Kelly Clarkson gave “Monster Mash” a markedly different sound for a Halloween performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2022. On the show’s “Kellyoke” stage, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s familiar seasonal hit became a darker, more dramatic rock ballad rather than the playful novelty song many listeners know.
Pickett’s original was released in 1962 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track has remained a Halloween staple, and it returned to the chart in 2021 at No. 37. Clarkson’s performance drew on that familiarity, but changed the mood around the song.
The staging helped set the scene: the performance took place against an eerie, forest-like set, and Clarkson wore an elaborate Halloween costume. The musical shift, though, was central. Instead of keeping the original’s cheeky feel, the arrangement gave the song a more ominous, theatrical character.
Clarkson leaned into the new approach with an intense vocal performance, including high notes and a build that emphasized the song’s dramatic side. The reworking offered a different showcase for the melody, moving it away from its party-song associations and toward the atmosphere of a rock ballad.
The performance attracted enthusiastic responses in comments on its original YouTube video, which has since been deleted. Viewers praised the arrangement and the fresh perspective on a song they already knew; some specifically welcomed the idea of a rock version. Those reactions reflected the appeal of hearing a well-established seasonal favorite presented in an unexpected style.
Clarkson’s cover was part of the show’s Halloween programming, but it did more than supply a seasonal performance. The contrast between Pickett’s buoyant original and the darker treatment gave the song a different identity, while retaining its recognizable title and place in Halloween culture. The result was a theatrical take on a decades-old hit, shaped around Clarkson’s vocals and the show’s spooky setting.
