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Most Played Halloween Songs of All Time

Most Played Halloween Songs of All Time

Watching “Hocus Pocus” and other quintessential Halloween movies is certainly a nice way of getting into the ghoulish spirit. But what might help you most is listening to the best and most memorable Halloween songs — whether you’re putting up Halloween decorations around the house or having a few seasonal cocktails with friends.

To determine the most played Halloween songs of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on sales, streams, and airplay from music magazine Billboard. Songs were ranked according to a cumulative score based on their performance on the Billboard Hot 100.

Let’s just get one thing straight right away: It’s not “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. While “Thriller” is arguably the greatest album ever made — and the video of the title song may be the greatest video ever produced — the song itself doesn’t rank as the most popular Halloween song of all time. But it’s in the top 10. 

After loading up with candy, decorating the house, and preparing a playlist with the best Halloween songs and a queue of classic horror movies, all that’s left for a successful holiday celebration is a memorable costume this is the most popular Halloween costume in every state

To determine the most played Halloween songs of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on sales, streams, and airplay from music magazine Billboard. Songs were ranked according to a cumulative score based on their performance on the Billboard Hot 100, wherein a week at position No. 100 is worth one point, a week at position No. 99 two points, and so on, up to a week at position No. 1 worth 100 points. Only songs identified by Billboard as “Halloween songs” in a variety of articles on the best Halloween songs were considered. Supplemental data on total weeks on the Billboard 100, peak position, and appearance dates also came from Billboard.

Source: Kevin Mazur/One Love Manchester / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

25. Little Mix, “Black Magic”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #67 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 8
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Aug. 29, 2015
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 17, 2015

Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

24. AC/DC, “Highway To Hell”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #47 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 10
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 13, 1979
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 15, 1979

Source: Cole Bennetts / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

23. Adam Lambert, “Ghost Town”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #64 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 17
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 4, 2015
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 24, 2015

Source: Aaron Rapoport / Corbis Historical via Getty Images

22. Warren Zevon, “Werewolves Of London”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #21 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 12
> First appearance on Billboard 100: March 25, 1978
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 10, 1978

Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

21. Radiohead, “Creep”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #34 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 26, 1993
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 6, 1993

Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

20. D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, “A Nightmare On My Street”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #15 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 16
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 30, 1988
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 12, 1988

Source: Larry Busacca / Getty Images

19. Eagles, “Witchy Woman”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #9 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 13
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 9, 1972
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 2, 1972

Source: Stan Meagher / Getty Images

18. The Searchers, “Love Potion Number Nine”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 14
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 28, 1964
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 27, 1965

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

17. Santana, “Black Magic Woman”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 13
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 14, 1970
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 6, 1971

Source: Ross Gilmore / Redferns via Getty Images

16. Ella Henderson, “Ghost”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #21 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 15, 2014
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 28, 2015

Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images

15. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Bad Moon Rising”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 14
> First appearance on Billboard 100: May 3, 1969
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Aug. 2, 1969

Source: Michael Putland / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

14. The Charlie Daniels Band, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 18
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 23, 1979
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Oct. 20, 1979

Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images

13. Stevie Wonder, “Superstition”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 16
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 18, 1972
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 3, 1973

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

12. Blue Oyster Cult, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 31, 1976
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Dec. 11, 1976

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

11. Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit In The Sky”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 15
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 28, 1970
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 6, 1970

Source: Phil Walter / Getty Images

10. Michael Jackson, “Thriller”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 11, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 14, 2020

Source: Michael Putland / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

9. Edgar Winter Group, “Frankenstein”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 20
> First appearance on Billboard 100: March 10, 1973
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 21, 1973

Source: Courtesy of Motown Records

8. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 19
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Jan. 28, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: June 2, 1984

Source: Thomas Niedermueller / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

7. Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 21
> First appearance on Billboard 100: June 16, 1984
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 3, 1984

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

6. KC And The Sunshine Band, “I’m Your Boogie Man”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 23
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Feb. 26, 1977
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 30, 1977

Source: RB / Redferns via Getty Images

5. The Steve Miller Band, “Abracadabra”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 25
> First appearance on Billboard 100: May 29, 1982
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 13, 1982

Source: Courtesy of Garpax Records

4. Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers, “Monster Mash”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 37
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 8, 1962
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: Sept. 15, 1973

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images for MTV

3. Eminem Featuring Rihanna, “The Monster”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 29
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Nov. 16, 2013
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: May 31, 2014

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

2. Rihanna, “Disturbia”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 37
> First appearance on Billboard 100: July 5, 2008
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: March 14, 2009

Source: Rich Lam / Getty Images

1. Imagine Dragons, “Demons”
> Peak position on Billboard 100: #6 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 100: 61
> First appearance on Billboard 100: Jan. 26, 2013
> Last appearance on Billboard 100: July 5, 2014

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