Photo courtesy of Amey DiSisto.
‘Tis the season for scarecrows, jack-o’-lanterns, and ghouls; it is also the season for a bangin’ Halloween playlist. So which Halloween song is the best?
By Amey DiSisto
TAMPA, Fla. — The air is getting crispier — well, as much as it can in southern Florida — and the spooky season is creeping among us. Certain aspects just scream fall: carving jack-o’-lanterns, planning out which costumes you’re going to wear, and scouring Marshalls to find the perfect pumpkin-scented candle to fill your home.
Yet the one crucial thing needed for the season may not come to mind as easily as a pumpkin or some candy corn. The perfect Halloween playlist can really add to it like anything else — your favorite genre of Halloween music says a lot about you. Are you a “Monster Mash” girl? Would you rather blast some Rob Zombie? Are you looking for something to carve a pumpkin to or something you can carve up the dancefloor to?
Even though there is something for everyone, some treats stand out more than others. “Thriller” could remind you of old Party City commercials (#rip), or “Psycho Killer” could remind you of, well, the movie Psycho.
In order to find the Most-Iconic-Scariest-Spookiest-Halloween-Song-Ever, we set up a bracket containing the top songs found on multiple Halloween playlists. With 18 songs at the starting line, our followers fought to have their favorite creepy song be crowned the winner. This tournament operated as a single elimination bracket, meaning all songs get one chance to be chosen before they are booted from the tournament.
There were some big names in the mix: “Paint It Black,” “Superstition,” and “Creep” found themselves moving along in the first round with ease. Meanwhile, deep cuts like “Dragula” and “Goo Goo Muck” were quickly moved to the music graveyard.
Voters slowly got more heated, comments were flying around, and fans were finding their to-die-for teams. The spookier crowd has Tim Burton on their side with the oh-so-haunting “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This pick got some pushback as it was highly debated whether or not the film should be considered for Halloween or Christmas. With a marginal win for Halloween, Jack Skellington was allowed to keep his casket on our list for one more round.
The more edgy voters rallied behind their teams — Duran Duran, Blue Öyster Cult, The Cranberries, Santana, The Rolling Stones, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Not all of these songs were made specifically for Halloween, but through the years, their creepy chords have made them iconic. Some made it farther than others, but when these groups went head-to-head, they had much closer numbers.
One of the songs that stood out from the others was “Calling All the Monsters.” The song isn’t a ’50s movie bop, a theme from a cult-classic film, or a metal tune that mimics the feeling of terror.
Disney fans were pushing forward for “Calling All the Monsters,” nursing the nostalgia from their peak 00s-kid Halloweens. China Anne McClain brought the spirit of Spooktober all the way to the top two.
The number one seed that climbed its way up the ranks with ease was “Thriller” by the one and only Michael Jackson. The classic beat, the iconic choreography, and the terror that shakes through you when the monologue from Vincent Price booms at the end of the song.
These final two songs, “Calling All the Monsters” and “Thriller,” have their own demographics fighting for the number one spot.
The Disney kids rallied behind China Anne McClain, while the more traditional Halloween-heads leaned towards Michael Jackson. With 61% of the votes, the iconic theme of Halloween was chosen. With a passionate group hyping it up and countless Halloweens having it as background music, it’s no surprise that this was the choice for so many.
The winner is the type of song that can scare you out of bed or push you to the dance floor. Drumroll please… “Thriller” wins!
Graphic courtesy of Amey DiSisto.