Every October, a certain mood hits streaming platforms. Decade-old songs top the charts, some novelty tracks go viral, and themed, specific melodies are heard echoing throughout households and campuses alike. While Halloween has no new release calendar, its indirect soundtrack reintroduces itself every year.
One thing always stays the same, though: the classics are a mainstay. In 1962, Bobby “Boris” Pickett released “Monster Mash,” hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October of that same year. The song was a goofy and unexpected viral hit, with unusual aspects such as vocal fluctuations and unanticipated sound effects. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” released in 1982, also gave the holiday possibly its most enduring anthem, with the best-selling music album in history becoming a foundation for Jackson’s worldwide stardom.
Film is also of interest to some of Halloween’s biggest labels. John Carpenter’s theme for Halloween (1978), a minimalist piano arrangement, helped define the sound of dread and terror. The Nightmare Before Christmas by Danny Elfman gave the season a theme song with “This is Halloween,” a song that can be heard during a children’s singalong, or, on the contrary, at a haunted house. These records endure the test of time due to their unique traits. They are able to be relistened to because they become nostalgic or fit a mood that is hard to find in modern-day pop singles and albums.
The genre is still developing, though. Recent years demonstrate how quickly a television show, movie, or viral trend can inject itself into everyone’s playlists. When Stranger Things featured Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” in 2022, the 1985 song that previously flew under the radar became a mainstay in playlists worldwide. In that same year, the show Wednesday, starring actor Jenna Ortega, reintroduced “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps, propelling it back onto the charts over 40 years later. TikTok is also a hub for playlist recommendations, trends, and dances, as viewers acquaint themselves with the spooky season.
Though Halloween is a season of fright and costume, not everyone wants to be scared. Alongside traditional horror soundtracks, there are countless playlists and genres that fit the fall atmosphere: moody indie, eerie folk, gothic pop, and mystical songwriting become the primary focus and attention of audiences. The front page of Spotify and other streaming services reflects the differing moods. Whether you are listening to “Spooky Season” or “Cozy Halloween” mixes, people celebrate differently. Halloween in many ways has become less of a singular night, and more of a month-long mood. Listeners now want playlists for any activity: homework sessions, long drives, late-night cookie baking, parties, and much more. What better time than fall to explore these soundtracks?
The reason why Halloween playlists are able to thrive is the same reason that all other seasonal and holiday genres thrive. They reward nostalgia, invite togetherness, and give permission to embrace community. A great Halloween playlist is never really about the music, fear, or even the holiday itself. It is about a shared ritual that songs invoke, causing, within seconds, a sense that the season has begun.
~ William Maasbach `29
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