The leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder, pumpkins are being carved and Halloween is upon us! Whether you’re going trick-or-treating with your siblings or going to a costume party with your friends, here are some spooky songs to get you into the spirit of the season.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson
A beloved classic, I consider “Thriller” to be the quintessential Halloween song. Even without its iconic music video, the song is full of creepy synths, unsettling lyrics and deep, booming basses. The song is structured similar to a horror film, starting with a creaky door and wolf howls and ending with a monologue from iconic horror actor Vincent Price. It creates the perfect tone for a spooky October night.
“Say the Name” by clipping.
This experimental hip-hop group led by Daveed Diggs from “Hamilton” has released two albums worth of terrifying songs with dark production and lyrics that could have come straight out of a Stephen King novel. This song was the first one I heard by clipping., and it’s become my favorite. Diggs’ rapping and storytelling are on point, and in combination with a creepy yet head-banging beat, make for a wonderfully frightening listening experience.
“PostmortHim” by Johnny Sebastian
A track off Johnny Sebastian’s recently released Halloween EP, “A Bump in the Night,” with its upbeat guitar and sweet harmonies, this song doesn’t seem very scary on the surface. However, the lyrics tell a terrifying tale of a man murdering the boyfriend of his true love, who doesn’t even know him, in order for them to be together. The juxtaposition of the fun and innocent production and the unsettling lyrics, joins two different sides of Halloween together in unexpected harmony.
“Zombies” by Childish Gambino
Like much of “Awaken, My Love,” “Zombies” has clear influences from funk and gospel music. But with Gambino’s frightening voice and chilling production, the song has more of an unnerving vibe. While Gambino uses the term “Zombies” as a metaphor for fake people who feed off of someone’s success rather than talking about actual zombies, this song is still perfect to get into the Halloween mood.
“The Pines” by 070 Shake
An interpretation of “In the Pines,” a disturbing song originating around the same time as the Civil War, this song tells the story of a young girl who was killed by a train and whose body was never found. In this version, the song is mostly driven by the distorted bass, which mostly goes up in “minor seconds,” an unsettling interval in music, and 070 Shake’s alto voice. A horrifying narrative, this song is sure to send a chill down your spine.
