The Editorialist: 5 Halloween Songs To Spook And Surprise You
posted in: Features • Pop • Rock
There’s a lot to love about Halloween. Whether you’re five years old and gathering candy from the neighbors, or 25 years old and hanging out at a basement show… eating candy from the punch table… that holiday spirit never quite fades. So for the young at heart, we’ve put together a list of five must-hear Halloween anthems. Don’t expect to find your run of the mill tracks here. OurStage is all about bringing those lesser-known tracks to the front of your iPod, and that’s exactly what we plan to do right… now.
Type O Negative: Black No. 1
Type O Negative may not be for everyone, but whenever the leaves begin to turn and that autumn chill creeps into the air, this is the first song that pops into my head, and one of the only ones I want to blast on repeat while driving around at night. Between its sharp imagery and foreboding vocals, there’s just no song, or band, to really spice up the Halloween season like Type O Negative.
The Shaggs: It’s Halloween
The Shaggs. Better than the Beatles – even today. –Frank Zappa
When brilliant minds speak, you listen. Such is the case with Zappa’s complete adoration of The Shaggs. They may have been young. They may have been naí¯ve. And they may have had absolutely no musical talent whatsoever, but when I switch on The Shaggs, I can’t help but feel instant affection. Without the slightest idea what they were doing, they managed to wriggle their way from the depths of Fremont, NH into listeners’ hearts everywhere.
When I hear lines like The ghosts will spook, the spooks will scare. Why, even Dracula will be there! in their timid little voices, I’m instantly brought back to a childhood when bed sheet ghosts and candy corn were still enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11_nsW151tg
Frank Zappa: Goblin Girl
Who better to come after The Shaggs on this list than Frank Zappa? Within his enormous collection, we easily find the perfect goblin based track for Halloween enthusiasts everywhere. Straightforward and perfectly timed for the Halloween season, Zappa does what he does best, incorporating mostly pointless lyrics with brilliant instrumentals, to create another incredible Zappa original, with a touch of Halloween spirit.
David Bowie: Magic Dance
From one goblin track to another, we just couldn’t go without mentioning this one. It may be kitschy and it may be from an ’80s film, but nothing strikes up the Halloween mood quite like Jim Henson‘s Labyrinth, which features David Bowie’s Magic Dance.
Between the ghoulish goblins, myriad of spells and potions, and, let’s be honest, David Bowie himself, this film and this track are stand out additions to any must-have Halloween play list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcCb9MLShss
CKY: “Escape From Hellview”
For some (namely Bam Margera fanatics and Jackass viewers), this one may be a familiar tune. But for all too many, CKY’s Escape From Hellview has yet to see the light of day on an iTunes shuffle. Between the aggressive instrumentals and ominous lyrics, there’s no doubt this track has the ability to send a few shivers down your spine. Do yourself a favor and check out our final Halloween song below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5gvlJRj0nc
Nightmare Before Christmas: This Is Halloween
Because, how could we resist?