We’re all used to hearing a certain set of Halloween songs every year. “The classics,” one might call them. Here at The Impact, we wanted to choose a few non-traditional tracks to consider for this year’s festivities. Are we saying that they’re great party choices? Well, that depends on the song. But each selection brings its own air to the haunted winds of Halloween, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the tricks and treats each provides.
“Get Out of My House” by Kate Bush
Kate Bush’s The Dreaming stands as one of the most puzzling releases from the prolific art-pop singer-songwriter. Bush’s music has always consisted of an eclectic mesh of exotic instrumentation and character-narrative, but The Dreaming marks the first point in her career where she was able to take over production responsibilities, securing total control over the project. The music is unusual, and even grating at times, but it reflects an encompassing tone of fear, paranoia, desire and isolation. The subtle atmosphere throughout the project culminates in its explosive final track, “Get Out Of My House.”
Inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining, Bush writes about isolation as a result of fear, personified as a house putting up its shutters and bolting its doors shut to an invader. Slowly but surely, the intruder creeps his way past all the obstacles the narrator puts up, accompanied by Bush’s frantic screeching of “Get out of my house!” amidst her low, trembled affirmations that the intruder won’t reach her. Once they reach her, a confrontation results in the transformation of the characters into animals to combat one another.
“Get Out Of My House” not only aims to unnerve listeners with its visceral, animalistic vocals and home invasion subject matter but also relays real life emotions within the metaphor of a horrific scenario. Bush brings out tangible fear through allegory in this song.
– Ryan Beylerian
“The Seer” by Swans
You know what’s desperately missing from your Halloween party playlist? Well, I’ll tell you: It’s everyone’s favorite grotesque, rattling, oddly-spiritual 32-minute song, “The Seer.”
Imagine this scenario: “The Monster Mash” just played, and “Thriller” wasn’t too far behind. The hits are inspiring a few dances, a few cheers, but the crowd yearns to hear something from experimental rock band Swans.
Your friend comes up to you, drunk off his ass, and says, “Hey man, why haven’t you played any Swans yet? My date’s getting bored.” He clasps your shoulder, a wild look in his eye: “We need the good shit.”
Oh, it’s time — time for panicked strings, heart-stopping drums, cold-blooded harmonica, hellbent chants and guitar strums that could chop off heads. As soon as “The Seer” claws its way out of your speakers, the party goes silent. Movement stops; wild eyes are all about. Within seconds, you hear the inevitable: “Open the pit! Open the pit!”
After these 32 minutes, you won’t have much of a residence left to tear down. Welcome to hell, my friend.
– Mike Merucci
“Summoning of the Muse” by Dead Can Dance
“Summoning of the Muse” wastes no time transporting you to a new, darker world. The song is surrounded by a foggy ether depicted through delicate strings and church bells, reminiscent of the feeling after a late Halloween night. The atmosphere created here, while being extraordinarily eerie, is just comfortable enough to let you bask in its darkness. Suddenly, the voice of Lisa Gerrard dances against this orchestral gray cloud with hypnotic siren calls of wordless vocals.
The track continues to build tension; however, there is no massive resolution. As some of us wish that the feeling of walking around a small town on Halloween would never end, Dead Can Dance purposefully creates an atmosphere that never reaches its finale. This may not be something you would put on a Halloween playlist, but it perfectly encapsulates the haunting and beautiful ambiance of Oct. 31.
– Kyle Raeside
“SPLIT!” by Jhariah
Halloween is literally the holiday of spooky, theatrical hijinks. We all dress up in costume and perform for everyone around us; you can become whatever you want for a night. One of my favorite jams to embrace this season of the dramatic is musician and animator Jhariah’s 2020 song “SPLIT!” With an almost choral vibe and maximalist production, it’s a perfect song to belt.
“SPLIT!” makes the most of its intensity, with darker lyricism to pair. In an almost terrifying way, the speaker attempts to hold his grip on his sanity, unable to know if he can trust others or even himself. The song speeds up and slows down between verses and choruses, continually building throughout the song. He layers sound throughout the song, adding to its already overwhelming aura. In addition, certain lines repeat in each post-chorus, such as “Love you! Hate you!”
During this repetition, the production goes mono, alternating each line between each ear. Jhariah displays the speaker’s internal battle by literally splitting the post-choruses in half. There was a great deal of thought put into the production of this song and it shows.
Jhariah emphasizes the anxiety of a frantic mind through his rapid delivery of the lines in the verses. The lyricism is clever, displaying the complex emotions that the speaker and the girl he is describing experience. Jhariah balances this lyricism with an incredibly satisfying flow. My favorite instance of this is in the pre-chorus:
“Perpetuate her all or nothing /
Hating loving /
Always something /
Hard at trusting.”
He accomplishes urgency in his delivery and is able to slow down and belt during the chorus. Through these shifts, “SPLIT!” still remains an upbeat and powerful jam.
“SPLIT!” is not just a song, but a sensory experience. I can picture it playing at a haunted house or during costume party karaoke. If you were a theater kid and/or enjoy artists that play into theatrical lyricism like Tally Hall and Panic! at the Disco, “SPLIT!” is the Halloween anthem for you.
– Ashley Morgan
“Halloween” by The Misfits
“Halloween” dives right into the spooky atmosphere of this lovely time of year. Punkish distortion, high-energy lingo and thundering drums propel the listener into the complete and total spirit of Halloween, even if they happen to be a killjoy. Vocalist Glenn Danzig offers some spitting, gloomy lyrics that keep me going through the rainiest, coldest time of the season.
The most interesting component of this track is the extreme comparisons Danzig makes, particularly ones like candy apples and razor blades. He mentions some gruesome stuff that we’ve all seen time and time again within our yearly horror binges, bringing the song to life.
“Halloween” offers some catchy, one-word choruses and some awesome musical breaks. I’m never bored when this song comes up on my shuffle, and I scurry along to class a little faster. I hope this song can earn some well-deserved recognition this year and jump to the forefront of essential Halloween tracks. It’s literally in the name.
– Ian Randall
“The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen
Although Halloween transformed into a consumerist tradition centered on costumes, candy and all things spooky, it began as a pagan religious festival to welcome the fall harvest and remember the dead. Ancient Celts believed that during Halloween the barrier between worlds breaks down so spirits and death can cross over to steal souls.
This Halloween, go back to those roots by listening to Echo & the Bunnymen’s gloomy post-punk hit “The Killing Moon.” Vocalist McCulloch’s dark lyrics are about welcoming death, and the strings on this haunting tune sound like death himself is luring you to the underworld.
“Fate /
Up against your will /
Through the thick and thin /
He will wait until /
You give yourself to him.”
The Celts and Echo & the Bunnymen see that death’s power comes from fear. Halloween is about forgetting that fear — dressing in costume to hide from evil spirits, dancing around a bonfire, eating candy until you puke and sharing scary stories with friends. It’s about community. So, at your Halloween gathering, play “The Killing Moon” by Echo & the Bunnymen and laugh in the face of death.
– Gabby Nelson
