If you’ve ever read my articles before, then you know that I pretty much only write about two things: music and Halloween. Therefore it’s only fitting that I write an article this October combining those two favorite things of mine into one, which leads us to my definitive ranking of the best halloween tunes:
5. “Purple People Eater”
I feel like this song does not get the love and recognition it deserves. The underdog of the season, “Purple People Eater” is goofy and fun, with catchy alliteration and call-and-response chants throughout the tune. I don’t think I’ve ever found a children’s Halloween CD that did not include this song, and for good reason.
4. “Calling All the Monsters”
If you’ve never heard this gem before then boy, have you been missing out! This tune is a catchy Disney original from the show A.N.T. Farm. Even though I was never a huge fan of the show itself, the Halloween episode was my favorite episode by far, and that was mainly due to its inclusion of this song. Cheesy, cutesy, and wonderfully spooky, this song is a great way to indulge in your inner child and get into the Halloween spirit.
3. “Witch Doctor”
Would any Halloween playlist be complete without the classic “Witch Doctor?” So many versions of this song exist, but I’ve yet to hear one that was particularly bad. That being said, I also don’t have a favorite rendition of this song, so feel free to jam out to any version that your heart desires. Fair warning: the “ooh”s and “ee”s will most definitely be stuck in your head for days after you give it a listen.
2. “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”
Technically, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” is not a Halloween song, but it does talk about making a deal with Satan and was featured on one of the Halloween CD’s I listened to as a child. This song has mostly spoken lyrics (as opposed to sung lyrics) and is the most musically advanced of any on my list. The fiddle playing is absolutely incredible and also an integral part of the storytelling throughout the song. Every time I listen to it, the musicianship blows me away. If you’re looking for a Halloween feel while also wanting to appreciate some really amazing musical talent, this song is the one for you.
1. “Love Potion No. 9”
There is something about this song that just makes me smile and want to listen to it on repeat for hours. Although it was originally written and performed in 1959, it has stood the test of time to top my list of Halloween tunes. It’s not specifically for the spooky season, but a remake of this song was also on my favorite Halloween CD as a child, although my favorite version is the original by The Clovers. It has that classic old-school vibe that makes you want to dance, and the only critique I have of the song is that it is unfortunately only two minutes long!
If you’ve never heard these songs before, I hope I was able to get you in the Halloween spirit, and if you have heard them before, then I hope this list reminded you of some old favorites. Happy haunting!
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