 13-minute masterpiece of a music video. Seeing MJ turn into a zombie and werewolf in the video never fails to get me into the Halloween spirit.
Another throwback that will help get you into that spooky, disturbed character is Rihanna’s “Disturbia.” Rihanna’s psychotic mind has been unveiled, and we get a glimpse of it in this pop hit. This spooky mainstream smash helped Rihanna propel herself into the mainstream success she is today. She “bum bum be-dum’s” her way through the simplistic beat and eerie synth, giving us a haunting we can dance to. You can watch Rihanna in all her psychotic glory in the music video that is full of her deepest fears.
The country rock group, Delta Rae, has a real witchy anthem; “Bottom of The River” is actually all about drowning witches. The song features the sounds of shackles, haunting murmurs and growling voices. This chant is partnered with a marvelous video. It acts as a march to the river and is full of witchcraft, aggressive choreography and murder. If you watch closely, you can see how clever the band is in the video with portraying her mysterious abilities.
Lorde, the already haunting crooner, has a song you may not know about. Son Lux partnered with Lorde to create “Easy,” an aggressive, spine-chilling jam, that feels as if you’re about to enter a witches coven. High-pitched whines and deep, low saxophones add to Lorde’s already unnerving whispers–this all with a crazy, distorted guitar solo. This song has a grotesque, tribal feel to it, and I love every second of it. A frightening, maleficent song that will have you set and ready for a night of frights.
On a similar note, there is “Holiest” by Glass Animals. An eerily playful xylophone is heard over low whispers and swelling drones. The singer’s fragile voice floats above the creepy background, adding to the uncomfortable feel of the song. This ballad is less of a Halloween anthem than some of the others, but it has a very strange vibe. “Now all I do is feel afraid,” the singer croons into the chorus as we are lifted into the cacophony of ambient sounds and fervent mutters. This song has a beautifully spooky aura to it.
Whether you’re plotting your tricks or looking forward to the treats, these songs will get you ready for Halloween. I even added a few extras to the playlist to help you get in that Halloween mood even more. Happy Halloween!
