Halloween Party Playlist
Rachael Anderson
Now under two weeks away, Halloween is literally right around the corner! Therefore there’s no doubt many of you will be attending a Halloween party and what’s a party without good music? A bad one! Here we have a few spooktacular party anthems to create the best eerie playlist for Halloween instead of allowing ‘Ghost Busters’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ to play on repeat.
The Cure – ‘Lullaby’
The strong synths and guitar overpower the eerie whispers of lead singer, Robert Smith. This song is mostly attributed to be written about childhood nightmares.
MGMT – ‘Of Moons, Birds & Monsters’
MGMT are a party regular with tunes such as ‘Kids’ and ‘Electric Feel’. However this song caters to Halloween propensities with lyrics such as:
‘The prick of a feather could make a kingdom burn and the bloodshed start’
‘To catch a monster’ ‘And cut and cut its brains out’
Radiohead – ‘A Wolf At the Door’
The peculiar lyrics inspired by fairy tails were given a dark and apprehensive twist when sung by Thom Yorke’s perturbed voice.
The Black Keys – ‘Howlin’ for you’
No Halloween party playlist is complete until this absolute anthem is added.
Franz Ferdinand – ‘Evil Eye’
The beautifully freakish lyrics written by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy make an outstanding Halloween Party treat, however the meaning of the song adds an even more freaky undercurrent as it’s based upon a belief established by Mediterranean cultures, that few individuals had the power to inflict injury or bad luck upon someone.
Talking Heads – ‘Psycho Killer’
This gives an insight to David Bryne’s interpretation of the head of a ‘psycho killer’ and thoughts of a murderer. It was inspired by Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic film, ‘Psycho’.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Heads Will Roll’
It’s the dance song that makes you bounce accompanied by a twisted meaning behind the lyrics with themes of murder and slaughter.
The Cranberries – ‘Zombie’
Written about the death of two young children after an IRA bombing in Warrington, Cheshire, England. It was intended to be a ‘song of peace, peace among England and Ireland’. It is unquestionable to say the whole song theme is tragic but it ventures into a deal of political issues which creates controversy.
The Rolling Stones – ‘Sympathy For The Devil’
Not a celebration of Satanism, but about the dark side of a man, it’s one of those song that starts as one thing and turns out to be something completely different. There are a lot of references to dark historical events such as the Crucifixion of Christ, the Russian Revolution, World War 2 and the Assassination of President Kennedy.
“Confusion is not the ally of peace and love. You want to think the world is perfect. Everybody gets sucked into that.” (Keith Richards, 2002)
Interpol – ‘Evil’
Said to be inspired by the final days of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, makes this amazing song even more incredibly spine-chilling.
The Vaccines – ‘Ghost Town’
Mega dance song, perfectly fitting for a Halloween party.
Arcade Fire – ‘Afterlife’
Enquiring what happens to us after we die.
“I was a philosophy student in college. So without thinking too pretentious, I’m always thinking of ideas and the world we live in and trying to relate to the world.” (front-man Win Butler speaking to The Sun)
Jamie T – ‘Zombie’
CLASSIC. DANCE. FLOOR. ANTHEM.
Radiohead – ‘Knives Out’
An especially brutal and desperate attempt at solving something very complicated to Thom Yorke. He describes this song to be not exactly cruel, more an expression of feelings, he can’t help but use violent vocabulary. The lyrics appear more violent than the meanings behind them.
Lou Reed – ‘Vicious’
The funky tune named by Andy Warhol, made even better by backing vocals sung by Bowie.
“I said, Well, Andy, what kind of vicious? ‘Oh, you know, vicious like I hit you with a flower.'” (Lou Reed speaking to The Rolling Stone in 1989)
The Orwells – ‘Halloween All Year’
Lead singer, Mario Cuomo has a very droning and agitated voice which gives the perfect spine-chilling aura to the song.
Extra Songs To Add To The Playlist!
‘Pretty Girls Make Graves’ The Smiths
‘The Hanging Garden’ The Cure
‘Black Moon Spell’ King Tuff
‘Men In Black’ Will Smith
‘Scary Monsters(And Super Creeps)’ David Bowie
‘Superstition’ Stevie Wonder
‘Time Warp’ The Rocky Horror Picture Show
