With Halloween quickly approaching, the time is now to finalize those last-minute spooky preparations.  This year’s All Hallow’s Eve takes place on Thursday, October 31.  It is one of the few days of the year when everyone, from children to adults, can dress up as their favorite celebrity, cartoon character, or persona that they’ve created from scratch. 

Halloween has long been celebrated in various ways, including trick-or-treating, community events, and festive bar crawls in entertainment districts across the country.  Another common celebration is the classic Halloween party.  This can be accomplished in the comfort of your own home with plenty of decor, even incorporating themes of classic horror icons such as Freddy, Jason, Art the Clown, or even the Lipstick-Face Demon from Insidious.  Party games are also a must to keep guests entertained.  This includes the Mummy Wrap Race, which entails covering a teammate in toilet paper before the timer runs out, or the classic Apple Bobbing, where players grab apples from pails of water using only their teeth.  While all these festivities are taking place, the right tunes are needed to set the vibes and keep the energy flowing in the room.  Here is a perfect playlist for an evening of fun, laughs, and endless memories. 

Michael Jackon – “Thriller” (1982)

Arguably, it is one of Michael Jackon’s biggest records, and for good reason. With disco-styling, “Thriller,” and its accompanying cinematic visual is based on most horror movie tropes, making it the perfect Halloween-inspired tune.  Given its diamond-certified status, it’s evident many others feel this way. The spoken-word sequences even feature Vincent Price, a horror-acting legend. “Thriller” is a Halloween playlist must have.

Rockwell – “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1983)

Coincidentally released the year following Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” features MJ’s vocals on the chorus.  Jermaine Jackson lends his voice to the background for a melodic tale of paranoia about someone lurking in the shadows, a theme characteristic of many scary movies, most notably The Strangers. Adding this to your Halloween playlist will make for a solid, slightly non-traditional choice that will keep the party going.

Rick James – “Super Freak” (1981)

While not precisely spooky season-inspired, with many people choosing to dress up as Rick James each year, “Super Freak” is wildly appropriate for a costume party, and can easily be interpreted as a Halloween appropriate song, so long as you take a creative reading of the words ‘super freaky’.  It may even inspire an impromptu performance from the shindig’s designated Rick.

Rihanna – “Disturbia” (2008)

Rihanna’s “Disturbia” details a creepy affair that might scare you – making it a perfect addition to any Halloween playlist that wants to keep up the haunting vibes set up in “Somebody’s Watching Me”.  This hit single from Rih’s “Good Girl Gone Bad” is terrifyingly good, and the stunning visuals find the performer in a mysterious alternate world with several ghostly figures. 

Missy Elliott – “Get Ur Freak On” (2001)

Missy Elliott encourages listeners to party and quite literally “get your freak on” in this timeless party anthem that has stood the test of time. The music video finds Missy rapping unbothered as weird-looking figures dabble in the background behind her.  This is just one reason why this Grammy-Award-winning single deserves a spot on the playlist.

Beyonce – “Sweet Dreams” (2008)

With nightmares satisfyingly coming to life each and every Halloween, Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams” is a welcome treat for the gathering. She sings of a “guilty pleasure” that may become her “sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare,” though the singer has no interest in letting go of her love interest either way. 

Will Smith – “Men In Black” (1997)

Give your Halloween party playlist a touch of sci-fi fun with this next addition. The titular single from Will Smith’s sci-fi blockbuster hit, “Men In Black,” is an upbeat tune sure to get the karaoke line going.  Will sings a catchy tune highlighting his character from the film, which happens to be a standard Halloween dress-up inspiration. Even removed from the film of the same name, the song will still be a welcome addition to the tracklist.

The Weeknd “The Hills” (2015)

“The Hills” is a dark-themed melody about hooking up for a steamy tryst in the after-hours. The Weeknd is heavily influenced by the horror classic “The Hills Have Eyes,” referencing it toward the end of the single, not to mention screaming sound effects throughout, provide an excellent eerie touch to the Halloween.