He Did The Mash

Pictured at left: Halloween Jack-o-lantern. Image provided by Google Images.

Hello all. We are approaching the weekend (Hooray!) which is very exciting, but this weekend is extra special because it's Halloween Weekend. Because Halloween is on a Monday this year, most of the Halloween festivities like haunted houses, parties, and trick-or-treating are scheduled to take place over the weekend, as opposed to Monday night (because let's be honest, nobody likes Monday's). As a music fanatic, I feel obligated to discuss Halloween music.

We'll start with a Halloween classic: Thriller by Michael Jackson. Everyone's seen the video, everyone's learned the classic "zombie" dance move. Thriller is meant to be creepy but over the years it's gained a lighter, more fun reputation. It's often played at school dances, parties, and even events like wedding receptions. Thriller is known more for the choreographed dance that goes along with it rather than the actual song. The dance was performed by Michael Jackson and all the zombies in the original music video, and ever since it's been a popular dance among the public. The dance is also for many flash mobs. (Click here to view my blog post about flash mobs). I personally have learned the dance and participated in flash mobs with it. It's fun stuff, really.

CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines doing the original Thriller dance.

Next we have the Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. This Halloween favorite topped the music charts in 1962, and it's been a Halloween favorite ever since. The Monster Mash isn't as popular as Thriller in the 21st century because of it's age, but it is nonetheless a fun song that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Bobby Pickett's Monster Mash. Video created in 1973 with footage from House on Haunted Hill.


Next there's the popular Ghostbusters Theme Song by Ray Parker, Jr. Besides letting the world know that "he ain't afraid of no ghosts", Ray Parker, Jr. topped the music charts in 1984 with this upbeat, techno Halloween song. It served as the theme song for the movie Ghostbusters.

Original Ghostbusters Theme Song by Ray Parker, Jr.


The list of Halloween songs could go on and on, but unfortunately this blog post can't. There's the Addams Family Theme Song, This is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Rocky Horror Picture Show theme, and so many more. Halloween music is really the icing on the cake when it comes to Halloween because it adds that eerie chill, or in some cases, a lighter feel to any Halloween gathering.

Well, that's all for now folks. Happy Halloween!