10 Songs: Halloween Party Bangers That’ll Put You In A Spooky Mood
Baby You’re A Haunted House - Gerard Way
With a mass of churning, fuzzed-out guitars leading the way, “Baby You’re A Haunted House” is a song that feels perfectly crafted for a late-night rager. Gerard Way’s vocals are processed with just enough grain to give the song a retro feel. Pair all of that with a possible reference to “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, relatable lyrics about battling inner demons in a relationship, a music video drenched in VHS era nostalgia and the song feels like a Halloween classic that’s been around for ages, despite only being released in 2018.
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
It’s not only rare for a soundtrack single to surpass its original niche and become a Halloween classic, but for it to be so good that it’ll get airplay even when it’s not Halloween. No joke, I’ve heard this song on the radio in the middle of August. And you know what? With that spooky intro, iconic call-and-response chorus, and irresistible stings of 80s synths, why wouldn’t it? There are too many quotable lines to count. If you’re not shouting out the lyrics from the dance floor, that’s on you.
Kill V. Maim - Grimes
“Kill V. Maim” is the kind of hyperpop banger that toes the line between bubblegum brightness and gritty absurdism. To start, it’s written from the perspective of Al Pacino’s character in “The Godfather, Part II” as a genderfluid space-traveling vampire. Grimes’s vocals swing from chipper chirps to guttural howls, all over a thudding bassline and plucky synths. This whirlwind of production makes for a song that’s equally suited for a long-lost Mario Kart level as it is for a banging Halloween party.
Close Your Eyes - Kim Petras
Kim Petras is an artist dedicated not only bringing a new breath of life into pop music, but also the genre of Halloween music. She’s even released a whole album dedicated to the holiday, a trend that really should be getting more mainstream hype. “Close Your Eyes”, a standout track from said Halloween album “TURN OFF THE LIGHT”, is a pulsating synth pop track filled with allure and swagger. With tracks like this on her roster, Petras deserves a spot at the front of this genre revitalization.
Rodeo (Remix) - Lil Nas X ft. Nas
From its opening guitar licks, “Rodeo” establishes itself as the swashbuckling, space-cowboy soundtrack of your dreams. Set over a trap beat made of stuttering hi-hats and ghostly backing vocals, it makes for one eerie atmosphere. Lil Nas X and Nas make for a great team-up beyond the name gag, with Nas’s forceful bar-spitting complimenting Lil Nas X’s singing. The horror pastiche music video featuring a leather-clad, fanged Lil Nas X hanging upside down like a bat and Matrix-running through a spray of bullets is just icing on the cake.
The Magic - Lola Blanc
How can you resist a song with the literal lyric “let’s get spooky?” Featuring plinking pianos, stings of horns and ghostly howls in the background, “The Magic” is a song you’d hear leaking from a steampunk jazz lounge in a haunted dimension. Lola Blanc captures a mischievous energy with her performance, hinting at genuine peril with a coy smile. The strongest appeal of “The Magic” is the way it balances a vintage charm with the alt-pop sounds of today, making for a playful listen perfect for soundtracking nights of getting up to no good.
Graves - CHVRCHES
“Graves” is one of the finest tracks off CHVRCHES’s chillingly titled third album “Love Is Dead”. The production on this track is as colorful as ever, with the synths building from low burbles on the verses to a bright-punchy hook. Pair that with a set of cryptic lyrics referencing “bodies in stairwells” and “dancing on [...] graves,” and you’ve got the perfect addition to a Halloween party playlist. Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry delivers them all with conviction, her clear vocals cutting through the rainbow haze.
Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
The equation of love with hunger in music is nothing new, but it does take something special to take that sentiment and turn it into something iconic. Inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, “Hungry Like the Wolf” walks the line between pop fluff and a dangerous edge. The lyrics reference a stalker in the woods at night, but set against slick production consisting of an irresistible guitar line and dappling synths, the track isn’t so horrific as it is a slice of 80s fun with genuine spirit and groove.
Little Dark Age - MGMT
Indie darling MGMT’s turn to synth-pop makes for one of my new favorite Halloween jams. Co-written by fellow indie connoisseur Ariel Pink, “Little Dark Age” is drenched in a gothic atmosphere, with cryptic lyrics, oodles of reverb and the spookiest synth tones this side of the 21st century. It’s perfectly suited to exploring a haunted mansion with no light but a giant candelabra. But that doesn’t mean you can’t dance to it. Once that chorus comes, the groove is undeniable.