![[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and an unsettling atmosphere!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dhsXpxpt0Sg/sddefault.jpg)
Back in the Showa era, when Halloween hadn’t yet really caught on in Japan—even though it’s now a huge annual celebration—there were actually plenty of songs that perfectly fit the spooky vibe of ghosts, witches, and skeletons dancing about, even if they didn’t directly use Halloween as a theme! In this article, we’ve gathered Showa-era songs that are perfect for Halloween.
Enjoy tracks that capture the distinct “Showa feel,” from anime theme songs featuring witches and yokai to tunes whose lyrics and atmosphere are delightfully eerie.
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- [Ghosts & Yokai] Horror Song Collection [Monsters & Zombies]
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- Songs that amp up Halloween: a roundup of perfect tracks for party BGM!
[Showa × Halloween] A roundup of chilling songs with scary lyrics and eerie vibes! (1–10)
Gloomy SundayAwaya Noriko
This is a chanson born in Hungary, known worldwide as a frightening song.
In Japan, it’s known through performances by artists such as Noriko Awaya, who was called the “Queen of Blues.” That bleak melody inevitably sends chills down your spine, doesn’t it? This Japanese version was recorded once around 1936, but there’s an anecdote that its release was banned because the overly pessimistic atmosphere was deemed problematic.
With a noble yet weighty vocal tone that highlights quiet madness and sorrow, this chilling piece seems perfect for a ghostly Halloween gathering.
I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki
This song, sung by Miyuki Nakajima, portrays the deep resentment and sorrow of a woman after a broken heart.
It was included on the album “Is It OK If I’m Alive?” released in 1980.
The weighty melody and Nakajima’s powerful vocals resonate deeply.
This work doesn’t only express the harsh sadness of heartbreak; it also sings of the immense resentment within it, like a voiceless scream.
It’s a song I especially want people to hear if they carry the pain of heartbreak that borders on anger.
On Halloween night, it might be worthwhile to listen to this song and confront the “resentment” within yourself…
Prince of HellSeikima II
If you want to bask in a solemn, ominous atmosphere, Seikima-II’s early signature track is perfect! The lyrics, depicting a ritual in which a prince of the demon realm is born into this world, feel like a single dark fantasy film.
Demon Kakka’s commanding vocals dramatize the epic story to stunning effect.
Layered, hefty guitars and choral parts reminiscent of church music ride over a leisurely rhythm—this weighty sound is irresistible.
The song was included on their debut album, “Seikima-II: Akuma ga Kitarite Heavy Metal,” released in September 1985.
Play it to kick off Halloween night, and you’ll be drawn into a world that’s both eerie and majestic.
Demon-Counting SongKarashima Midori
Even Midori Karashima, famed as a master of winter ballads like “Silent Eve,” sang spine-chilling songs like this in her early career.
With each number counted—one, two—the song depicts a curse-like world where a burning love plunges into hell and the underworld.
Her pure, beautiful voice only heightens the icy despair in the lyrics, and that contrast sends shivers down your spine.
This piece was produced in February 1989 as an insert song for the OVA “Yoma.” Listen to it on Halloween night, and its beautiful melody may amplify the terror so much that you won’t be able to spend the night alone!
kaleidoscopeIwasaki Hiromi
It’s a song by Hiromi Iwasaki that portrays a woman’s obsession as she appears like a phantom before the ex-lover who can’t forget her, trying to burn herself into his sight.
Despite its beautiful melody, the lyrics evoke a chilling, curse-like atmosphere.
Released as a single in September 1979, it was also used in a Subaru Leone commercial.
There’s a rumor that a male voice can be heard in the outro of the recording, which led to its reputation as a ghostly, occult song.
The prevailing explanation is that a chorus part slated to be cut accidentally remained.
How about enjoying this unsettling anecdote hidden within a beautiful classic on an adult Halloween night?
GeGeGe no KitaroKumakura Kazuo
Halloween is a festival of ghosts.
And when it comes to songs that the word “ghost” inevitably brings to mind, this is the one: the theme song from the anime GeGeGe no Kitaro, based on the work of Shigeru Mizuki.
The song has been remade and covered many times, but many people probably feel that the original version sung by Kazuo Kumakura is the most fitting.
If you want to pick a song to get a laugh, this one is a sure bet.
Go ahead and sing it with all the spooky flair you can muster.
It’s also a great choice for karaoke when there are little kids around.
Yokai Human Bemhanī naitsu
Performed by the Honey Knights, this anime theme song was created as the opening for a hugely popular series in 1968.
It portrays the tragic fate of the yokai humans and their earnest wish to live as ordinary people, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
Led by Masahiko Aoi, the distinctive choral vocals convey feelings of loneliness and the pain of being misunderstood to powerful effect.
Through the fusion of animation and music, the piece leaves a stronger impact on viewers and has become a classic loved for many years.
It’s a perfect track for Halloween parties when you’re dressed as yokai or monsters.
Put on a costume and sing it with friends, and you’re sure to get the party going!