Halloween Karaoke Songs: 34 Picks From Spooky to Silly

These are the songs that actually work at a Halloween karaoke night: the sing-alongs the room already knows, cult-movie and musical numbers for the theater kids, duets for couples costumes, novelty songs for laughs, and creepy picks that sit low for deeper voices. The table gives you the range, difficulty and length for each, and further down I explain why each one works and where it can trip you up.

The songs the whole costume party already knows. Put your name in for one of these and the room does half the work, usually with the dance moves.

"Thriller" — Michael Jackson

The Halloween song, full stop, and half the bar will start the zombie dance the second the intro creaks in. The verses sit low and the chorus climbs, so it's a wide song on paper, but the crowd sings every hook with you. It runs long, so check whether your KJ has the shorter edit.

"Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr.

It's a call-and-response song, and the response belongs to the room, so you mostly ask the question and point the mic outward. The melody barely moves and sits comfortably for most voices. Wear the jumpsuit if you've got it.

"Somebody's Watching Me" — Rockwell

The verses are half-spoken in a paranoid mutter, and the chorus, with Michael Jackson singing backup on the record, is the part everyone knows. The whole song stays inside one octave, so it's a safe spooky pick if you don't trust your voice. Play up the creepy eyes-over-the-shoulder act.

"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys

The video is a haunted-house monster mash, which makes this a sneaky Halloween classic, and every millennial in the room knows the dance. The high harmonies are hard alone, so bring four friends and split the lines boy-band style.

"Disturbia" — Rihanna

A dark, pulsing pop song that keeps the dance floor going, with a wordless hook the whole bar chants back. The verses are low and moody and the chorus jumps up, so it's a wide song, but the hook carries you. Great for anyone who wants a spooky pick that isn't a novelty.

"Highway to Hell" — AC/DC

Every devil-horns costume in the building will want this one. Bon Scott's raspy, high-pressure shout is the hard part, so go all in on the grit rather than chasing clean notes. The crowd takes the title line every time it comes around.

"Bloody Mary" — Lady Gaga

A Born This Way deep cut that blew up again when Wednesday's dance went viral, so younger crowds know it as a Halloween song. The verses are low and slinky and the chorus reaches up. Do the Wednesday dance in the instrumental break and you'll get a cheer.

"Dead Man's Party" — Oingo Boingo

Danny Elfman's band wrote the unofficial anthem of the Halloween house party, and anyone who grew up in Southern California will lose it when it starts. The vocal is more of a theatrical chant than a melody, but the album cut runs over six minutes, so ask your KJ for a shorter edit.

Want sing-alongs for the rest of the year? The best karaoke songs list has crowd-pleasers in every style.

Halloween is the one night a showtune is the right call. These come from cult movies and stage musicals, and the theater kids in the room will sing every word with you.

"Time Warp" — The Rocky Horror Picture Show cast

The song literally tells everyone what dance to do, so the whole room ends up on its feet. Split it up between a narrator, a couple of singers and a chorus of friends. Nobody is listening for pitch; they're doing the pelvic thrust.

"Sweet Transvestite" — Tim Curry

This is a character song, so the performance is everything, from the slow strut to the cape to the eyebrows. It's a strutting rock-and-roll melody with a couple of high reaches near the end. Commit fully to Frank-N-Furter and the crowd forgives every note.

"Science Fiction/Double Feature" — Richard O'Brien

The movie's opening number is a slow, gentle ode to old B-movies, so it's a good pick when you want something eerie instead of loud. The tempo gives you time to breathe and the melody is easy to follow. Rocky Horror fans will sing the chorus with you.

"Feed Me (Git It)" — Levi Stubbs & Rick Moranis

Audrey II, the man-eating plant, gets the soulful, growling Motown part, and Seymour gets the nervous back-and-forth. One person can do both voices for laughs, but it's better with a big-voiced friend playing the plant. The plant's part needs some belt.

"This Is Halloween" — The Nightmare Before Christmas cast

The Halloween Town roll call, where every monster gets a few lines, which makes it perfect to split around a group in costume. The lines come quickly and the character voices change constantly, so it's harder solo than it sounds. Kids and adults both know it.

"What's This?" — Danny Elfman

Jack Skellington discovering Christmas Town, sung at a breathless, wide-eyed sprint. The words come fast and the melody keeps jumping up, so practice it before you take it on stage. It sits right between Halloween and Christmas, so it works all season.

"Sally's Song" — Catherine O'Hara

Short, slow and sad, with a melody that stays inside an octave. It's a lovely change of pace on a loud night and over in under two minutes, so it's a gentle first song for a nervous singer. Best in a quieter bar or a private room.

"I Put a Spell on You" — Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Bette Midler's take in Hocus Pocus made it the witch's anthem, but the original is the wild, screaming blues that started it all. Either way it's about the growls, howls and theatrical menace, not pretty notes. Check which version your KJ has before you go up.

Couples costume? These are built for two, and most of them come with characters to play. Agree on who sings what before you go up.

"Dammit Janet" — Barry Bostwick & Susan Sarandon

Brad's nervous proposal and Janet's giddy answers, trading back and forth over a bouncy doo-wop beat. Both parts sit in an easy middle range and the whole thing is under three minutes. Perfect if you came as Brad and Janet.

"Suddenly Seymour" — Ellen Greene & Rick Moranis

It starts as a sweet, shy love song and builds into a full gospel-style belt for both singers. Audrey's part has the big notes, so give it to the stronger singer. When it lands, it's one of the biggest moments a karaoke night gets.

"The Phantom of the Opera" — Sarah Brightman & Steve Harley

The title song from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, with the pounding organ riff that makes everyone look up. The Phantom's part is dark and dramatic, but Christine's ends in a run of very high operatic notes that most people should play for laughs. Bring a cape and a half-mask.

"Say My Name" — Alex Brightman, Sophia Anne Caruso, Kerry Butler & Rob McClure

The Beetlejuice musical's showdown between the demon and Lydia, with the Maitlands chiming in. It's fast and wordy, but it's really a comedy scene, so the jokes matter more than the notes. Musical-theater fans in the crowd will be thrilled you picked it.

"The Monster" — Eminem featuring Rihanna

One of you takes Rihanna's catchy hook and the other takes Eminem's rapid verses. The hook is easy and everyone sings along; the verses are dense and quick, so the rapper should practice first. A good pick for a pair who want something modern.

Going as a pair but want something that isn't spooky? There's a whole list of duet karaoke songs, split by pairing.

Talk-sung, silly and short. These are for when you want a laugh more than a standing ovation, and almost none of them ask much of your voice.

"Monster Mash" — Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers

The most-requested Halloween novelty song there is, and it's told more than sung, in a deep horror-movie voice. Do your best Boris Karloff and the backing vocals carry the rest. It works on anyone, including people who swear they can't sing.

"The Purple People Eater" — Sheb Wooley

A goofy monster story with a sped-up creature voice you get to imitate. It's barely over two minutes, the tune is simple, and kids love it as much as adults. Great for a family-friendly Halloween party.

"Witch Doctor" — David Seville

The nonsense-syllable chorus is the joke, sung in the squeaky sped-up voice that later became the Chipmunks. The melody fits inside an octave and the whole thing is over in about two minutes. Get your friends to do the high voice with you.

"Dentist!" — Steve Martin

The sadistic dentist's Elvis-style rock-and-roll number, and it's all swagger and sneer. Play it like Steve Martin did, completely over the top, and the comedy carries you. It's short, so the bit never wears out.

"I Want Candy" — Bow Wow Wow

Not technically a Halloween song, but the title says it all on trick-or-treat night. It's a pounding jungle beat with a short, chanted chorus, so energy matters more than pitch. Under three minutes and easy for anybody.

"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" — Harry Belafonte

Ever since the possessed dinner-party scene in Beetlejuice, this one counts as a Halloween song. It's call-and-response, so you lead and the whole room answers. Hold the opening call as long as you can for a cheer.

If the novelty songs are your thing, my list of funny karaoke songs has plenty more for nights when you just want a laugh.

Spooky songs that sit low, so baritones and altos can stay in their comfort zone. Most of them sound creepier in a deep voice anyway.

"Werewolves of London" — Warren Zevon

Zevon half-talks the verses in a dry, deadpan voice, and the chorus is basically a howl the whole bar joins. It's easy on the voice and the jokes in the verses land on their own. Bring a werewolf mask.

"People Are Strange" — The Doors

Jim Morrison's moody croon sits low and stays in a narrow band, and the eerie carnival feel suits the night perfectly. It's barely two minutes, so it's a low-risk pick for a baritone. Wear something black and brooding and stare into the middle distance.

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" — Blue Öyster Cult

The melody stays inside a single octave, soft and spooky, and the jangly guitar does the creepy work. Someone in the crowd will demand more cowbell, so hand a friend something to bang. The album version runs over five minutes; most karaoke tracks follow it.

"Psycho Killer" — Talking Heads

David Byrne's twitchy, nervous delivery is the whole act, so lean into the jittery energy. The bassline is iconic and the chorus is an easy chant, but there's a short French section to practice and a yelped high bit. Great for a slightly offbeat costume.

"Bad Moon Rising" — Creedence Clearwater Revival

A cheerful-sounding tune about a sinister omen, which is exactly the Halloween joke. It's short, simple and sits low for most voices, and the room sings the chorus without being asked. A reliable pick for a bar full of classic-rock fans.

"Spooky" — Classics IV

Smooth, slinky and laid-back, with a melody that never pushes. It's a cool, grown-up choice when you want something on theme without the novelty. Great for a crooner or anyone with a warm low voice.

"Zombie" — The Cranberries

Not about the undead, but nobody at a Halloween party will mind. The verses are low and nearly spoken, and the chorus is a raw, cathartic wail that sits well for altos and lower voices. The whole room joins in on it.

Ranges in the table are where each song is actually sung. If a chorus still sits too high, ask the KJ to drop the key a step or two. For more songs that suit a deeper voice, see the best karaoke songs for men and the karaoke songs for altos.

1. Match the song to the costume. A Ghostbuster singing "Ghostbusters" or a Frank-N-Furter doing "Sweet Transvestite" gets a cheer before the first note. The costume is half the performance.
2. Sign up early. Halloween is one of the busiest karaoke nights of the year, and the list fills fast. Put your name in as soon as you arrive.
3. Pick a backup song. "Thriller" and "Monster Mash" get requested a lot on Halloween, and plenty of KJs won't play the same song twice in a night. Have a second choice ready.
4. Bring the group up for the big ones. "Time Warp," "This Is Halloween" and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" are better with a crowd on stage, and splitting the lines takes the pressure off everyone.
5. Check the length. A few Halloween classics run long. "Dead Man's Party" is over six minutes, so ask whether your KJ has a shorter edit before you commit.
6. Mind the mask. Full-face masks muffle the mic. Push it up before you sing, then pull it back down for the big finish.

Throwing your own party instead? My guide to hosting a karaoke night covers the setup, and the group karaoke songs list has more songs for a crowd of friends.

Looking for something beyond Halloween? Head to my big list of the Best Karaoke Songs for picks in every style, or get a head start on the holidays with Christmas karaoke songs.

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