Dance of the Dead

Music can do a lot towards enhancing the atmosphere of a party, and music is my thing. I live and breathe music. My Spotify has at least twenty different playlists to suit every possible mood – maybe even more. I’ve lost count. I feel the emotion of the songs deep down in my soul, and so I like my music to complement my state of mind, not contradict it. There’s nothing like screaming out an angry Stone Sour song to vent my anger as I’m driving, cleaning, or whatever else I may be doing. It’s cathartic.

I would describe my music taste as eclectic, as does everyone else. Most people can’t understand how I can like both heavy metal and country rock, or Aussie hip hop and classic rock. I like to think it’s because I’m an individual of substance, with more sides to me than a decahedron. Or maybe I’m just crazy. Who knows! Hence, my list may be a little different to what you might have been expecting, but I promise that it’s a good thing.

So, here I am to help you on your way to throwing the best Halloween party ever! You’re welcome. Now, without further ado, I give you my top ten picks for a Halloween playlist that will be sure to ramp up the level of creepy in the most delightful of ways…

*Ahem*

You are hereby cordially invited to join me in the illustrious annual event, The Dance of the Dead…

In this dark old cemetery

Where evil and malice play

I’ll meet you by the oldest grave

And we can dance among the fey

I have for you the music

That will make you want to stay

I promise I won’t let you rot

Or let your flesh decay

Just listen to the lyrics

And what they have to say…

Fear of the Dark – Iron Maiden

You can’t get much more classic than Iron Maiden. Their song “Fear of the Dark” is one of their epic ballads that tells the tale of a man who has a phobia that someone is always there, watching him, stalking him in the darkness. It’s a song that can resonate with everyone. Who hasn’t heard the floorboards creak while being tucked up in bed, suddenly terrified that someone or something is creeping along with nefarious intentions? Or how about that sudden overwhelming terror as you turn out the last light in the house and sprint to the safety of your blankets. This song certainly ticks all the boxes for a Halloween inclusion to your playlist.

Cemetery – Silverchair

Another classic band, Silverchair are legends of the grunge scene, and there’s not many places that are creepier than a cemetery. Add to that Daniel Johns’ iconic voice and you have a truly macabre song, set to have you swaying languidly, like an undead dancer. I picture an undead ballerina, an eternally sad expression on her face, twirling ethereally through a cemetery at night with her ragged dress fluttering as she pirouettes, flesh missing in some places and exposing the bare bones beneath. For whatever reason, she can’t move on yet, and so she is cursed to dance forever until whatever unfinished business she holds is complete. What image does the song bring to your mind?

Don’t Fear the Reaper – HIM

While the Blue Oyster Cult version is great, HIM’s cover version is spectacular. Ville Valo, the lead singer, has the ability to make anything sound hauntingly beautiful with his vast vocal range. Whenever I hear this version, I get the image of ghosts standing in a graveyard on top of their own graves. It’s a cold winter’s night and the graveyard is shrouded in mist, while the ghosts all hold a single, lit candle, the flames flickering eerily through the gloom as they sing. A perfectly morbid addition to a Halloween playlist.

Halloween – AFI

AFI are known for their twisted, darker songs and their high energy music. This song is originally by the band The Misfits, and their version is amazing, don't get me wrong. I just have a personal preference for AFI. If you want a livelier addition to your Halloween playlist, this will have you jumping and thrashing about in zombie fashion in no time. While the song is more upbeat, the lyrics are certainly gruesome as they describe how Halloween is a day where anything goes; like burning bodies or dead cats hanging from poles. Charming, right? But perfectly spooky!

Bad Things – Jace Everett

If you have seen the television series True Blood, you will be quite familiar with this song. As the opening theme song, it sets the mood for the bloody vampire drama, along with the grisly opening credit scenes. It denotes a sort of provocative wickedness that sets your senses tingling, enticing you to the dark side, because that’s where all the fun is. There’s also an air of mystery to the song, and Halloween can be a time in which we ponder the mysteries of the unknown; death, the afterlife, supernatural and paranormal creatures or events, etc. These are the very essence of Halloween, which makes this a wonderfully spooky and sultry song for your Halloween playlist.

Nightmare – Avenged Sevenfold

Death, hell, nightmares, insanity, soul stealing… “Nightmare” by Avenged Sevenfold has it all. The entire song makes it a suitable Halloween anthem, but the last two lines especially, “They took for granted your soul, and it’s ours now to steal, as your nightmare comes to life,” seal the deal. Halloween is meant to be scary, like a nightmare come to life. Ghosts and ghouls and all manner of evil creatures are said to be more active during Halloween because the celebrations draw them out. Whether you believe that our not, one of the main activities of Halloween is the Trick part of Trick or Treat; and some go above and beyond in their efforts, bringing to life the nightmares of their unsuspecting victims. Of course, it’s all in good fun… mwahahahahahahaha

Haunted – Evanescence

You can’t deny that Amy Lee’s mezzo-soprano voice is soul-piercing and beautiful. She could give sirens a run for their money. Evanescence gives a classical feel to their music, mingled in with the heavy rock tones, and the result produces songs that are dark and hauntingly melodic. You could really add any of their songs to your Halloween playlist, but I thought “Haunted” deserved a special mention for obvious reasons. The song depicts the story of a scared girl who is being haunted, or stalked, by someone from her past. This stalker is still alive, watching her all the time and while she seems to fear him, she also loves him. I’ve often wondered if it is referring to Stockholm Syndrome, but I’ve never seen anything to confirm this theory. Either way, it’s a terrifying, yet alluring, song that should definitely be included in your Halloween playlist. I’d also like to give their song “Lithium” a special mention, too. “Haunted” won the place in this list, but “Lithium” should get a plug as well.

Dead Walker Texas Ranger – Sleeping With Sirens

Another upbeat rock song with shredding guitars and a bit of screamo, “Dead Walker Texas Ranger” is about being chased by the undead. It starts out with the protagonists trying to hide, but alas, you can’t outrun the undead and eventually, they get caught and bitten. Knowing that they will turn, one of the members of the survival party kills them all before also being killed himself. Throughout the song, the fast-paced music heightens the sense of being chased and the feeling of running on adrenalin. Sleeping With Sirens actually wrote this as a Halloween song, so it would be remiss of you to exclude it from your Halloween tracks.

Living Dead Girl – Rob Zombie

No Halloween playlist would be complete without a song by the one of the kings of horror, Rob Zombie. Rob Zombie likes to include horror Easter eggs in his songs and “Living Dead Girl” has many. The opening line of the intro, “Who is this irresistible creature who has an insatiable love for the dead,” is from the “Lady Frankenstein” movie trailer, and it even has references to another king of horror, Vincent Price, more specifically, a character he played in the movie “Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.”

Thriller – Michael Jackson

I mean, I had to, right? It’s a classic, and the perfect song to end on for this list. You can make it even better for your party by having the music video playing in the background so those who don’t want to dance have something to watch. It’s basically a short film and it’s brilliant; corny 80s graphics and all. The song is written in a way that throws the listener into the fray and drama of the frightful night. You can’t help feeling enraptured as you wait with baited breath to see what will happen. Will you survive? Will you get caught? And then in comes Michael to save the day… or does he? Mwahahahahahaha

****

So, there you have it, darling

Are you frightened yet?

I do hope not

For I’d hate to see you fret

Just come along, dear

Your future has been set

Our Dance of Death has now begun

And you and I are very well met