10 Best Halloween Songs

Halloween songs are perennial favorites, many paired with theatrical performances that only enhance the song. You'll find that many of our top Halloween songs -- as rated by AOL listeners – pertain to classic Halloween films, and cover the last 50 years because let's face it, Halloween will never go out of style. Be sure to listen to these Halloween classics.

10) Alice Cooper: 'Welcome To My Nightmare'

This disco-sounding track -- fusing rock with Broadway tunes -- is the opening song to his same titled album that tells the nightmares of a fictional child name Steven. The single – written by Cooper and Dick Wagner -- reached No. 45 on the Billboard Top 100. In 1978, Alice Cooper performed the song on the third season of 'The Muppet Show.'

9) Blue Oyster Cult: '(Don't Fear) The Reaper'

This Halloween song favorite was built around the opening riff by lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser. Roeser, who wrote (and sang on) the hit single, says the lyrics are about love, not suicide. In 1976, the single reached No. 12 on the U.S. charts, making it their most successful album.

8) Gerard McMann: 'Cry Little Sister'

'Cry Little Sister' is the theme song for the vampire thriller film, 'The Lost Boys.' The song was originally recorded by Gerard McMahon (who goes by the name Gerard McMann) for the soundtrack and was later covered by Seattle-band Aiden in the sequel.

7) Ray Parker, Jr.: 'Ghostbusters'

Parker had only two days to write the theme song for 'Ghostbusters.' The lyrics came to him while watching a T.V. infomercial. The phone number flashing across the screen gave him the idea for the lyrics 'Who You Gonna Call?' It stayed at No. 1 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

6) Bobby (Boris) Pickett: 'Monster Mash'

This halloween song derived from Pickett's monologue-rendition of horror film actor Boris Karloff while he and his band were performing a song by The Diamonds. The 'Monster Mash' single reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 20, 1962.

5) Rob Zombie: 'Dragula'

'Hellbilly Deluxe' was Zombie's premiere solo album, which also featured his other hit single, 'Living Dead Girl.' Based on the drag racer 'Drag-u-la' in TV sitcom 'The Munsters,' this Halloween song classic reached No. 6 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks (in 1998).

4) Richard O'Brien: 'Time Warp'

'Time Warp' is song/dance number featured in the cult flick, 'Rocky Horror Picture Show.' The song has been covered by artists Alvin and the Chipmunks, British pop group Black Lace, Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row.

3) Buddy Baker and Xavier "X" Atencio: 'Grim Grinning Ghosts'

Sound vaguely familiar? That's because this Halloween song is the theme for the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney theme parks. There are different variations of the song on the ride: a slow cadence version in the entrance foyer, a waltz rendition in the ballroom, and articulated lyrics by Atencio in the graveyard.

2) Michael Jackson: 'Thriller'

Written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, the song reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 1 on the Radio & Records singles charts. And what's a Halloween song without an epic 14 minute video? Full of zombie-like jazz moves choreographed by both Michael Peters and Michael Jackson, the video includes actor Vincent Price – known for his distinctive voice in horror films – who was brought in to do a rap solo in the middle of the "short film." The video won a Grammy in 1985 for best video, long form.

1) Danny Elfman: 'This Is Halloween'

Composed by Danny Elfman, the Halloween song was covered by Marilyn Mason in 2006, and was also used in the video game 'Kingdom Hearts.' The soundtrack album from the epic Tim Burton film 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' peaked at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for the for best original score in the 1993 Golden Globes.