62 Spooky Halloween Songs to Add to Your Haunted Dinner Party Playlist

Fall is setting in and reminding us once again of its reputation as the best season of the year. As the leaves change color and the days get shorter, the slow approach of Halloween always carries a unique combination of excitement and anxiety. Between getting snacks prepared for a party and finding a costume that can top last year’s, curating the perfect Halloween playlist for the night can seem a bit overwhelming. But just like the spooky decorations and the bucket full of candy, the right music to set the mood is detrimental to the success of the scariest night of the year.

When it comes to a good playlist, variety is always the name of the game. No matter what the vibe of the party is, you’re going to want to have a little something for everyone. The best part about a Halloween playlist is that almost every genre can be represented and you can take the party on a real roller-coaster ride of emotions. Plus, if you’re good at it, you can give a new meaning to the musical term “deep cuts,” turning your playlist into a Halloween masterpiece, complete with people slicing and dicing up the dance floor. 

In honor of All Hallows Eve, we’ve put together our own eerie roller-coaster ride chock-full of classic covers, movie scores, nostalgic hits, and metal love affairs all for your enjoyment. Take inspiration and add to your personal playlists, as these hits will certainly haunt your ear drums for years to come. 

An old demo tape dusted off and revived specially for Halloween Ends (which hit theaters this month), Boy Harsher aims to deliver the perfect energy for a bittersweet love affair.

A spooky take on an Alice Cooper classic, this is one song you won’t want to miss adding to your list.

A ghoulish tale about a dead guy who misses his girlfriend, so he haunts her house in order to be closer to her — you’ll want to keep this one on repeat at this year’s bash.

The quintessential thrash metal song deserving of every Halloween playlist.

Inspired by Ernest Hemmingway’s novel about the process of death in modern warfare, this track will have all the metal heads head-banging on the dance floor.

This Chicago-based punk band hits more of a poppy chord with lyrics that are dark, deep, and open to interpretation.

Delivering both spooky lyrics and a deadly vibe, this Kings of Leon track is one that every Halloween playlists needs.

The ’80s have long been on a comeback, and Cold Cave brings a goth twist that is hard not to dance to.

Drab Majesty’s ’80s-influenced soundscapes and commanding vocals are fitting for any spooky playlist.

When all your guests want to do is “dance against the darkness and shake off the bad stuff,” this is the song you need to play.

Rina Sawayama begging to be your Frankenstein over an amazing club/rave style track is the ghoulish track you didn’t know you needed to hear.

If the season had an anthem, it would definitely be “Fall Children.” 

In this classic DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince track, the legendary pair have a run-in with Freddie Krueger. The result? A mix that almost became A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

One of the most covered Misfits songs ever, “Halloween” is a must-play every year.

Rob Zombie’s mesh of industrial metal and dance themes comes together beautifully with this loud and loaded track.

The laid-back guitar matched with Sky’s soothing voice add a beautiful layer to the dark subject of the lyrics.

One of the Ramones’ biggest hits,”Pet Sematary” draws some eerie similarities to the work of Steven King.

This post-punk/industrial track brings a layer of chaos and erratic energy to the dance floor, with sounds that catch you off-guard — much like your favorite horror films.

If zombie disco was a genre, Grimes would fit in perfectly. 

From the John Carpenter Anthology, “The Fog” has no lyrics, but is as eerie and creepy as a score can get.

Billy Corgan’s gothic-style lyrics mixed with electronica and alternative rock makes this song a nice melodic break to any Halloween playlist.

Layne Stanley’s commanding voice will make you want to listen to this song over and over again.

“Day ‘N’ Nite” is a timeless track that crosses multiple genres and it’s one that you just can’t help turn the volume up to.

Not every song on the list has to fit the theme perfectly, but something about the piano on this beat will make you feel like like Michael Myers is watching from around the corner.

Ava Max channels her inner Lady Gaga with this song about exposing all sides of yourself and reclaiming the word “psycho.”

Directly influenced by Hall & Oates’ own song titled “Maneater,” Nelly Furtado’s spooky lyrics aided in this track topping the UK Billboard Dance Club Song Chart. And the remix — which features Lil Wayne — gives off an even more chilling vibe.

Frank Ocean’s lyricism and imagery puts him in a league of his own. And with “Pyramids,” he nails the eerie vibe with two stories about a woman named Cleopatra in one song.

I mean, it’s all in the title. “Get Ur Freak On” has been many a Friday night anthem over the years and now is your chance to add it to your Halloween mix.

Rooted in John Davis’ feelings towards the music industry and American politics, this track features spooky guitar riffs and melodically dark lyrics.

With heavy and sharp guitar riffs, a commanding guitar solo, and lyrics about loneliness and apathy, “Zero” will strike an especially uncertain chord in anyone that listens.

Not wanting to be put in the “Nu Metal” box, Evanescence challenged the boundaries of commercial music at the time of the release of “Bring Me To Life.” And now, almost 20 years later, this is one song that can still fit on your Halloween party playlist.

With spooky synths in the background and an uptempo beat, “Super Freak” is the perfect song to get everyone out on the dance floor.

Originally performed and written by Gloria Jones in 1964, Soft Cell’s rendition is an excellent addition to any Halloween playlist with its eerie synthesizers and ghostly lyrics.

Grimes’ use of creepy dark synths matched with her bubbly vocals makes this track an uneasy, yet fantastic listen.

Every Halloween playlist features “Monster Mash,” but how often do you hear this rendition from Misfits?

The ultimate creepy song, Rockwell really captured what it feels like when you think you’re being followed.

I think we can all agree that there is always room for more of Billie’s “bad guy” persona.

The name says it all. Bow Wow Wow really knew how to capture the essence of being a kid and even though the song doesn’t sound very spooky, it’s really just all about the candy. Which is what we all want during Halloween.

Thought by the writers to be too weird to be a hit, “Toxic” beat all the odds and solidified itself as a bonafide hit. While the costumes from the music video seem to have made it to every Halloween costume store on the planet, the beat is what keeps it landing on every playlist your have.

Showing off her secret weapon — the power of her voice — Stevie Nicks easily hosts one of most hypnotic voices in the industry.

Thanks to a cosign from the latest season of Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” has been revived and is a must-have for your Halloween party playlists.

No matter what genre you are into, this song will make you want to dance the night away.

A classic tune from an even more classic film, “Time Warp” should be played more than once at every ghoulish get-together.

Released in the ’80s, this song that will give anyone over the age of 30 heavy nostalgia feels and works perfectly for any Halloween dance party.

If you see a werewolf with a takeout menu in his hand walking through the streets of Soho in the rain, maybe walk the other direction.

Billie’s dark and monotone lyrics add a layer a creepiness to this track that is downright scary.

Featuring two vocal styles by Annie Lennox, “Sweet Dreams” has multiple layers of spooky synths and pulsating beats,

A sinister track about Big Brother, surveillance, and control, this song will remind your guests that someone’s always watching.

An appropriate anthem for the outcasts and strange characters you come to meet in life — or at this year’s haunting Halloween party.

Covering the King of Pop’s hit anthem, Alien Ant Farm brings an alternative twist to an all-time classic.

Referred to as Muse’s version of Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me,” this is one that will add that chilling vibe to your party.

What’s a Halloween playlist without Sabbath? 

Alrhough originally written as a jab at pop journalists and critics, this song will make the perfect addition to any haunted Halloween playlist.

Written out of anger towards Mushroom Records, Heart’s powerful lyrics and strong guitar riffs make this song a strong contender for a hero’s comeback moment.

Based on the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, there’s nothing more fitting than this for your list.

With lyrics being classically misinterpreted as being satanic, “Runnin’ with the Devil” is actually just a song about being young, touring in a band, and the lessons you learn along the way.

Not actually about Halloween at all, Ministry was commenting on how people would regularly ask you if you were “dressed for Halloween,” no matter what time of year it was back in the ’80s.

Mixing both the poppy and dark sides of The Cure, “Lullaby” encapsulates a spooky vibe down to a T.

A weird and visceral performance, “I Put a Spell on You” has gone on to be covered by over 100 different artists over the years. And is a great fit for your horrifying Halloween get-down.

A personal favorite of many, “Psycho Killer” came about when David Byrne decided to write something in the style of Alice Cooper, taking us inside the head of a deranged murderer.

Featuring a music video with all kinds of costume ideas, “Babushka Boi” features a bouncy beat that will breathe all types of life into your playlist.

Although this song is far from scary, Kodak Black is yet another artist who will add some life to any good playlist, and the melodic beat fits the party vibe entirely too well.

Listen to the entire playlist on Spotify.