As leaves begin to fall and the air becomes slightly crisper, music to match the season's aesthetic is a necessity. Below, you will find the ultimate playlist to get you in the autumn mood without having to purchase a $6 pumpkin spiced drink. It's finally fall y'all, let the spooky festivities begin!
"Spooky" - Dusty Springfield
Although the song refers more toward the thrill of love than an actual monster, it's also an ode to a universal, frightening feeling of vulnerability. Through the tune, Springfield sings about apprehensive feelings toward a significant other, which she describes as "spooky". She sings, "Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little boy like you." These lyrics alone summarize the premise of the beloved tune.
"If a girl looks at you it's for sure your little eye will be winking."
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" - Blue Öyster Cult
Queue the cowbells. Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" is a known classic. Picturing someone blasting this in their car, with the windows down, of course, is something straight out of a movie. The song's guitar solo shifts the mellow tone of the tune to a high energy metal break. "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" really is the best of both worlds.
"Come on baby (don't fear the reaper) baby take my hand."
"Tear You Apart" - She Wants Revenge
The dark undertones of this track set the mood for this eerie time of year. The 2006 hit is commonly known from American Horror Story: Hotel, accompanying Lady Gaga as she seduces her next victim in the role of The Countess. "Tear You Apart" is a tune fit for any horror film and its music video proves just as much.
"Her hand brushed up against his, she left it there. Told him how she felt and then they locked in a stare."
"Black Magic Woman" - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac (pre-Stevie) experimented with rhythms and elements as their sound evolved. "Black Magic Woman" is a direct result of this era for the band. Written in 1968 by former frontman Peter Green, "Black Magic Woman" gets listeners right in their Halloween spell-casting feels. Green sings, "Don't cast your spell on me baby", pleading to escape an all-powerful love spell.
"I need you so bad, magic woman I can't leave you alone."
"People are Strange" - The Doors
This song's title speaks for itself; Jim Morrison describes a creepy sentiment–an overall nod to his unconventional nature. "People are Strange" provides the outlandish Morrison feel to which fans have grown accustomed. The lyrics and title mirror one another as Morrison talks about his experience of being strange and finding others with the same energy. The track came about from a conversation Morrison shared with guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore about his mental health concerns. The two advised him to gather his thoughts and take a walk in LA, after which Morrison returned with the hit written out on a single piece of paper.
"When you're strange, faces come out of the rain."
"Rock Lobster" - The B-52's
Picture this: everyone is decked out head-to-toe in Halloween costumes, dancing manically to "Rock Lobster" by the B-52's for its entire 6:49 duration. Ricky Wilson and Fred Schneider take command with adlibs, singing, "Down, down", and prompting everyone at the party to get low. Schneider admits in a People magazine interview, "I went to this disco in Atlanta called 2001 and they had no money for a light show I guess, so they had slides of puppies and babies and hot dogs and lobsters on a grill. And I thought, 'Rock lobster! Rock this, rock that, rock lobster!'"
"Let's rock!"
"Time Warp" - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Let's walk into the mansion of Dr Frank-N-Furter together and see what happens... Rocky Horror Picture Show buffs, this one's for you. The cult classic, known to many for its obscenities, is the ultimate Halloween watch. The immersive experience has musical numbers that are iconic to fans due to their liberating tone. Frequent audience members often know all the vocal commands and prompts that go along with the show, meaning that new viewers are instantly recognizable. The interactive nature of the show has built a devoted cult following over the years. Those who have attended a performance or movie screening in person continue to appreciate the Rocky Horror lore and culture.
Although there are many bops in the Rocky Horror soundtrack, Time Warp is definitely the top pick. The iconic first lyrics, "It's astounding, time is fleeting," set the tone for the audience to become engrossed in the wacky and wonderful world of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
"It's astounding, time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll."
"Sweater Weather" - The Neighbourhood
Although a Southern California fall can reach temperatures of up to nearly 90 degrees, "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood has the ability to fill the cold weather void. The track was an immediate hit, acting as the epitome of the Tumblr era and an anthem for bisexual fans around the world. As a 2023 listener, the song is so nostalgic it hurts
"Cause it's too cold for you here and now, so let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater."
"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads
This one is pretty self explanatory..."Psycho Killer" is truly a timeless piece. The iconic lyrics make perfect recipe for a ghoulish yet playful listening experience. With the lighthearted demeanor of the song, it's easy to overlook what the lyrics actually say. David Byrne sings, "Psycho Killer, qu'est- ce que c'est?" The French here simply translates to ,"What is that?" Talking Heads killed it with this one–literally.
"Run run run run run run run away."
"Witchy Woman" - The Eagles
Last, but most certainly not least, "Witchy Woman" by The Eagles deserves an honorable mention. Don Henley spoke to Genius, "I came down with the flu. I had a very high fever and became semi-delirious at times – and that’s when I wrote most of the lyrics. Every time the fever subsided, I would continue to read a new book I’d gotten on the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, and I think that figured into the mix somehow – along with amorphous images of girls I had met at the Whisky and the Troubadour." As disoriented as Henley was at this moment, he managed to create a hit for to fans continue to enjoy even 51 years later.
"She's got the moon in her eyes."
Check out the full Spotify playlist for this article here. What do you want to see covered on Enharmonic Magazine next? Let us know.