Ten tracks defined the sound of Halloween from 1956 to 2023

The sonic identity of Halloween has shifted dramatically over seven decades, moving from isolated blues recordings to multi-million view pop anthems. A review of ten key tracks traces this evolution, showing how artists have used music to capture the atmosphere of the holiday. The collection spans 67 years, linking a Cleveland native’s drunken re-recording in 1956 to a 2023 release featuring a horror film actress.

The timeline begins with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, a Cleveland, Ohio native who served in World War II before turning to music. He released “I Put A Spell On You” in 1956. According to All About Jazz, Hawkins and his band were drunk when they re-recorded the track, adding a howling sound that defined its eerie quality. The song appeared on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2004. Stevie Wonder followed with “Superstition” in 1972. Wonder wrote the song for his guitarist but Berry Gordy insisted he sing it. The track earned Wonder two Oscars in 1974 for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.

Michael Jackson cemented the genre in 1982 with “Thriller.” Written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, the song paired a terror narrative with a funky pop beat. Jackson released a nearly 14-minute music video that popularized zombie dance moves. The video surpassed one billion views on YouTube 15 years after the song’s release. That same year, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince released “A Nightmare On My Street,” a rap response to the 1984 film “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Ray Parker Jr. also released the “Ghostbusters” theme in 1984. Parker Jr. was paid $50,000 to write the song and received an Oscar nomination for his work.

The 2010s brought a mix of hip-hop and pop. Kanye West released “Monster” in 2010 as part of the album “Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” The track featured Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyoncé released the self-titled album “Beyoncé” in 2013 without promotion. The second track, “Haunted,” was co-written by Boots. Beyoncé described the song on iTunes radio as being about temptation and exposure in the music industry. The Weeknd released “The Hills” in 2015. The single became his first diamond-certified release.

Childish Gambino released “Redbone” in 2016. The song’s chorus includes the line “Stay Woke,” which led to its use in Jordan Peele’s film “Get Out.” Doja Cat released “Demons” in 2023 as the second track on her album. The music video features Christina Ricci, who plays a woman being haunted by Cat. Ricci grabs two children to escape the home in the final scene. The collection of songs offers a complete auditory map of the holiday’s commercial and artistic history.