You don’t need to play “Thriller” 100 times at your Halloween party. There are other atmospheric options out there, including these five tunes.
Look, we love Vincent Price’s spoken-word sections of “Thriller” as much as any other Halloween aficionado, but there are only so many times that you can listen to it before your ears start pleading for something a little different, yet suitably spooky to get yourself into the mood for carving a pumpkin, picking out a costume, or decorating.
Fortunately, we’ve scared up some deeper cuts, all easily available on Spotify, to get you jamming once again.
Are you ready? Then let’s get to it.
“Black Magic Woman” – Santana
Not only does this song come with a perfect title for those of witching inclinations, it also includes Carlos Santana pulling out a smooth, wonderfully executed guitar line that you’ll find yourself humming throughout the month. It’s not loud or particularly obtrusive, but it does have a haunting, echoing quality to it — and that’s before you get to the lyrics.
“Bloody Tears” – Castlevania
Who says that every song that you play this season has to have words to it? For vampires and demons, there’s not many game series that can claim to have had such an impact as Castlevania. While you may prefer something like “Vampire Killer,” yours truly finds that “Bloody Tears” has a much more dramatic and driving rhythm, making it perfect for whipping up treats or even just when you’re feeling a bit vampiric. There are tons of different versions — including a haunting music box version — to suit all your different moods.
“Spooky” – Classics IV
The opening lines of “Spooky” refer to “when everything is gettin’ kinda groovy,” and the song itself is pretty groovy. It’s not trying to scare you, just mellow you out a little bit even when referring to a girl whom it’s apparently a good idea to propose to on Halloween. Besides, who can say no to a good sax solo at any time of year, right?
“Shadow Temple” – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
No, this isn’t just because of how much I love The Legend of Zelda. There are times when this famous series manages to be legitimately creepy, and the Shadow Temple of Ocarina of Time (along with its preceding mini-dungeon, the Bottom of the Well) are perhaps the prime examples. Even today, the original late-’90s graphics reveal a horrifying, multi-level torture dungeon, and the accompanying music does a great job of making things even more terrifying. We’ve picked an orchestral cover here, and though there aren’t quite as many versions as there are of “Bloody Tears,” this one is perfect for the atmosphere.
“I Put A Spell On You” – Nina Simone
Look, yes, we all know and love Bette Midler’s version from Hocus Pocus, but sometimes you need something a little slower and slinkier for a haunted cocktail party. Nina Simone’s take on “I Put A Spell On You” is pitch-perfect. Broaden your horizons a little, and let this piece put you under a legend’s spell, at least for a few minutes.
Tell us your favorite spooky tunes!