Kyle Loomis is a journalism senior and Mustang Daily music columnist.
It’s Halloween, and to college students, this holiday translates to one of the biggest party weekends of the year.
If you decide to host a Halloween celebration, there are many spooky songs that you will have to choose from that make your final playlist. To make your life easier (and mine more fun, if I end up at your house), I’ve put together a list of songs with a creepy, foreboding effect which will take your All Hallow’s Eve festivities to the next level.
For the purposes of this list (and considering the times we live and party in), I haven’t listed all the old favorites like “Monster Mash,” but rather focused on hip-hop and electronic dance music (EDM) tracks that will elicit some favorable results from your fellow partiers.
I’m aware these songs may have reached you after your Halloween party weekend, but don’t forget there is still Wednesday night (be careful to avoid noise violations with increased fines) as well as this upcoming weekend (don’t forget to celebrate Day of the Dead for some extra credit), so don’t pack away your costumes yet!
1. Michael Jackson — “Thriller” (1982)
Let’s get the most obvious out of the way first. If you don’t play this MJ tune at some point on Halloween, you’re doing something wrong. “Thriller” is the King of Pop’s most iconic song, and the dance moves made famous from the horrifying music video are bound to be mimicked at some point during the night.
2. deadmau5 — “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” (2008)
Arguably deadmau5’s greatest song, “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” deserves to be on this list just from the track title alone. The track’s hook, a haunting organ melody, will set the tone of your Halloween party in a big way. Also check out the version that features vocals from Pendulum frontman Rob Swire.
3. Snoop Dogg — “Murder Was The Case” (1994)
The title track to Snoop Doggy Dogg’s and Dr. Dre’s short film is a great addition to your Halloween playlist. The film is about Snoop’s fictional death and subsequent resurrection after a deal with the devil, and the creep-factor of the track’s instrumentals — which include church bells — live up to its lyrical content.
4. Duck Sauce — “Big Bad Wolf” (2011)
If you’ve been following the electronic scene over the past year, then no doubt you’ve heard this song or a remix of it. Despite being overplayed, it felt like a crime to exclude it from this list. My favorite is the original, but Dada Life’s remix deserves an honorable mention.
5. Boys Noize — “Reality” (2012)
A truly spooky techno track from German DJ/producer Alex Ridha, known on stage as Boys Noize. Ridha’s new album, “Out of the Black,” was released this month, and I’ve had the whole album, and this track, on repeat for the past week.
6. Figure — “This Is Halloween” (2011)
This dubstep DJ/producer from Indiana has a bunch of Halloween-themed tracks available for free download on his SoundCloud page, and my favorite is “This Is Halloween,” a drum-step remix of the opening theme of Tim Burton’s film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
7. Immortal Technique — “Dance With The Devil” (2001)
The piano hook on this track by Peruvian rapper Immortal Technique creates eerie feelings, and the song’s lyrics illustrate nightmarish scenes of violence and evil. The slow tempo will calm the party down, but the spook-factor of “Dance With The Devil” puts it on this list.
8. Zombie Nation — “Kernkraft 400” (2000)
Who doesn’t love this tune? You may know this EDM staple best from a professional sports event, but make no mistake — “Kernkraft 400” will pump up your Halloween party with some high-energy dancing.
9. Geto Boys — “My Mind Playing Tricks On Me” (1991)
Don’t let the chill beat of this track throw you off — the lyrics relate the ominous story of group member Scarface seeing strange images in a dark, candle-lit room, which turns out to be his own reflection: “It’s f*cked up when your mind’s playing tricks on you.”
10. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony — “Hell Sent” (1993)
This hip-hop track from Bone Thugs is a little slower-paced than the others on this playlist, but that doesn’t make it any less creepy — it’s downright sinister, with some eerie lyrics that make it entirely appropriate for any Halloween-themed affair.