The Halloween Countdown marches on, and we’ve finally arrived at the Top Ten! From here on in, it’s sure to be a real thriller!

Oh, come on….like I wasn’t going to include this song. It’s just not Halloween without it!

Number 10: Michael Jackson – Thriller

This may seem to some of you as corny a choice as Monster Mash, and in some ways it is. When you google halloween songs, you are more than likely to see this pop up. With its eerie sounds like creaking floorboards and howling wolves, and the iconic Vincent Price “rap” at the end, how could it miss?  And when you factor in the power of one of the greatest music videos of all time, you just cannot deny the creepy greatness of this tune.

I remember watching the world premiere of this video, and lemme tell you, it lived up to its name. “Thriller” clocked in at 14 minutes, and had a top Hollywood director, John Landis, at the helm. It was critically acclaimed, though many thought it was too violent. Soon it was appearing on top video lists, and was even the first music video included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The song itself was the seventh single released from the album Thriller to hit the Billboard Top Ten, and peaked at Number 4 on the chart.

The album was Michael Jackson’s inauguration as the King of Pop. He emerged from disco with a fresh perspective and a new sound, and amplified his amazing dance and performance skills by taking advantage of the video age. Thriller is still the best selling album of all time to this day.

For your nostalgic viewing pleasure, here is the original full-length video of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Enjoy!

 

The Countdown

  • 20) Eels – Fresh Blood
  • 19) Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell
  • 18) Tom Waits – Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard
  • 17) Donovan – Season Of The Witch
  • 16) Jeremy Messersmith – Organ Donor
  • 15) Neville Brothers – Voodoo
  • 14) Siouxsie & The Banshees – Eve White Eve Black
  • 13) The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes
  • 12) The Ramones – Pet Semetary
  • 11) Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
  • 10) Michael Jackson – Thriller