10 Spooky Songs By Black Artists For Your Halloween Playlist

Halloween is coming up, which means celebrators will need some tunes before heading to their trick-or-treating activities. So here are 10 songs that you can add to your Halloween playlist to keep the spooky vibes going. 

1. I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

If you’ve been walking the Earth long enough, you’ve probably heard of the song I Put A Spell On You but you’ve more than likely heard a remade version of it rather than the original. So meet Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins, a Cleveland, Ohio native known for his soulful bellowing sound. After serving some years in World War II, began to focus on his passions for music. Hawkins started to work with artists Tiny Grimes and Fats Domino but his career really blossomed when he released the 1956 single I Put A Spell On You. His first recording of the song was not well received. But according to All About Jazz, he and his band had gotten drunk before re-recording it and Hawkins inserts a new howling and eerie sound to it while keeping his heavy blues influence. The song blew up and has continued to have a lasting influence in the music industry. In 2004, the song made Rollingstone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Artists like Nina Simone, Marilyn Manson covered it and late 90s babies are probably familiar with Bette Midler’s version of it on Disney’s Hocus Pocus film. 

2. Superstition – Stevie Wonder

Many of Stevie Wonder’s hits have uplifting, feel good themes to them, but in 1972 he released a song called Superstition that would earn him his first two Oscar in 1974 for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. Wonder initially wrote it for his guitarist friend to sing but Berry Gordy convinced Wonder that he should be the one to take on the song. Wonder claims the inspirations behind the song comes from his doubts that superstitions exist. He told NPR in a 2000 interview “I think that the reason that I talked about being superstitious is because I really didn’t believe in it. I didn’t believe in the different things that people say about breaking glasses or the number 13 is bad luck, and all those various things. And to those, I said, ‘When you believe in things you don’t understand, then you suffer.'”

3. Thriller – Michael Jackson

A decade later, Michael Jackson further cemented himself as one of the greatest artists in the world by releasing the 1982 single Thriller. Written by UK songwriter Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, Jackson used the lyrics to captivate his audience on a story of terror over a funky pop beat with howling background noises. He also released a near 14-minute music video for Thriller, which took the song to new levels that would have fans mimicking the shimmy zombie-like dance moves of the King of Pop. Proving to have continued longevity, Thriller surpassed a billion Youtube views 15 years after its release. 

4. A Nightmare On My Street – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Will Smith, who went by Fresh Prince then, and his friend DJ Jazzy Jeff used their lyrical skills to create a rap single called A Nightmare On My Street. The song was a clear influence from the 1984 horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street, where Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff talk about their encounter with the infamous nightmare terrorist Freddy. Prince takes listeners through a story where he falls asleep and is haunted by Freddy. He initially thinks it’s all a dream until he wakes up and discovers rips in bedsheets, proving the attack was somewhat real. In the video, he proceeds to warn Jazzy Jeff not to fall asleep but goes to sleep anyway, and in the final frame, he is presumed to be Freddy’s next victim.

5. Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.

In 1984, Ghostbusters was also released and drew much success with its comedic take on ghost hunting. But part of that success is owed to the eponymous theme song created by Ray Parker Jr. Even if someone hasn’t seen the film in its entirety, they’ve likely heard the words “Who you gonna call, GHOSTBUSTERS!” being sung at some point in their lives. Much like the film, the Parker Jr.’s single was not meant to scare listeners, but the funky, pop beat was more of a sing-along tune that could even get people dancing if they chose to. Even Parker Jr. said when he was approached by a friend from Columbia to write the song, he was unsure on whether he was the right guy. He said, “​​I don’t know nothing about this stuff! And by the way, I’m afraid of ghosts! I’m not the guy who’s gonna do anything to a ghost.” But with $50,000 on the line, Parker Jr. decided to give it a shot, and it ended up being a success, earning him an Oscar nomination.

6. Monster – Kanye West (feat. Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj)

Kanye West released his fifth studio album Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010 and in that album he gifted fans the star-studded single Monster. The song featured Rick Ross, Bon Iver and New York natives, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj. Despite it being West’s song, Nicki Minaj got a lot of praise for her aggressive and theatrical verse. The video includes Blac Chyna, now known as Angela White, who stepped in to be Minaj’s body double. Everyone’s collaborated efforts on the song led to West peaking at the 18th spot on the Billboard Hot 100. 

7. Haunted – Beyoncé

The year 2013 was a pivotal one  for Beyoncé when she truly betted on herself by releasing a self-titled digital album without any promotion or announcements that it was coming. The second track on the album was called “Haunted,” co-written by producer and singer Boots. On her iTunes radio channel, Queen Bey explained the creation behind “Haunted.” she said, “’Haunted’ is a song produced by Boots, a new producer that I completely respect. He plays every instrument. He is a lyricist. He is an innovator, and I’m so proud to work with him. The song is about temptation in this music industry and exposure to this crazy madness.”

8. The Hills – The Weeknd

Canadian artist The Weeknd released his song “The Hills” which instantly grabs a listener’s attention with its loud booms and sounds of horror in the beginning. The song continues with an eerie tone, with The Weeknd singing about a sexual and secret affair that he is having with a taken woman – who is possibly a celebrity as well since she lives in a “gated residential.” He also opens up about his battle with drug usage and claims the real version of himself is the one where he is “f-cked up.” He sings, “The hills have eyes,” indicating that he’s always being watched and judged by outsiders. The 2015 single continued to be successful years after it’s release and ended up being The Weeknd’s first diamond-certified single.

9. Redbone – Childish Gambino

In 2016, Childish Gambino released his single “Redbone,” which on the surface appears to be him detailing a complicated, intimate relationship with presumably a light-skinned woman (hence the name of the song – although he never seems to mention the term in the actual lyrics at all). In the song, he describes her cheating on him and later sings “Stay Woke” in the chorus. Those two words alone led the single to being used in Jordan Peele’s first psychological thriller, “Get Out,” encouraging his viewers to stay alert in times of oppression and racial injustice in America. 

10. Demons – Doja Cat

In track two of her 2023 album, Doja Cat is taking back her power. Much can be missed in the bass-booming Demons single with many listeners being distracted by the California rapper’s use of the term. But a closer glance at the lyrics reveals that she talks about being scrutinized, how critics finally recognize her worth as an artist, and reaching acceptance over her struggles and judgments. The controversial video shows Cat playing a literal version of a demon as she haunts a family’s home. She casts Christina Ricci, who has played in her set of Halloween and horror films over the years, as the main character being haunted by Cat before she grabs her two children to escape the home.

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