1. “Heads Will Roll” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson

3. “The Monster” – Eminem ft. Rihanna

4. “Ghost Town” – Adam Lambert

5. “Disturbia” – Rihanna

6. “Death Valley” – Fall Out Boy

7. “American Beauty/American Psycho” – Fall Out Boy

8. “Haunted” – Beyonce

9. “Bad Moon Rising” – Mourning Ritual

10. “Black Magic” – Little Mix

We’ve all been through the struggle of trying to put together the perfect Halloween playlist. It’s always hard to find songs that are upbeat enough to dance to but also have an element of Halloween scare (while also avoiding tracks such as “The Monster Mash” or anything that sounds remotely close to Kidz Bop). Here’s a brief list of ten songs to get you started.

“Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has become a quintessential song for October and the Halloween season. Upbeat and easy to dance to, “Heads Will Roll” is a must-have on an energetic playlist.

While slightly older, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, is a Halloween party essential. This track speaks for itself; you can’t really celebrate Halloween without hearing it at least once.

Here is where it starts to get trickier. Not many popular songs have the makeup of a Halloween worthy song. However, if you delve deep, you can find some modern music worthy of the Halloween season.

“The Monster” by Eminem ft. Rihanna, is a good example. While not automatically thought of as a creepy or haunting song, with its references to monsters and a deep seated fear of oneself, this track earns a rightful place in a modern Halloween music playlist.

Adam Lambert recently released new music of which there are several tracks worthy of this list. However, “Ghost Town” takes the cake. With a smooth melody and a strong back beat layered in echoes, Lambert creates an eerie rendition of the fall from fame.

Speaking of perfect songs, one cannot possibly forget Rihanna’s “Disturbia.” Though it was released several years ago, the lyrics and beat make this song impossible to forget. The title speaks for itself; dark and twisted, “Disturbia” plays on the shadows and fears that lurk in the depths of the human mind.

Fall Out Boy has always been known for their borderline maniac song lyrics so it is unsurprising that two of their songs have made it on this list. Perfectly engineered, both “Death Valley” and “American Beauty/American Psycho” have incredible rhythms, even though they are from different albums, and thus, have very different sounds.

Beyoncé also has earned a spot on the list with “Haunted” which was released nearly two years ago. This track is everything one would expect from the Queen B herself. Sophisticated and otherworldly, this song provides a softer edge to this playlist.

Some may recognize “Bad Moon Rising,” by Mourning Ritual, from such popular shows as “The Walking Dead” (it was the show’s mid season theme), and “Teen Wolf.” While originally performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival as a country ballad, Mourning Ritual has reworked “Bad Moon Rising” with a deeper tone and slower tempo, giving it a dark, haunting feel.

However, not all Halloween songs have to be creepy. “Black Magic” by Little Mix adds another flavor to the end of our list, with love-centered lyrics overlaid and a witchcraft-esque theme. “Black Magic” provides an easy excuse to dance to something a little more uplifting and fun at this year’s Halloween party.

Though it might not seem like it, there are plenty of songs out there to add to your October playlist. The ones listed here are just a start, but you’d be surprised what chilling storylines you can hear in a song; you just have to listen closely!