“A Nightmare on My Street” DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1988)

There are some true Halloween gems that you just have to listen to throughout the month of October (or any other time you’re feeling spooky). One that begs to be listened to is “A Nightmare on My Street” by none other than The Fresh Prince. Recorded in 1988, The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff created a pop rap song that meshes with the iconic piano riff that heralds the entrance of Freddy Krueger, the antagonist in the horror classic “Nightmare on Elm Street.” 

The music is rhythmic and danceable, just begging you to bop your head. The addition of the unnerving single-key piano riff that is included from the original movie gives the song a creepy spin that hints at the horror-themed lyrics to come. Plus, who doesn’t want a mash-up of a classic horror film and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song?

The best aspect of this song is the lyrics. While they may not be as funny to anyone who hasn’t seen “Nightmare on Elm Street,” they are still amusing to the everyday listener. Being that Freddy Krueger has become a pop culture icon, most listeners will understand the Prince’s humorous references to the movie throughout the song. 

He begins the song with his retelling of a story about a guy who’s “burnt up like a weenie” who wears the same “hat and sweater every single day; even if it’s hot outside he wears it anyway!” 

After introducing the apparently unfashionable Fred, the Prince goes on to tell the listener how he and a handful of his friends went to see “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and it had him terrified. Later, he went to sleep and awoke in the middle of the night to a melted alarm clock, a burning hot room, and a deep desire for water. He walks to the kitchen, turns off his mysteriously on TV, and finds an unpleasant house guest. 

Freddy Krueger’s instantly recognizable raspy and choked voice threatens the Prince with death for turning off his favorite TV show. The Prince “broke outside my drawers and screamed, ‘So long, cuz!’” He runs down the street, then happily realizes he is dreaming, so Freddy (shouldn’t) be able to hurt him. 

He confidently strolls back inside his house to find Freddy with a proposition that he works with him to kill his victims, but the Prince isn’t into it because “I ain’t partners with nobody with nails that long!” 

He offends Freddy and in true horror movie style, Freddy slashes at the Prince with his gloves. Unfortunately, it actually hurts the Prince, and he realizes that even if he is dreaming, he is still very much in danger. Stuttering, he books it to his room and hides under his covers on his bed. Freddy pursues him and attacks him through his covers, but the Prince’s alarm clock saves him by waking him up. The Prince huffs as he realizes he was dreaming and sings, “It was a whole new day; I thought, ‘Huh, I wasn’t scared of him anyway’” — until of course he found rips in his sheets. That was “proof that there had been a nightmare, on [his] street.” 

The song ends with the Prince frantically calling his friend Jeff who watched the movie with him, and Jeff meets a rather unfortunate end on the other side of the phone as the Prince listens in. 

-Elizabeth Horn

“Monster Mash” Bobby Pickett (1962)

Feeling spooky? This classic bop will surely put you in the Halloween spirit with its catchy lyrics. When I was younger, whenever this song came on the radio, I stopped whatever I was doing just to enjoy the lyrics or the monstrous noises that Pickett makes. This song has always made me want to get up and dance, or maybe even do the Transylvanian Twist. 

This wonderfully weird song starts with a mad scientist observing his monster coming alive and joining a big party of dancing monsters.

It has many lyrics that incorporate different creatures of the night, like Count Dracula, Igor, and even some ghouls. This song ends with the creation being able to enjoy itself with the rest of the monsters.

“Monster Mash” was the #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of Oct. 20, 1962, the year it was released. The song has since become a staple on everyone’s Halloween playlist.

I know as soon as October hits, I think about this song at least 4 times a day.

Also if you have the time, definitely watch the music video. You won’t be sad.

-Victoria Ritter