Just in time for Halloween, here is a list of songs that are perfect for any grown folks party. This list has a little bit of everything - rap, instrumentals, R&B, rock and pop so there should be something for all of your guests to enjoy.

Since Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the alpha male of Halloween music I decided to leave it off the list. Wow, I think that is the first time “Michael Jackson and “alpha male” have been used in the same sentence.

1. Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin: This popular ballad is pretty much the story of a murder. Nothing says Halloween like sharp knives and bloody corpses.

2. Theme from Jaws - John Williams: There are a couple of songs from movies that could have made this list but I went with the this one because it scares the hell out of people. Even if you have never seen Jaws, (and shame on you if you haven’t) when you hear this song, you know something bad is about to go down.

3. Superstition - Stevie Wonder: Every party needs something up-tempo to get people moving and this song fits the bill.



4. Nightmare On My Street - Will Smith: Before Will Smith a.k.a The Fresh Prince was making blockbuster movies, he was making hit raps albums. This song describes his encounter with horror film legend Freddy Krueger.



5. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.: Movie soundtracks are usually hit or miss. For me this one was a hit. It was a great song for a great movie.



6. Spooky - Atlanta Rhythm Section: The title alone is enough to put this song on the list. It’s a song about a woman that is messing with a man’s mind and that is pretty damn scary if you ask me.



7. Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo: No, this is not the subtitle for the next Weekend at Bernie’s movie.



8. Haunted House of Rock – Whodini: This song make want to party with Dracula, The Invisible Man and Frankenstein. They might be horrible monsters but they can’t be as bad as drunken frat boys



9. The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band: The Devil and a fiddle. Sounds scary to me.



10. Somebody's Watching Me – Rockwell: A song for stalkers everywhere. If you can make you victims feel like this, you are doing a good job. Rockwell gets bonus points for having Michael Jackson singing background. To some of you out there this might not be a big deal but in the 80's the idea of Michael Jackson singing backup for anybody was unthinkable. It would be like Beyonce singing the hook on a Ashlee Simpson song.



Honorable Mention:
• Freaks come out at Night – Whodini (This song is about freaks that you can find year-round, so you can play it anytime)
• Damien – DMX (When he is not high, DMX is one of the best rappers out there. Any guy that can rap with Satan and pull it off is OK in my book)
• People are Strange - The Doors (Truer words have never been spoken, especially on Halloween night)
• Mind Playing Tricks on Me - Geto Boys (A rap classic)
• My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (Quite possibly the scariest song on here. Every time it comes on, I run away screaming. Trust me, I would rather go head-to-head with Jason Voorhees than listen to it.)

Comments

• 
  tab benderOct. 29, 2008 10:34 p.m.

  From the movies, Jaws is good but nothing beats John Carpenter's Halloween theme for pure creep factor. Except maybe that "Chi-chi-chi-ha-ha-ha" sound from Friday the 13th.
• 
  Raging ThespianOct. 30, 2008 12:41 p.m.

  I agree on Carpenter's Halloween Theme. I'm glad to see Devil Went Down to Georgia in there -- my karaoke favorite!

  I would also submit: Don't Fear the Reaper, by Blue Oyster Cult -- it's about The Reaper; When the Man Comes Around, by Johnny Cash -- it's about the final judgement and was used well at the beginning of the Dawn of the Dead remake; HELL, by the Squirrel Nut Zippers -- tales of the afterlife with a catchy tune; House of 1000 Corpses, by Rob Zombie -- the title pretty much explains it, though the song was better than the movie.
• channing100proofOct. 30, 2008 5:09 p.m.

  Thanks, "Don't Fear the Reaper" and "Hell" just missed the cut. It was tough but I wanted to keep the list short. Now I need to start looking for Thanksgiving songs :)
• 
  Raging ThespianOct. 31, 2008 2:42 p.m.

  Oh, how could I have forgotten?!?!!! -- MC Hammer's Addams Family Groove!! http://www.youtube.com/v/_x4TS5LQnO4&hl=en&fs=1

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