30 Best Scary Songs For Your Halloween Party Playlist

Here in Charleston, it always takes a little more time for the Fall weather to start, but as I write this post for you this morning, the recent warm and sticky October mornings have been replaced by cool, Fall breezes. Now that the cooler autumn weather is finally starting in the Charleston area, the Fall wedding season is going to be a little more tolerable and pumpkin spice lattes seem more appropriate, and of course our thoughts turn to the spookiest day of the year, Halloween. If you are looking for a way to get in the mood for Halloween, the new Halloween movie (which was filmed in Charleston, SC) is being released just in time for this scary time of the year. Did you know that Charleston is one of the most haunted cities in the Southeast? Places like the Battery Carriage House, The Blind Tiger pub, The Old Charleston Jail, and The Dock Street Theater all have a scary story behind them. If you've ever been downtown Charleston on King Street or Market Street during Halloween, you'll see patrons walking up and above the streets all decked out in their costumes. You are probably going to be invited to one of the many great Halloween parties held in Charleston each year. Check out this playlist to get you in the mood for the scariest night of the year, put together by one of the best Charleston wedding DJs.

Of course we cannot go to a Halloween party without hearing "Monster Mash" or Michael Jackson's "Thriller", but as you scroll through these song selections, you might just see some lesser known scary and ghoulish songs perfect for your parties and private events.

Download This Playlist For Your Halloween Party From Spotify NOW
Are you in the process of planning your Halloween party and need to listen to some scary songs? You can find this playlist over on my Spotify profile. Head over there now to download this playlist, as well as find many more playlists if you are seeking wedding playlist inspiration. Just search for DJ Mike Bills

"Evil Eye" | Franz Ferdinand
Released just 3 days before Halloween 2013, you can find this song on Franz Ferdinand's 4th album, "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action". While the song did not chart in America, it went all the way to Number 7 on the Belgian charts.

"Somebody's Watching Me" | Rockwell
One of the most popular one hit wonders of the 80s was the son of the founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy. Rockwell would release "Somebody's Watching Me" in 1984 and it would reach Number 2 on the Billboard charts. It might be the only song to feature Michael Jackson on "guest" vocals.

"Ghostbusters" | Ray Parker Jr.
Unofficial Charleston native and co-owner of the Charleston Riverdogs Bill Murray starred in this 1984 blockbuster movie. This song by Ray Parker Jr. became one of the biggest songs of 1984 and hit Number 1 on the Billboard charts in August of that year.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Werewolves Of London" | Warren Zevon
It was unknown to me until I began to put this post together, but Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac played on this song. You can find this song on Zevon's 1978 album "Excitable Boy"

"Thriller" | Michael Jackson
It's hard to put into words just how big Michael Jackson became in the 80s after the release of "Thriller". The video debuted on MTV back in December of 1983 and would be the last single from the Thriller record  to chart. It's hard to think about a Halloween party without Vincent Price's famous laugh.

"Disturbia" | Rihanna
It's hard to believe it's been TEN years since the release of "Disturbia". The song was released at the beginning of the summer in 2008 and would hit Number 1 on the Billboard charts just before Labor Day.

Phot Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Bad Moon Rising" | CCR
You can find this CCR classic on their 1969 album "Green River". The album was released in the spring of 1969, and "Bad Moon Rising" would make it to Number 1 during that summer. 

"The Time Warp" | Rocky Horror Picture Show
Since it's release in the mid 1970s, the Rocky Horror Picture Show has been a big favorite to watch around Halloween. I would imagine there will be a theater or two in the area that will feature it. "The Time Warp" is one of my favorite songs from the movie.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Don't Fear The Reaper" | Blue Oyster Cult
This song was in heavy rotation during my days in classic rock radio and still gets a lot of spins at rock stations across America. Released in 1976, it would peak at #12 on the Billboard charts in 1976 and would become one of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

"Hungry Like The Wolf" | Duran Duran
Nothing like some new wave from the early 80s for your Halloween party in Charleston.  The song would reach Number 3 on the Billboard charts in March of 1983. The version you'll hear down below is a special remix of the song known as the "night version"

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Demons" | Imagine Dragons
"Demons" is featured on the Imagine Dragons debut record "Night Visions". The song was released in January 2013 and ended up spending 12 weeks in the Top 10.

"Monster Mash" | Bobby Boris Pickett
Reaching Number 1 right before Halloween in 1962, this song has become a permanent fixture at Halloween parties all around Charleston.

"Psycho Killer" | Talking Heads
"Psycho Killer" was the first big hit for the Talking Heads. The song was released at end of 1977, but only managed Number 92 on the Hot 100 charts.

 
Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Twilight Zone" | Golden Earring
During the first year of MTV, the video for this song was in very heavy rotation. The song remains in pretty heavy rotation on classic rock stations all over America today.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"The Killing Moon" | Echo & The Bunnymen
Unfortunately I missed Echo & The Bunnymen during their recent tour. "The Killing Moon" is a great alternative song from the 80s for your Halloween party. Released in early 1984, the song did not chart in America, but would reach the Top 10 in England. 

"Halloween" | Siouxsie & The Banshees
Halloween always sounds better with a little Goth rock. You can find this song on the 1981 album "Juju", which also features another great Halloween song called "spellbound"

"I Put A Spell On You" | Nina Simone
Originally released by Screamin Jay Hawkins in 1956, the song was Number 313 on the Hall Of Fame's list of 500 songs that shaped all of rock and roll.  Nina Simone covered the song in 1965, and then CCR would also cover it in 1968.

"Devil Inside" | INXS
As one of the best 80s DJs in the Charleston area, you probably could figure that this playlist will favor that wonderful decade of music. In February 1988, the song was released as a single and went all the way to Number 2 on the Billboard charts.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Poison" | Alice Cooper
If you watch the video down below, you might think it bears resemblance to the Hellraiser movies. "Poison" was released in the summer of 1989 and went all the way to Number 7 on the Hot 100 in America, and Number 2 in England.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Monster" | Kanye West / Jay-Z / Rick Ross / Nicki Minaj
"Monster" was released just 8 days before Halloween 2010 and features Jay-Z , Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj. It was the 3rd song to hit radio from his album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". The song would hit Number 18 on the Hot 100.

"Howlin For You" | The Black Keys
Released in January 2011, you can find this popular song by the Black Keys on their album "Brothers". The song would make it into the Top 5 on the Billboard alternative charts, peaking at Number 3.

"Bark At The Moon" | Ozzy Osborne
Released in the fall of 1983, "Bark At The Moon" was the 3rd solo album by Ozzy. Although the song did not chart in America, it would nearly crack the Top 20 in England.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Deadman's Party" | Oingo Boingo
More new wave for your Charleston Halloween Party. This is the title track to the album that was released just before Halloween in 1985. "Deadman's Party would be released as a 12 inch only in the spring of 1986.

"Creatures Of The Night" | KISS
The odds are pretty good that you'll see someone dressed up like one of the members of KISS at your Halloween party.  "Creatures Of The Night" was released in October 1982 and would be the last album before they would take their makeup off in 1983.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Black Magic Woman" | Fleetwood Mac
Lots of people think that Santana was the first band to write and record "Black Magic Woman". The song was originally written and recorded by Fleetwood Mac in the first iteration (featuring Peter Green) of the band in the late 1960s before Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham would join the band.

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Superstition" | Stevie Wonder
Originally written and released by Stevie Wonder in 1972, this is the perfect song to throw to get your party loosened up for a long night of dancing.

"Get Ur Freak On" | Missy Elliott
Released in the spring of 2001, "Get Ur Freak On" would climb into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Number 7.

"Bat Out Of Hell" | Meatloaf
This title track to Meatloaf's 1977 album was actually released 2 years after the album was released. The song would once be re-released in late 1993 after the success of Meatloaf's song "I'd Do Anything For Love"

"Bat Dance" | Prince
Prince produced and recorded the soundtrack for the first Batman movie starring Michael Keaton back in the summer of 1989. This song would hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and become his 4th Number 1 song. Do yourself a favor and check out the entire soundtrack. It sounds incredible!

Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

"Halloween Theme" | John Carpenter
No Halloween party would be complete without the music from one of the scariest "Halloween" movies of all time. Everyone in Charleston who is into scary movies is excited about a new Halloween movie filmed in Charleston that's being released to theaters shortly before Halloween.Photo Credit: Mike Bills Entertainment

Want To Hire Mike As Your Private Halloween Party Or Charleston Wedding DJ?
Hopefully I didn't scare you too bad with this post :) It's really not too bad. This was fun post in the middle of another busy Charleston wedding season. I actually do have some Halloween parties coming up here that should be really fun. Thank you again for making it to the end of another one of my blog posts. It means a lot to me! I work hard on this blog to show my present and prospective clients my musical and DJ world. You know we are just about ready to kick off another engagement season here in Charleston. Wanna get a headstart and get your prime date saved for your awesome Charleston wedding? Wanna hire one of the best Charleston wedding DJs? Click HERE to tell me a little more about your big day, and we'll schedule a time to talk soon.