Halloween Audio: Ten Tracks Spanning Six Decades of Horror

A new list of ten songs offers musical accompaniment for the Halloween season.

The collection spans nearly seventy years of popular music, ranging from blues originals to recent hip hop releases. The list was published on October 30, 2026, for local residents preparing for the holiday. Each entry pairs a specific track with its creator and cultural context.

The earliest track is "I Put A Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, released in 1956. Hawkins, a Cleveland native, re-recorded the song after an initial poor reception. He incorporated a howling sound during the session, which helped the track gain popularity. The song appeared on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2004. Cover versions by Nina Simone, Marilyn Manson, and Bette Midler have kept the song in circulation.

Stevie Wonder's 1972 single "Superstition" won two Academy Awards in 1974. Wonder wrote the song for his guitarist but performed it himself after Berry Gordy's encouragement. In a 2000 NPR interview, Wonder stated he wrote the song because he did not believe in superstitions. He noted that suffering often comes from believing in things one does not understand.

Michael Jackson's 1982 hit "Thriller" was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. The song accompanied a 14-minute music video that popularized zombie-style dance moves. The video surpassed one billion views on YouTube fifteen years after its release. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince followed with "A Nightmare On My Street," a rap response to the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street. The track narrates an encounter with the character Freddy Krueger.

Ray Parker Jr. wrote the 1984 theme song for Ghostbusters. Parker Jr. received $50,000 for the composition, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He described himself as afraid of ghosts when first approached to write the tune. The song's chorus asks listeners who they will call for help, a line that has become widely recognized.

Kanye West included "Monster" on his 2010 album Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The track features Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyoncé released "Haunted" in 2013 as the second track on her self-titled album. She described the song as a commentary on temptation and exposure within the music industry, crediting producer Boots for the instrumentation.

The Weeknd's 2015 single "The Hills" became his first diamond-certified release. The song details a secret affair and struggles with drug use. Childish Gambino's 2016 track "Redbone" was featured in Jordan Peele's film Get Out. The chorus includes the line "Stay Woke," which aligned with the movie's themes of racial oppression. The list concludes with "Demons" by Doja Cat, the second track on her 2023 album. The music video features Christina Ricci as a character haunted by Cat.