Halloween, Vol. 6

Halloweeeeeeeen is heeeeeeeere agaaaaaaaaaain, thank goodness. I've got a toddler this year who loves bats, pumpkins, and witch hats, and we're having all the fun watching Halloween shows and listening to Halloween songs. 2025 has been a really wild ride for a lot of different reasons, so I am more than happy to sink into spooky season and the rest of the holidays that follow. Time for some pumpkin spice hot chocolate, a comfy sweatshirt (especially with the cold front finally coming through this week), and turn on our Halloween playlist while we costume plan.

As is tradition, the full Halloween Playlist can be found on Apple Music under my profile @audioaesthetics. The following list is a sample chosen at random to serve as our 2025 Halloween Playlist. Let's see what's around the corner!

Heart Full of Black by Burning Brides (written by D. Coates)

Originally featured on Burning Brides' 2004 album Leave No Ashes, this track fits as well here as it did on Guitar Hero. We love a good rock song on this playlist to liven up the mood in a different way.

You take me right up to the top of the world/Then you push me over the side/Like an addition to a four-letter word/Victim of the Western decline/I made a promise by the side of the road/That I would bury my goddamn halo/I got a heart made of black lining/I got a heart full of black/I got a heart made of black lining/I got a heart full of black

Enter the Circus by Christina Aguilera (written by C. Aguilera, L. Perry)

Originally featured on Aguilera's 2006 album Back to Basics, this intro track to the full album is chaotically spooky enough to make the list. The creepy carnival vibe gets a lot of people ready for the holiday.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls/Step right up, step right up/Come closer, you won’t believe your eyes/Behind this curtain, witness something you’ve never seen before/Heard before, dreamt before/The most amazing show on earth/It’s the most amazing show on earth

Fire by Delta Rae (written by E. Holljes, I. Holljes)

Originally featured on Delta Rae's 2012 album Carry the Fire, this song gives off a bit of an unsettling vibe that makes it right at home here. Maybe not quite spooky, but at least a little witchy.

I, I got my eye on you, I heard what you’ve been saying/These rumors you spread ‘round, they burn me down like flames, and/We used to be friends, but that ain’t true now/You ain’t got my back, you’ve shown me that so many times/When I need help, can’t call for help/‘Cause no one comes/So I’m calling fire, fire, fire, fire, burn, burn, burn, burn/I’m calling fire, fire, fire, fire, burn, burn, burn, burn/I’m calling fire, fire, fire, fire, burn, burn, burn, burn/I’m calling fire, fire, fire, fire, burn, burn, burn, burn

A Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (written by P. Harris, J. Townes, W. Smith)

Originally featured on the 1988 album He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, I LOVE this early track from Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith. Hearing the Fresh Prince rap about being messed with by Freddy Krueger is a wild experience but it's a blast.

Now I have a story that I’d like to tell/About this guy, you all know him, he has me scared as hell/He comes to me at night after I crawl into bed/He’s burnt up like a weenie and his name is Fred/He wears the same hat and sweater every single day/And even if it’s hot outside, he wears it anyway/He’s gone when I’m awake, but he shows up when I’m asleep/I can’t believe that there’s a nightmare on my street

Bones by Emily Finchum (written by E. Finchum)

Originally released as a single in 2018, my husband found this song a while back and we both really liked it. If it's got a bone or skeleton type theme, it's almost always going to be a winner for me.

Sometimes they find whole skeletons dug up from down below/They put the bones where they don’t fit to make one of their own/They’re so set on what they want, the bones aren’t put where they belong/They got and put it on display and say they’re anything but wrong/You took the bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex/And said that it was human, now it’s needlessly complex/The world is a museum filled with meaningless exhibits/And every gallery and hall is bustling with idiots/You think you’re so logical but you’re barely making sense/You can’t change what’s set in stone or what’s inside your head

The Yawning Grave by Lord Huron (written by B. Schneider)

Originally featured on Lord Huron's 2015 album Strange Trails, this group has probably become my favorite in terms of "spooky" music. My husband and I saw Lord Huron last fall when they opened for Kacey Musgraves, and I've been loving exploring all of their cool stuff.

I know the rain like the clouds know the sky/I speak to birds and tell them where to fly/I sing the songs that you hear on the breeze/I write the names of the rocks and the trees/Oh, you fool, there are rules/I am coming for you/Darkness brings evil things/Oh, the reckoning begins

Dracula's Wedding by Outkast ft. Kelis (written by A. Benjamin)

Originally featured on Outkast's 2003 album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, this is a fun song that's been on the Halloween playlist for several years now. It's got a great groove, and it's got tons of references to the one and only Dracula himself.

You’re all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m terrified of you/See, my castle may be haunted, but I’m terrified of you/I’ve cast my spell on millions, but I’m terrified of you/Baby, I do this from the ceiling but I’m terrified of you/I wait my whole life to bite the right one/Then you come along and that freaks me out/So I’m frightened/Ooh, Dracula’s wedding

If you're celebrating this weekend, have a wonderful, fun, safe Halloween! Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!