As Halloween approaches, I love listening to music that gets me in the creepy mood for the holiday, but I always come across the same Halloween playlist. It contains the same five songs I’ve heard a billion times, and they’re just not good songs. This year, I found some alternatives for playlists that give creepy Halloween vibes, and are still good songs. 

“Lonesome Hunter” – Timber Timbre

This is a calm song, but the violins in the background stress me out. It’s the same adrenaline rush I get when watching a scary movie; I love it and hate it at the same time. 

“Famous Blue Raincoat” – Leonard Cohen

Although this one has a sad backstory, it really creeps me out. It would be in the background of the final scene in a horror movie, when the murderer gets away.

“Strange Boy” – The Shacks

While the beginning is upbeat and fun, the mood of this song quickly changes into feeling like someone is watching you. Not only does the song feel like this, its album cover compliments the vibe it gives off. 

“Tip Toe Thru’ the Tulips with Me” – Tiny Tim

I usually love oldies like this that are just feel-good jams, but ever since I watched the movie “Insidious,” (an incredible movie by the way) I feel very differently. The song is featured in the horror movie, and although it would be a cute song, there is something very chilling about it in a suspenseful movie.

“Hudson” – Vampire Weekend

Although a very sad song, the vibe is unsettling. The meaning could be debated, but some believe the song is about the story of a war veteran passing away, and it describes the feeling of slowly dying. 

“Stand in My Way” – Nerv

This song starts abruptly and almost scares me. The chords resemble those of “Hotel California” by The Eagles, but don’t let it fool you; it’s a much slower, unsettling version. 

“Vintage Red” – Jay Jay Pistolet

This is another song similar to “Tip Toe Thru’ the Tulips with Me.” It sounds like it would be a feel-good oldie in another lifetime, but something about it is just creepy. 

“Too Late to Say Goodbye” – Cage the Elephant 

Cage the Elephant is a band that is finally becoming more popular and getting the recognition it deserves. I love a lot of their music and this is one of their more slow but harsh rock songs that feels like it would be played at a Halloween dance in the movies.

“1980s Horror Film II” – Wallows

This song doesn’t have a ton to do with Halloween as a holiday, but the electric guitar throughout the song reminds me of the all-around fall season. It is about watching a horror movie, but it’s a relatively upbeat song and would fit perfectly in an episode of the Netflix TV Series “Stranger Things.”

“W.D.Y.W.F.M?” – The Neighbourhood

I find the title, standing for “what do you want from me,” unique, and so are a lot of The Neighbourhood’s other songs and albums. This song isn’t necessarily slow and creepy, but more an intense rock song.

“House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals

For some reason, a zombie apocalypse comes to mind when listening to this song. The artist’s voice is deep and it feels like the music video would be filmed in a desert.