For the spookiest day of the year, a spooky jam is needed in tow. This time around, “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo will be filling that spot. Of course, for good reason I assure you. 

“Dead Man’s Party” is a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster of genres, including elements of new-wave, ska, pop and rock. Of course, genre alone doesn’t a good song make, but interesting rhythm and instrumentation sure does! That slap bass heard throughout most of the song has a rhythm that doesn’t match up with basically any other instrument, and a unique sound that no other instrument encroaches on. Mix that slap bass part with syncopated electric guitars, occasional backing horns and a synth solo and you get the fun, bouncy energetic instrumentals you hear throughout the song. 

That’s not even mentioning the lead singer — Danny Elfman. The same person who sings as Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas. With his amazing vocal work, he makes sure no two lines sound the same, even if the lyrics are the same. Speaking of the lyrics, what better encapsulates All Hallow’s Eve than a song about two zombies “goin’ to a party where no one’s still alive?” 

So, without further ado, how about we dress up in our Friday’s scariest, queue this banger up and party like a dead man on a happy Halloween?