What do you think of when you hear the word “Halloween”? Is it a catchy and creepy song? Perhaps an unforgettable iconic movie or character? Personally, I think of Bobby Pickett’s song “Monster Mash,” the movie “Scream,” and the critically acclaimed Shining Twins.
I think of these classic hits because they embody what Halloween was supposed to feel like, or at least how it felt in its heyday. These spooky classics will convince those celebrating the holiday to embrace the spooky spirit and prepare for the big day.
As much as I love playing these soundtracks and movies to my heart’s content, I want to enjoy the release of new Halloween hits just as much.
When I say I want a new Halloween song, I’m not referring to a song with an unoriginal, underdeveloped tone and one singular chorus released to be glorified as a new TikTok microdance. I want a song that follows in the footsteps of the classics, a groovy combination of pop and rock’n’roll that eschews the traditional mottos and beats of the holiday genre.
One famous example of a perfect Halloween hit would be Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me.” With creepy sound effects, funky music, and suspenseful tension, this is definitely a surefire way to set the mood.
When you attend a Halloween party, the music playing in the background is always a song created before 2010. When these songs come on, I just can’t get enough of them. But when I hear Fifth Harmony’s “I’m In Love With a Monster” or Pomplamoose’s “Monster Mask,” tears stream down my face and blood drains from my ears.
Not only do these songs spoil the spirit of Halloween, they lack the notoriously scary essence necessary for a successful Halloween.
For a Halloween song to be a Halloween song, it must contain the essential elements: spooky lyrics, quirky chords, and minimal or no romantic elements. While all of this may seem discouraging, I truly believe that our generation, and all of the amazing artists we support, are fully capable of continuing the excitement of the iconic Halloween. I believe it.
Unless your new Halloween hit is reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance, grasp the concept and feel of a classic instead of creating it just to fill someone’s For You page with simple choreography. There is a need. All of these infamous hymns had to start somewhere. Let’s bring back songs like this.
Halloween hits may have been dormant for a while, but it’s never too late to create some songs that can reach Halloween classic status. All the classics started out as ordinary songs, but they all had something in common that today’s wannabes can’t even imagine. It’s the spirit of Halloween.
