The 52 Best Halloween Songs (That Are Actually Really Good)

The list

1. 01

   Spooky by Lydia Lunch

   Lydia Lunch gives Dusty Springfield's classic a much spookier edge.

2. 02

   Thriller by Michael Jackson

   Essential playlist pick; creepy choreography inspires dance floor moves.

3. 03

   Psycho Killer by Talking Heads

   Byrne's upbeat killer impression makes the Norman Bates type oddly relatable.

4. 04

   Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran

   Simon Le Bon's jungle romp will have you howling at the moon.

5. 05

   Henry Lee by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey

   Sinister murder-ballad duet turned surprisingly romantic.

6. 06

   Highway to Hell by AC/DC

   '80s rock gold; get ready to rock out for Halloween.

7. 07

   Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

   Powerful bass backs Cave's chilling description of a terrifying man.

8. 08

   Zombie by The Cranberries

   O'Riordan's powerful pipes; the chorus stays stuck in your head.

9. 09

   Climbing Up the Walls by Radiohead

   Thom Yorke takes creepiness to new heights on a haunting track.

10. 10

    Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

    A real rocker about Satan's reign of terror.

11. 11

    Season of the Witch by Donovan

    Flower-power vibes with a spot-on refrain that's impossible not to sing.

12. 12

    Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) by David Bowie

    Bowie nearly growls the chorus on this rocker.

13. 13

    Super Freak by Rick James

    Punk-funk classic guaranteed to get everyone dancing.

14. 14

    The Monster by Eminem ft. Rihanna

    Grammy-winning track with a Rihanna hook about scary stuff.

15. 15

    Heads Will Roll by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

    Terrifying topic that oddly still makes you want to party.

16. 16

    Carolina Drama by The Raconteurs

    Bluesy, epic ballad all about murder.

17. 17

    Maxwell's Silver Hammer by The Beatles

    Disturbingly cheerful ditty about a hammer-wielding serial killer.

18. 18

    Your Ghost by Kristen Hersh

    Haunting voice with Michael Stipe on the refrain.

19. 19

    I Was a Teenage Werewolf by The Cramps

    Hilarious fun with signature surf guitar and punk attitude.

20. 20

    Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

    A song about Satan that's a good listen any time.

21. 21

    The Freaks Come Out at Night by Whodini

    Old-school hip hop at its finest; ideal for a costume party.

22. 22

    Little Drop of Poison by Tom Waits

    Waits's raspy growl plus lyrics about poison make a Halloween winner.

23. 23

    Lake of Fire by Nirvana

    Meat Puppets cover about where bad folks go when they die.

24. 24

    Gimme Danger by The Stooges

    Shirtless Iggy Pop begs for danger over raw, powerful guitar.

25. 25

    Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon

    Werewolves paired with upbeat '70s keyboards.

26. 26

    Day of the Lords by Joy Division

    Creates the ideal gothic atmosphere.

27. 27

    Ava Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins

    Synth-pop with a gothic vibe and '90s nostalgia.

28. 28

    Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr.

    Theme song; who you gonna call?

29. 29

    Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

    1960s classic and a staple of every Halloween playlist.

30. 30

    Witchy Woman by The Eagles

    Catchy, chart-topping song about a witch.

31. 31

    I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow 1982

    1982 anthem that might as well be an ode to trick-or-treating.

32. 32

    Halloween Theme by John Carpenter

    The spookiest score; scares even without the movie.

33. 33

    Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult

    Fits the theme and stays stuck in your head until Christmas.

34. 34

    Black Magic Woman by Santana

    Sexy, soulful number shifts the vibe without straying.

35. 35

    Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper

    A nocturnal vacation; sexy or spooky, you decide.

36. 36

    I Put a Spell on You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

    Original blues classic; no cover matches its creepiness.

37. 37

    People Are Strange by The Doors

    Great in any season, especially fitting for celebrating all things strange.

38. 38

    Halloween by Siouxsie and the Banshees

    The unofficial Halloween queen wrote this rocking occasion song.

39. 39

    Evil Woman by Electric Light Orchestra

    Snazzy '70s number with wickedly good bad vibes.

40. 40

    Halloween Parade by Lou Reed

    Monotone holiday narrative, best for the party wind-down.

41. 41

    A Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince 1988

    1988 single; Will Smith raps about a terrifying Freddy Krueger encounter.

42. 42

    Disturbia by Rihanna

    Horror-themed single that remains a Halloween staple.

43. 43

    I Put a Spell on You by Bette Midler

    Hocus Pocus version is just as spooky as the original.

44. 44

    Superstition by Stevie Wonder

    For the season's bizarre superstitions and spooky traditions.

45. 45

    The Addams Family Theme by Vic Mizzy

    Iconic theme fun to sing along to; snap snap.

46. 46

    Monster by Lady Gaga

    Falling for a charming guy with evil eyes and bad intentions.

47. 47

    Boogie Monster by Gnarls Barkley

    Midnight-hour verse alone gives chills.

48. 48

    I Got 5 on It (Tethered Remix) by Luniz and Michael Marshall

    Jordan Peele's Us introduced this creepy remix of a hip-hop classic.

49. 49

    Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell

    Upbeat but spine-chilling '80s classic about being watched.

50. 50

    Nightmare by Halsey

    Powerful anthem tackling real-life, hot-button issues.

51. 51

    Shadows of the Night by Pat Benatar

    One of Benatar's best; a timeless track to keep on repeat.

52. 52

    Dracula's Wedding by Outkast (feat. Kelis)

    Welcome to Dracula's wedding, full of thirsty vampires.