Ultimate Halloween playlist: 30 songs that deliver thrills and chills

Whether you are planning a casual night with a small group or a wild house party, no good Halloween celebration is complete without a killer playlist.

This curated selection of thirty tracks, ranging from classic Halloween hits to hip-hop tunes to house bangers, should delight and appease most music tastes. Enjoy it as is or make it a foundation for a massive holiday collection. Truth be told, this group of bangers could rock a party all year round.

Classic haunts

While nobody wants a cookie-cutter playlist, there are some songs where it just feels wrong not to play them. Throw these songs in throughout the night for some almost-guaranteed sing-along fun.

• “Thriller” by Michael Jackson
  I think this one goes without saying: it’s practically the season’s theme song. It will never go out of style. 
• “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps
  This ghoulish rock song is a longtime favorite spooky track by the punk-psychobilly rockers. Its use in an iconic dance scene in Netflix’s “Wednesday” gave it a resurrection.
• “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  With a freaky title, an iconic riff and an easy-to-sing chorus, this 2000s disco-rock hit provides a dancier, classic moment.
• “Super Freak” by Rick James
  A perfect one to maintain the momentum — it’s funky, freaky, and intergenerational thanks to the Nicki Minaj flip. 
• “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
  The heavy synths and uneasy lyricism already give this contender spooky vibes. Add some angelic Michael Jackson vocals on there, and we have a top-five Halloween track. 

Modern and monstrous

Sticking with the classics, however, doesn’t mean repeating those same few tracks you see on every single Google-able list. These next few songs, however, you’ve definitely heard on Halloween night at least once before and deserve to stay in that rotation.

• “Cannibal” by Kesha
  “I eat boys up, breakfast and lunch, then when I’m thirsty, I drink their blood.”  This track is fabulously frightful and the perfect track for a girl’s night out. 
• “The Monster” by Eminem
  Rihanna’s haunting vocals and the song’s melody create an eerie melody. Eminem’s fast flow and the bassy beat behind the track make it danceable, making it perfect for any event.
• “Monster” by Kanye West (ft. Jay Z and Nicki Minaj) 
  Kanye West is known for his flow and production. By adding two iconic MCs to this track, it’s a fierce battle of different flows, all starting with West’s haunting intro. 
• “Dracula’s Wedding” by Outkast
  For a little classic hip-hop moment, Outkast takes on the role of  Dracula in this immersive track, writing a song to his Queen. “I wait my whole life to bite the right one/Then you come along and that freaks me out/So I’m frightened.”
• “Calling All The Monsters” by China Anne McClain
  Arguably a classic to any Gen Z who grew up on Disney Channel (and a still danceable track for any other age group). “Tonight all the monsters gonna dance, we’re coming to get ya.” 

Drop-dead pop 

Pop is pretty much a universal genre. While not everyone loves it, most people at least recognize your average pop track (a reference to “popular” for a reason). The next five tracks are a mix of new and classic pop, all with haunting melodies or killer vibes.

• “The Dead Dance” by Lady Gaga
  Gaga isn’t known as “Mother Monster” for nothing. Another track from the “Wednesday” TV series, this song is quite literally about dancing yourself from death, then dancing until you die — it’s hard to find a better Halloween party song than this one!
• “bad guy” by Billie Eilish
  If you’re dressing like a villain this Halloween, this track is your anthem! This Billie Eilish album was known for its dark aesthetics, and this song’s widespread popularity means that, 9 chances out of 10, your guests will know this one. Additionally, since it’s been out of the spotlight a while now, they (probably) won’t hate you for playing it. 
• “Dracula” by Tame Impala
  This latest Tame Impala track dropped just in time for Halloween. While the club-inspired sound is a bit different than their usual
• “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado (or Hall & Oates)
  Both are about “eating men alive,” but Furtado describes being the predator (perfect for a ladies’ night!) while Daryl Hall & Oates capture the POV of prey. Either way, both perfectly fit the scary holiday vibes and will get your guests moving and singing. 
• “Murder on the Dance Floor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
  This track was originally released in 2001, but the 2024 film, “Saltburn,” brought it back to popularity in 2024. The chorus echoes a sentiment that any good Halloween party should follow: “It’s murder on the dance floor/but you better not kill the groove.”

Hip-hop horror

Hip-hop is one of the best genres of party music, known for its heavy drums and basslines. Many rappers are especially known for their belligerent flows and sometimes dark themes. Here are a few hip-hop tracks (of which there are many) that capture the Halloween atmosphere and give that house party feeling.

• “Creepin” by 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, The Weeknd
  For a more laid-back, R&B-inspired vibe, this 2022 hit combines Boomin’s dark, cinematic sound with The Weeknd’s soft, high vocals and 21 Savage’s understated delivery.
• “Demons” by Doja Cat
  Lyrically and sonically, this track is dark and aggressive while being energetic, fierce, and easy to rap and dance to. Ironically, the rapper/singer was also in the Valley on the 29th for her Ma Vie World Tour. 
• “Scary” by Megan Thee Stallion
  For those who Halloween leans more “sexy” than “spooky,” this Megan track is for you. Fun fact: it’s basically impossible to rap the chorus without feeling like a baddie– “Red bottom on my feet, Bloody Mary on my toes/Every time I pop out, it get scary for you hoes.”
• “Yonkers” by Tyler, The Creator
  As far as eerie Halloween vibes go, “Yonkers” is one of many Tyler tracks that perfectly set the tone. The hypnotic beat paired with Tyler’s aggressive flow and his provocative, at times disturbing, lyricism. 
• “Kill You” by Eminem
  In my eyes, no one does the horror rap shtick quite like Slim Shady. While practically half of his discography could make the perfect Halloween soundtrack (see “The Monster” above), “Kill You”’s production makes it by far one of his dancier tracks (and is a little lighter on the palette than, say, “Kim.”)

Rhythm & boos

If your potential Halloween party is less “full-blown fiesta” and more “spooky kickback” or you just want to start the mood off nice and slow, these lower-key but still groovy tracks will hit just right. 

• “Ghosts” by Michael Jackson
  A lesser-known but, in my eyes, equally quality Halloween track by Michael Jackson is his song “Ghosts,” accompanied by its 38-minute music video/short film. The track feels like being haunted, except it’s the spirit of Michael Jackson telling you to get up and feel the music.
• “Haunted” by Beyonce 
  This one you may want to save for closer to the end of the party due to its slow, emotional nature. A minimal beat keeps you vibing along. And besides, who doesn’t love Beyoncé? 
• “Redbone” by Childish Gambino
  This song was featured in the 2017 film “Get Out,” and it’s no wonder why. While the laid-back instrumentals make this normally a groovy R&B track, the cynical lyrics, Gambino’s unearthly vocals, and the suspenseful build-up of the track, all paired with an album cover that gives you slight goosebumps. 
• “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
  Wonder’s wordplay on various superstitions makes this a funky, tongue-in-cheek pick for Halloween. This track may have been released in 1972, but social media trends have brought this track back for all generations. 
• “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe
  This song perfectly toes the line between hip-hop and R&B, with 90s group Bell Biv DeVoe singing beautifully on the energetic track. With lyrics about a woman with a “poisonous” manner, the lyrics bring a dark, cautious edge to the song. “Wrong move, you’re dead/ That girl is (poison!)” 

Rave to the grave

Most of these tracks are songs your guests will recognize, vibe to, and likely sing along. But if you want your guests up and dancing more than sitting and chatting, what better direction to go than EDM? Put this in the middle of your party playlist for peak energy or keep building off this one for a full-blown dance rager!

• “Ghosts n’ Stuff” by Deadmau5
  Released in 2009, this track’s name alone suggests it’s an ideal Halloween song. Paired with an organ-heavy melody over tech-house beats and a futuristic chorus, it’s thrilling and easy to dance to.
• “Nightmares” by Chris Lake & Cloonee
  The chorus is perfectly terrifying (“It’s me, from your nightmare/Do you remember me?/If you don’t come play with me, I will have to haunt you”), building up to an electrifying tech-house drop with a whistling melody. Just like the chorus says, you will feel positively haunted. 
• “Voodoo” by Gorgon City
  With the duo having just left Phoenix after performing at Body Language Festival on Oct. 25, this track adds a poppy chorus with references to Voodoo over a tech-house beat. If it works for a Halloween warehouse rave, it just might work for your guests, too.
• “Witchy” by Kaytranada & Childish Gambino
  This song somehow maintains a summer vibe while delivering a distinctly Halloween feeling with its chorus. “This ain’t a spell, you got me open, girl/You’re bein’ witchy and I love it, girl.”
• “Witching Hour” by Rezz
  An eerie, midtempo bass track that will simultaneously get you on your feet and put you in a trance. A perfect ender for the dance portion of your night.