Spooky season is upon us, and American Songwriter is here to provide the playlist for this year’s hauntings and happenings. Whether you’re observing Halloween surrounded by ghosts and witches or monsters and werewolves, this collection of songs is some of the holiday’s best musical offerings.
While our number one song may not be the jump scare you anticipated (‘Cause this is thriller), there are other horrors on this list that will inspire a spirited All Hallows’ evening.
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Read below for American Songwriter’s top Halloween songs.
13. “Season of the Witch” by Donovan
12. “Boris The Spider” by The Who
11. “Witchy Woman” by the Eagles
10. “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
9. “The Monster” by Eminem (ft. Rihanna)
8. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
7. “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
6. “A Nightmare On My Street” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
5. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
4. “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
3. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
2. “Werewolves Of London” by Warren Zevon
1. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
BONUS: “This Is Halloween” written by Danny Elfman
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Paul Revere & The Raiders Perform American pop group Paul Revere & the Raiders perform in matching outfits, probably on a television studio set, mid 1960s. The band includes Mark Lindsay (third left) as the vocalist and Paul Revere (right) on keyboards. (Photo by Authenticated News/Getty Images) -
English rock and pop group The Hollies perform the song 'Sorry Suzanne' on the set of the BBC Television pop music television show Top Of The Pops at Lime Grove Studios in London on 27th March 1969. Members of the band are, from left, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester and Bernie Calvert. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
LOS ANGELES – MARCH 10: Singer and band leader Brian Wilson of the rock and roll group 'The Beach Boys' goofs around during a portrait session at Pacific Ocean Park on March 10, 1966 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Reba McEntire performs at San Jose Arena on November 23, 1994 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) -
Mick Jagger performing with The Rolling Stones during a secret gig live at the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street. They were billed as 'Diz And The Doormen'. May 31 1982. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) -
Waylon Jennings performs onstage at Oakbrook Terrace in Oakbrook, Illinois, November 27, 1977. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 13 : Members of Poison: (L to R) C.C. Deville, Brett Michaels, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett backstage at the Mtv Awards Show, September 13, 1987 in Los Angeles,California. (Photo by Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.)
