Oct 19

25 Spine-Tingling 80s Halloween Songs to Haunt Your Playlist

Bauhaus : Bela Lugosi’s Dead (sticker) | The imagery that Bauhaus used for this album cover/sticker was taken from the movie ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’, a German horror silent film. | album imagery

Get ready to time-warp back to the 1980s with this ghoulishly good selection of Halloween-themed tracks! We’ve conjured up a mix of new wave nightmares, pop phantoms, rock n’ roll revenants, silver screen screamers, and one-hit wonder witchcraft. So grab your Walkman, tease that hair, and let’s dive into this totally rad and spooky soundtrack!

New Wave Nightmares

  1. “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” – Bauhaus (1982) A haunting gothic anthem that sets the mood with its eerie atmosphere and vampire references.
  2. “Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo (1985) Danny Elfman’s quirky band invites you to the ultimate undead shindig.
  3. “Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads (1977) While technically from the late 70s, this new wave classic continued to haunt the 80s with its unsettling lyrics.
  4. “Lullaby” – The Cure (1989) Robert Smith weaves a creepy tale of a “spider man” in this atmospheric nightmare.
  5. “People Are Strange” – Echo & the Bunnymen (1987) A haunting cover of The Doors’ classic, featured in the vampire film “The Lost Boys”.

Pop Hits from the Crypt

Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
  1. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson (1982) The King of Pop’s magnum opus, complete with Vincent Price and dancing zombies.
  2. “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr. (1984) Who you gonna call? This catchy theme song from the beloved supernatural comedy.
  3. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” – Eurythmics (1983) Annie Lennox’s haunting vocals and the song’s eerie synths make for a perfectly creepy pop hit.
  4. “Somebody’s Watching Me” – Rockwell (1984) Paranoia meets pop in this catchy tune featuring Michael Jackson on backing vocals.
  5. “I Put a Spell on You” – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1980 re-release) This voodoo-inspired classic got a new lease on life in the 80s.

Rock Anthems from the Grave

  1. “Pet Sematary” – The Ramones (1989) Punk meets horror in this track written for Stephen King’s film adaptation.
  2. “Bark at the Moon” – Ozzy Osbourne (1983) The Prince of Darkness howls about a terrifying werewolf transformation.
  3. “Poison” – Alice Cooper (1989) The godfather of shock rock delivers a sinister love song perfect for Halloween.
  4. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult (1981 re-release) This 70s classic found new life in the 80s, with its ominous lyrics about embracing death.
  5. “Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran (1982) While not explicitly Halloween-themed, the primal, predatory lyrics fit the spooky vibe.

Silver Screen Screamers

Cyndi Lauper – The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough
  1. “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis and the News (1985) From “Back to the Future,” this upbeat tune has a supernatural twist.
  2. “Nightmare on My Street” – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1988) Will Smith raps about a run-in with Freddy Krueger in this unofficial “Nightmare on Elm Street” tie-in.
  3. “Magic Dance” – David Bowie (1986) From the cult classic “Labyrinth,” Bowie’s catchy tune adds a touch of whimsy to your Halloween playlist.
  4. “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough” – Cyndi Lauper (1985) While not scary, this adventurous theme from “The Goonies” captures the spirit of Halloween fun.
  5. “The Heat Is On” – Glenn Frey (1984) From “Beverly Hills Cop,” this high-energy track adds a thrilling chase vibe to your Halloween mix.

One-Hit Wonder Witchcraft

  1. “Monster Mash” – Bobby “Boris” Pickett (1980s revival) This 60s novelty hit found new life at 80s Halloween parties.
  2. “I Wanna Be Sedated” – The Ramones (1980) While The Ramones had other hits, this frenetic tune captures Halloween madness perfectly.
  3. “Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon (1980s revival) This howling hit from the late 70s remained a Halloween favorite throughout the 80s.
  4. “Dead Man’s Curve” – Jan and Dean (1980s revival) Another oldie that found new life in 80s Halloween playlists, telling a chilling tale of a fatal car crash.
  5. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – Taco (1982) This quirky cover of the 1920s classic has a creepy music video perfect for Halloween.

There you have it, ghouls and boys! 25 totally tubular tracks to turn your 80s Halloween bash into a monster mash. Whether you’re looking for spooky slow dances, campy sing-alongs, or tracks to thrash to, this list has got you covered. So slip into your favorite costume, grab a handful of candy corn, and let these haunting hits transport you back to the days of neon, big hair, and things that go bump in the night. Happy Halloween, and may the 80s be with you! 🎃👻🕷