Beyoncé's 'Haunted' tops list of essential Halloween tracks
A new roundup ranks ten songs, from Screamin' Jay Hawkins to Doja Cat, as the best music for the upcoming holiday.
By Rafael Bailey ·
Beyoncé's track "Haunted" anchors a new list of ten spooky songs recommended for Halloween playlists. The 2013 hit appears second on the album that shares her name. A recent article published by WENZ on October 30, 2026, outlines the ten tracks that set a specific mood for the holiday.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 1956 single "I Put A Spell On You" leads the ranking. The Cleveland native recorded the song after a stint in World War II. According to All About Jazz, Hawkins and his band were intoxicated before re-recording the track. The artist added a howling sound to the original blues arrangement. Rolling Stone named it one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit "Superstition" holds the second spot. Berry Gordy convinced Wonder to keep the song after the artist initially wrote it for a friend. Wonder explained his inspiration in a 2000 interview with NPR. He stated that he did not believe in breaking glasses or the number 13. He told the outlet that people suffer when they believe in things they do not understand.
Michael Jackson's 1982 single "Thriller" ranks third on the list. Rod Temperton wrote the lyrics and Quincy Jones produced the track. Jackson released a 14-minute music video that featured zombie dance moves. The video surpassed one billion views on YouTube fifteen years after its initial release.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince occupy the fourth position with "A Nightmare On My Street." Will Smith performed under his Fresh Prince moniker at the time. The rap single references the 1984 film "A Nightmare on Elm Street." The video ends with Smith falling asleep in a chair and presumably becoming the next victim of Freddy Krueger.
Ray Parker Jr.'s 1984 theme song for "Ghostbusters" takes the fifth slot. Parker Jr. admitted he was afraid of ghosts when a friend from Columbia asked him to write the tune. He accepted the $50,000 offer to write the song. The track earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Kanye West's 2010 single "Monster" sits at number six. The track features Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj. Blac Chyna, now known as Angela White, served as Minaj's body double in the music video. The song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Beyoncé's "Haunted" is the seventh entry on the list. The song was produced by Boots, who played every instrument on the track. Beyoncé described the song as an exploration of temptation and exposure in the music industry. She praised Boots as a lyricist and innovator on her iTunes radio channel.
The Weeknd's 2015 single "The Hills" ranks eighth. The song discusses a secret relationship and drug use. The artist sings that the hills have eyes, implying he is being watched. The track became The Weeknd's first diamond-certified single.
Childish Gambino's 2016 single "Redbone" holds the ninth spot. The song describes a relationship with a light-skinned woman. The chorus includes the line "Stay Woke." Jordan Peele used the song in his 2017 film "Get Out."
Doja Cat's 2023 single "Demons" completes the list at number ten. The track is the second song on her album of the same name. The music video features Christina Ricci as a character haunted by Cat. Ricci appears in the video to protect two children from the protagonist.
The list provides a mix of classic and modern tracks for the upcoming holiday. Each song offers a different approach to the spooky theme. The selection ranges from blues to pop to hip-hop. The recommendations serve as a guide for listeners preparing for Halloween events.
