12 best Halloween songs according to YouTube

Dusty Springfield, “Spooky”, 1970

The YouTube numbers say that “Spooky” sees a 5.7x spike on Halloween. It’s one of those songs that isn’t really a Halloween song, but works really well as a Halloween song. According to Wikipedia, “Spooky” has been covered at least 18 times, spanning from 1968 to 2015.

"In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin’ kinda groovy You call me up and ask me Would I like to go with you and see a movie? At first I say: “No, I’ve got some plans for tonight” But then I stop And say: “Alright” Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little boy like you"

Dusty Springfield actually gender-flipped this popular song from the sixties. It began as an instrumental and performed by saxophonist Mike “Shapiro” Sharpe. Lyrics were added (“Spooky little girl”) later. Dusty’s version was featured in the movie Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Dusty, a very popular and successful British performer, was most well-known as a blues singer.

Dusty died of Breast Cancer in 1999 just two weeks before her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elton John was part of her induction ceremony. About Dusty, he said:

"“I’m biased but I just think she was the greatest white singer there ever has been … Every song she sang, she claimed as her own.”"