Kelly Clarkson brought a familiar Halloween song to “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in 2022, but her “Kellyoke” performance took Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “Monster Mash” in a strikingly different musical direction. The seasonal favorite’s playful novelty sound gave way to a darker, more dramatic arrangement, with Clarkson’s vocals at its center.
The staging helped set the mood. The performance unfolded on a set dressed as an eerie forest, and Clarkson wore an elaborate Halloween costume. Rather than simply reproduce the song’s original feel, the cover used a rock-ballad approach that gave the tune a more theatrical edge.
A Halloween standard with staying power
Pickett released “Monster Mash” in 1962. The novelty song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a recurring seasonal favorite. Its popularity endured: in 2021, it returned to the chart, reaching No. 37.
That long familiarity made Clarkson’s choice both recognizable and open to a fresh interpretation. She kept the song’s identity clear while changing its atmosphere, trading much of the original’s lightheartedness for a heavier, more dramatic sound.
Clarkson delivered the arrangement with force, building to high notes and showcasing the vocal intensity that the reworking called for. The performance’s contrast between a well-known Halloween tune and a rock-oriented treatment was a defining part of its appeal.
Viewers respond to the new arrangement
Comments on the original performance video reflected viewers’ enthusiasm for the change, with commenters praising the arrangement and Clarkson’s delivery. The YouTube video has since been deleted, so those reactions remain a record of how the performance was received when it was available.
The cover stood out not because the song was unfamiliar, but because Clarkson made a decades-old seasonal staple sound different from its best-known version. Its eerie setting, costume and forceful vocals all supported the reimagining without losing sight of the song she was covering.
For a Halloween edition of her show, “Monster Mash” offered a natural fit. Clarkson’s performance gave the 1962 hit a theatrical rock treatment, turning a familiar seasonal track into a showcase for a very different mood and vocal style.
