Songs For Your Halloweekend Playlist 

Maddie Bogan 

Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist 

In case you haven’t heard, Halloween is on a Saturday this year, which makes it all the more special. Around this time, I like to listen to songs that aren’t explicitly about Halloween but still encapsulate the feeling of the holiday. If you’re like me and you’re looking for song recommendations, then you’ve come to just the right place. Here are five songs you can play to get you in the spooky mood.

Canadian music journalist Nardwuar describes “CANNIBALISM!” by Slayyyter as a combination of Britney Spears and The Cramps. When you give this song a listen, you will most definitely agree with him. This track is featured on her latest album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, and it perfectly showcases the campy energy she brings to her discography. I would also say that the album is perfect for playing all Halloweekend, because while it is dance-pop, there are occasionally lyrics that could be found in a gothic novel.

“In My House” by 80s girl group Mary Jane Girls is another solid song to check out. When I first heard it a few years ago, it instantly reminded me of Halloween. It made me wish that I could experience Halloween during that decade. This song is perfect for anyone who enjoys Michael Jackson’s music, as it has a similar sound to tracks like “Off the Wall” and “Bad”. Every time I make my yearly fall playlist, “In My House” is one of the first songs I add. 

Continuing with the 80s theme, another song I recommend is “When The Lights Go Out” by Naked Eyes. The synth-pop genre has always reminded me of Halloween, but this song screams it. It sounds like it’s straight out of a slasher movie. This song comes from the album Burning Bridges, which consists of other songs that have this eerie but infectious energy. 

“Stampede” by Matt Martians is perfect for fans of The Internet, the band Martians is in with other artists like Syd and Steve Lacy. Matt Martians has always been highly skilled at producing music that gets stuck in people’s heads, and “Stampede” does just that. The beat switch that happens halfway through the song gives it a more ominous feel that suits Halloween. 

Machine Girl is, in my opinion, one of the best music groups to put on for Halloween. Their library is fast-paced, loud, and cryptic. “Come On Baby, Scrape My Data” is one of the best examples of this. I know that not everyone likes this kind of genre, but I used to feel that way until I heard this song. Machine Girl is better known for their track entitled “Ghost”, but “Come On Baby, Scrape My Data” is probably my favorite of theirs.

October 31st is without a doubt one of my favorite days of the year, and I know sometimes the usual tracks can get a little overplayed, which is why I made these recommendations. Not every Halloween song has to be explicitly about the holiday. If you get the spirit of Halloween when you listen to something, then consider it a song about Halloween.