Spooky Season: five tracks for any Halloween party playlist

Every holiday has its theme music. Even Ground Hog Day—in its own weird way—has a banger. And that’s a B-list minor holiday, for goodness sake. If a weird dog-looking rodent thing can get a hit song and its own movie, then, here at Triumph After Hours, we believe October 31st deserves better than rehashed renditions of Ghost Busters and poorly baked pumpkin cookies.

But, we also get it, there are already a few staple Halloween hits, but literally just a few—maybe two—and we can all only listen to Monster Mash so many times. Granted, it’s a lot of times, but we still have our limits.

Do everyone a favor this year and, if you’re hosting your own graveyard smash, try and mix things up. Need some suggestions? We’re so glad you asked. While certainly not exhaustive, here’s our top picks for your next spooky shindig:

1) Spooky Scary Skeletons (Dance Remix)

Who said there’s no such thing as the perfect song?

What started as a joke has transcended to the status of legend, and no Halloween party is complete without letting this anthem rip at least once (if not many times).

Will you ever be able to match the impeccable energy of the music video? Probably not. Will every single person at your party appreciate you for the attempt? Absolutely.

2) Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Stranger Things Version

 ChRiSsY wAke Upppp. I dOn’T lIkE tHis.

It’s not often that a show takes a song with as much clout as Separate Ways and doesn’t immediately butcher it with a remix, much less elevate it into an—arguably—better track. But, Stranger Things is already known for defying the creative odds at this point, and, just like with their ode to Kate Bush, they’ve hit another home run here.

If your guests have seen the show, then this song will instantly transport theme back to 40 seconds of cinematic mastery. If they haven’t seen the show, consider investing in cooler friends, but they’ll also be able to enjoy an electric standalone track. A spooky synth and Steven Perry’s immaculate vocals—no Halloween party can ask for much more than that.

3) The Danny Gonzales Spooky Boy Collection

The gift that keeps on giving.

While holding a single spot on our list, this Halloween anthology is actually made up of four cult classics: Spooky Boy, Spooky Guy, Spooky Man, and Spooky Ho (they grow up so fast). All four of these tracks somehow toe the line between being complete memes and somehow sounding way better than they should.

This collection—while quite spooky—is also NSFW. Like very not safe for work. So if you’re your celebrating Halloween in a professional environment or with some kiddos running about, maybe stick to the other four tracks on this list. But if you’re looking for something absolutely absurd to get the spooky people spooking, Danny’s got just the thing for you.  

4) Halloween – Noah Kahn

Nothings scarier than a broken heart.

Spooky comes in many forms, and, while this song may be filled with a different kind of spook, no one captures the goosebumps of heart break better than Noah Kahn. The track might not be a go-to on the dance floor, but it’ll make the hair stand up on anyone’s arms.

When things die down later in the night and friends gather ‘round the fire, surrounded by jack o’ lanterns and empty pizza boxes, crank this one up for maximum effect (and maybe a few tears).

5) Zombie - The Cranberries

With over a billion streams, it’s not like this song is a hidden gem by any means. But public gems are still gems, and this track is hard to beat. Is the title a little on the nose? Sure. But when you’ve got five friends dressed as the walking dead all looking to rage, there’s no better anthem.

Does the music video weird us out a little? Yes. Are we still going to crank the track on the 31st? Definitely. So go ahead, embrace the Irish accent, and give the people what they want.

A little bonus spook for your buck

Not all deserving tracks were able to crack the top five, and, if you’re still strapped for playlist suggestions, here’s a few bonus picks to round things out:

Bonus: E.T. - Katy Perry

Are aliens spooky? We’re not quite sure—but we’ll allow it. And if they aren’t—the poorly aged CGI in the music video sure is.

Bonus: Thriller - Michael Jackson

Basic? Yes. Still a banger? Yes. Even in 2022, no one can touch the King.

Bonus: Monster - Becky G.

A little on the nose, but hey, the song still hits. And any callback to Hotel Translyvania gets two thumbs up from us.

Godspeed on your spooky quest

Be the change you want to see. We’re counting on you all to retire the old tired tracks and keep the spook alive this year. Go make us proud.

As always, feel free to Ask Triumph with any additional questions and consider Supporting the Team.