10 Halloween Tunes for 2013

29 October 2013 by Leave a Comment

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.

There you have it, folks. Have a safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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 .

Filed Under: Halloween, kid music, Kid Tune Tuesday

Trick or treat fail…

1 November 2012 by 2 Comments

Our next door neighbor had everyone over to their house for a potluck dinner last night before the madness of trick-or-treating began.  Once the 6 o’clock hour ticked, I headed back home, changed in to my awesome Velma outfit, and handed out candy while Jon weathered the crummy climate and took the kids around the ‘hood on their sweets conquest.

About an hour later, Jon stammered back home, wet and cold and ready to trade places.  The kids had retreated back to the neighbors to sort candy and go nuts running around the house cracked out on sugar.  I left Jon to deal with the trick-or-treaters while I went next door to drink wine keep an eye on the kids.  Mr. B was still interested in hitting other houses up for candy, so Jon came back to get him during  a lull in trick-or-treaters to venture back out again in the cold rain.

In lieu of handing out candy in person, Jon left our candy in a bowl on our porch.  Thinking the honor system would work out well.

I walked home across the lawn to change out of my sexy Velma outfit, and encountered some kids who were gathering candy from our porch.  As I snuck up behind them, I could hear them gaping about how it was just a big bowl of candy for the taking, and I spooked the shit out of them by piping up “The goblins will grab you on the way out if you take more than you should!”  They whipped around, but being the good kids they were, just politely said “No ma’am we weren’t going to take the whole thing!” and calmly walked away. And looking at our half-full bowl of candy left sitting on the table, I was astonished by their honesty.

Wow!  The whole Honor System actually works!  It took about a minute for me to change and as I was heading towards the front door, I heard screeching and a huge crash.  I quickly opened the door to see a 10-year old kid running away, and in his wake, our porch table and decor down on the ground with our candy bowl completely empty.

So, I did what any cool adult would do.

I yelled “HEY!  OH NO YOU DON’T!” and caught the turd red handed.

Yeah, that’s right.  I was THAT house.  I called the greedy kid back to the house, made him give back some candy and call his other friend back to do the same.

In retrospect, it was probably a cruel move on my part.  And yet, looking at these kids with not one or two, but THREE pillowcases full of candy, it just seemed wrong to let them get away with it.  I’m surely second guessing my decision now.  Perhaps I should have let them get away with it.  But I didn’t appreciate the fact that their greed was so strong, they pulled the whole bowl off the table, taking the table and our decor down with it.  By the simple act of how quickly they tried to “grab and go,” they knew they were wrong.  But somehow I’m the one who feels guilty.  Like I should have given them a break and let kids be kids.

I fully expect to get my house egged and TP’ed at any moment.

Filed Under: guilt, Halloween

7 Ghoulishly Great Halloween Songs on Kid Tune Tuesday…

30 October 2012 by 11 Comments

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

I have been wracking my brain trying to whittling down some song choices of our favorite Halloween songs to discuss just one for this post.  And you know what?  I can’t do it!  There are just too many that we ghoulishly salivate over.  So, instead of bringing you one song with a review and rating, today I’m listing out our favorite Halloween songs (in no particular order).

Goo Goo Ga Ga by Joe Scruggs

When the spooky, lightly haunting opening music starts, Miss P gets a big grin on her face and starts kicking her legs.  For those of you that don’t know this Halloween song, it’s about a dad driving with his baby in the car, encountering a witch, a troll, and an alligator along the path.  His way out of getting of trouble with these creeps?  The cute baby in the back cooing “Goo Goo Ga Ga Coochie Coochie Coo.”  Seeing as how I have experienced my cute toddler getting me out of a pinch with the manager of an Apple store, I totally get this song.  And the simple fact that the baby uses their cuteness to get out of a scary situation gives Miss P a little sense of empowerment against the trolls of the world.

by Michael Jackson

Do I even need to say more?  From the first two notes of this song, my kids perk up in excitement.  And they don’t even know the dance yet!  It gives me a chance to break out my zombie dance and choreographic reenactment of this video.  Who could ask for anything else?

Photo credit: JD Hancock

by Ray Parker Jr.

I love it when songs that I loved as a kid become some of my kids favorites.  This one is no exception.  Mr B. goes nuts over this one, even before seeing the movie.  This song touts all the wonderful merits of the 80′s synthesizer.  Do they even make those anymore?  It’s catchy melody will have you singing about ghosts for the rest of the day.  And when you do, who ya gonna call?

 

by Bobby “Boris” Pickett

An oldie but goodie.  The odd ghoulish manner in which this Halloween song is sung isn’t really scary, but does lend itself to lots of imitation.  That can be entertainment enough for the under 7 circuit.  Plus, it’s dancing monsters!

by Danny Elfman

Photo credit: Andy Zeigert

This Halloween song is from the soundtrack of The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie neither of my kids have seen yet.  But it appears on Just Dance 3, which we’ve had a riot dancing to.  The kids love the dance that’s choreographed to this song because each kid gets to pick a character.  Mr. B picks the vampire, Miss P picks the purple witch, and I get stuck with the giant pumpkin head.  The song itself is distinctive Danny Elfman, a swirl of bells and string instruments that invoke a sense of mystery and spooky activity.

by Sheb Wooley

Another Halloween song that’s been around for decades, this one is great for kids because the high-pitched, sped up voice of the monster makes him seem lovable, not scary.  After all, he just wants to be in a rock-n-roll band.  My kids love this kind of voice, the same ilk as that of the Chipmunks.  Yes, it could potentially drive you crazy, but it’s spread out enough in the song to still be cute.  Plus it has a great beat that’s fun to dance to when hopped up on Skittles and Pixie Sticks.

by Justin Roberts

A song about the excitement and adventure of trick-or-treating as a kid.  My son echos some of the same concerns – will his bag be big enough to collect all of that candy?  I love that the kids come home afterwards and sort out their candy, each brother with his own unique style of candy organization.  The last line kills me though:  Suzy’s dad’s a dentist and he makes her trade her candy in for fruit, But there ain’t no substitute.

 

Now that you’re equipped with some Halloween songs to get you in the spooky mood, get your pumpkin carving on, brace yourself for the sugar high and have a safe time trick-or-treating!

What are your favorite Halloween songs?

Filed Under: Halloween, Kid Tune Tuesday

Headlining the thrift store…

29 October 2012 by 4 Comments

It’s been a long time since I’ve scoured the racks of a thrift store.  Five years, maybe?  Last week though, I had a mission.  Acquire Halloween Costume.  I’m dressing up like Velma from Scooby Doo.  I mean, I already have the dowdy haircut, might as well keep going with the frumpy vibe.

When I was in graduate school, the bulk of my clothing was purchased at local thrift stores.  For the starving artist, the local thrift store is where it’s at.  You can find clothing that looks broken in, edgy, and retro without having to pay Anthropologie prices.  There was a funky thrift store around the corner from my house that was cool and hip enough for me not to stress about how many times I would need to wash items before I felt comfortable enough to wear them.   The clothes were also on the nicer side of things, with recognizable labels and were on the decent side of the sliding fashion scale.  And THRIFTY!

Still, I was buying used clothing.  I don’t think I ever stepped foot in to a store and bought clothes that no one else had ever put on their body.  It just wasn’t in my budget.  It took years (and the uprising of Target) for me to realize I could find affordable clothing that was new, I would just have to shop wisely and sniff out the sale racks.

This time, I was shopping for costume apparel, so the stakes were low.  I walked in to Goodwill looking for a baggy orange sweater and red skirt.  And the thing I loved about this Goodwill?  The Organization.  Every rack was organized by color.  By. Color.  You fellow Virgos out there might be nodding your head in agreement, thinking “yes, as they SHOULD be.”  It was super easy to find what I wanted, I scooped up two pairs of cheap black pants as well, and in record time had scored exactly what I was looking for.

But what I wasn’t prepared for was the entertainment I was afforded while browsing.  There was a woman walking around, pulling out shirts and pants, while talking on her cell phone. Loudly.  But the best part?  She had the caller on speaker phone.  SPEAKER PHONE.  For all of Goodwill to hear.

It wasn’t just a boring conversation of grocery lists or transportation coordination.  I got an earful of information about this woman and her family.  How so-and-so just got out of rehab, how this person wasn’t going to post bail, how the person on the other end needed a ride down to the plasma bank.  I didn’t know whether to be appalled or intrigued.  It was like eavesdropping…I knew I shouldn’t be listening, but it was so hard NOT to.

Yet, I wasn’t the only one who was forced to hear this garbage.  There was a young mother in front of me, pushing her toddler in a cart down the aisle, and I could hear her answering her son “I don’t know who she’s talking to…” I silently empathized with the boy, asking the same question I was mulling over in my head – why isn’t this woman turning off her speaker?  Do we ALL have to hear this?  And does the person on the other end know that his business is being broadcast all over the racks of a thrift store?

As I stood at the checkout line, two people behind The Megaphone, I kept waiting for an apology.  For a recognition from this woman that she shouldn’t be holding a conversation on her phone while checking out.  But it never came.  Her conversation followed her out the doors, and as soon as they closed behind her, those of us waiting in line let out a sigh of relief and a collective giggle.  Far more entertaining than a Honey Boo Boo episode.

Who knew such comedy could be found at a thrift store?  Will Goodwill start charging a two drink minimum?

 

Filed Under: Halloween

Preparation…

20 October 2010 by Leave a Comment

In kid news, Halloween can’t get here fast enough.  Mr. B helped me decorate the house this past week, and he loves how spooky it looks.  Miss P just wants to play with the plastic gourds on our porch, but I’m sure she’ll figure out how to beg for candy pretty quickly.  She hasn’t really had any yet, so I don’t know whether I should gently introduce sugar treats so it’s not such a shock to her little body, or just wait until the big day when she’ll get an overload of sweets and go nuts.

In an effort to try and clean up our diet a little, I made my very first batch of whole wheat bread a couple of weeks ago.  It was a fun project, although pretty time consuming with all the rising and such.  I got to drag out the KitchenAid mixer Mother’s Day present though and really test its awesome power.  The bread turned out okay – it was a little dense, but it tasted good.  I guess if it were to turn out perfect the first try, there would be no fun in trying again, right?

Filed Under: baking, Halloween, Miss P, Mr. B