Last year at around this time, I posted 7 Ghoulishly Great Halloween Tunes for Kids. And while those are all amazing songs that I will certainly be playing again this week, I thought I’d add a few more entries to the mix.
Because you can never have too many Halloween tunes to crank out of your boombox as you hand out candy.
Here they are in no particular order:
10 Halloween Tunes for 2013
Them Bones by Caspar Babypants
I’ve always been a big fan of Caspar Babypants (the stage name of Chris Ballew, the former lead singer of The Presidents of the United States of America) for his off-beat, cheery children’s music. This song is a funky version of that anatomy-themed song I grew up with, and Caspar Babypants’s unique spin on it makes it a keeper for the Halloween season.
(And, P.S., Capsar’s site offers a download of this song for only 50¢!)
Rattlin’ Rattlin’ Rattlin’ Bones by Boxtop Jenkins
Continuing on the dancing skeleton theme, Boxtop Jenkins’ offers a song that strikes the right balance of spooky and catchy. Shawn Mullins makes an appearance as the skeleton encouraging folks to shake your bones.
And if you’re looking for some spooky songs to freak out your neighbors this year, check out Boxtop’s Spooky Halloween Handsaw Howls, which you can download HERE.
I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow
We’ll overlook the innuendo here, because thankfully, my kids can’t read that far in to song lyrics. All they know is that Candy is the sugary stuff. And they want it. A ton of it.
Okay, and I like it, too.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want by Randy Kaplan
I know, it sounds weird. The Rolling Stones and Halloween? This song appears on Randy’s 2006 album Five Cent Piece. The key to this song is in between the chorus, where Randy tells the tale of trick-or-treating as a kid and dealing his mom rationing his Halloween candy. The Harsh Universal Truth of Halloween.
Halloween Masquerade by Rocknoceros
This song is a veritable Who’s Who of Halloween characters out on parade. It feels a little like Danny Elfman’s “This is Halloween” but less soundtracky. (Soundtracky? Is that what I’m calling it now?) Plus, it contains the famously creepy opening chords from Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue”, setting the mood for a song that is sure to get your gobblin, witch, or Disney character ready to knock on doors.
It Must be Halloween by Trout Fishing in America
Trout Fishing in America bring their charming sense of wit and humor to Halloween in this song about all the tell-tale signs that Halloween is coming. My favorite line? When trick-or-treating, “I’m talking M&M’s, not talking vitamins.” Because you KNOW there’s someone out there handing out toothbrushes and Gummy Vites.
Witch Doctor by David Seville
My kids love this one because David Seville, the stage name for Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., later used the sped-up voice that sings “Oo Ee Oo Ah Ah” to create the beloved feral beasts we know and love, The Chipmunks. I remember loving this song as a child, and think it’s great that my kids love it, too.
Riboflavin-Flavored Non-Carbonated Polyunsaturated Blood by Don Hinson and The Rigormortitians
Trying to capitalize on the success of Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “Monster Mash”, Don Hinson, a disc jockey in Vegas, recorded this song about a vampire dolling out fortified blood to all his spooky buddies. And yes, it sounds eerily like “Monster Mash.” But the formula works.
Let’s Twist Again (Mummy Time is Here) by John Zacherle
A spoof of the Chubby Checker song with the same name, John Zacherle delivers the lyrics in a lopping narration, somewhat like a precursor to Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I guess mummies’ voices aren’t as forceful as they used to be. Still, my kids tend to gravitate towards these types of songs. They’re fun with a hint of darkness, but nothing that will give them nightmares.
Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell
Speaking of nightmares, how about this next tune? Ah yes, the song about paranoia. I adored this song as a teen. Especially with the cameo of Michael Jackson in the chorus. While it makes no mention of ghosts, vampires, witches or other ghoulish fare, Rockwell’s palpable fear is enough to make you want to carry a flashlight with you on your way to bed.
Are you getting dressed up in a costume this Halloween? If so, what are you going as? Let me know in the comment section below, drop me a line as a fan on , or follow me (but no stalking, please, I’m all edgy now) on .
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