Judy’s Definitive List of Halloween Smashes
So, you’re getting the candy out. You’re putting on that skeleton make up and slipping into an outfit that - on any other day - would get some questionable stares from the citizens of your neighborhood. It’s time to bump some Halloween tunes in anticipation of Earth’s best holiday. What should you play? Well, here’s 10 songs to bump non-stop tonight.
“There Will Be Blood” by Kim Petras. A campy synth bop banger for lovers of Elvira or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Vampire teeth implants required.
“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Borris Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers. If Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas then Bobby Pickett is the King of Halloween. Pay your respects to the specters of the past with this retro smash of a mash.
“Monster” by Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Over. The artists involved on this song are a veritable who’s who of chart toppers in 2010. Between Jay-Z listing of all the types of monsters we know and love and Nicki Minaj’s iconic star-making verse, this hyper-focused rap song is a monstrous flex.
“Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo. The lead single from Rodrigo’s sophomore album begins as a piano ballad before ripping into the throat of the song’s antagonist with drums and background vocals and a belted “Oh.” Give the girl some credit on this glorious day of the dead.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson. This one is self-explanatory. No writing about this song could possibly do it justice.
“This is Halloween” by The Citizens of Halloweentown. The Nightmare Before Christmas is an essential Halloween film. And this opening number is just what you ned to welcome the goblins, ghouls, and ghosts into your Halloween evening.
“I Put a Spell On You” by Nina Simone or Hocus Pocus. To me, this song has two definite versions. Simone drags us into the spell with her contralto lulling us into a false sense of security while Bette Middler and the witches of Salem do so with a sense of unnerving campiness. Both deserve to be listened to immediately.
“Ghostbusters.” You know it. You love. Ditch the movie and blast the song while you hunt for ghosts tonight.
“She Wolf” by Shakira. Women can be monsters too! Shakira makes that well-known as she croons about the She Wolf in the club.
“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. Funk and R&B can be creepy too. Stevie Wonder calls on us to consider that “when you believe in things you don’t understand/then you suffer/superstition ain’t the way.” When the night comes to a close cast off your beliefs in the creatures of the night and get a good rest!
