Why did "The Monster Mash" become the de facto standard monster song?

[The Drunken Severed Head]

It is all the reasons mentioned, plus. The fun aspect to it with no sick or element of danger, cameos of several monster, good musicianship, Pickett's vocal skills, etc. And it hit at just the right time, the zenith of the monster craze. And it's it's a very dance-able song.  You can find one or more of these elements in monster songs BEFORE Monster Mash, but so many in one.

One factor not mentioned so far--it's been recorded dozens of times (as has been mentioned, Pickett himself re-recorded it)--very often for kid's records. Each new generation has heard one or more versions--it's UBIQUITY guaranteed it would become an anthem!

In the '90s, I was in a monster-laden, film-spoofing stage musical called MONSTER HOUSEPARTY. I played a Karloff-type mad scientist with a Karloff-type voice. The show was supposed to end with "Igor" singing the song, but the actor couldn't memorize it. I sang it instead, and it always got a biiiig response from the audience.

[Crazy1van]

I gotta point out that THRILLER and GHOSTBUSTERS get almost as much Halloween airplay as MONSTER MASH these days, though they are not nearly as all-inclusive.  And on a personal note, I got mad props for singing MONSTER MASH karioke at a country bar on New Year's Eve.

[ChattyLMS]

I definitely think it's the Karloff imitation that did it.  Ghostbusters is a great fun Halloween song, too.  When I sub around Halloween the kids want those songs.

[Fester]

One more point:

Monster Mash is one of those earworm songs. 
The kind you get stuck in your head in a nonstop loop.

I read this thread last night and 10 hours later it is still bouncing around my cranium!

[neonnoodle]

I even liked the (decidedly silly) Monster Mash: The Movie, which I found a used VHS tape of...Pickett stars in it, and he looks like he's having a grand time.  I was sad when he passed away.  But what a splash he made with one song!  (He was also in "The Deathmaster" with Robert Quarry...)

Check out the History Channel's "The Haunted History of Halloween," they could think of no better track than "The Monster Mash" to use as their recurring theme.  Good documentary.

[ChrisW]

Lots of good points. I agree, the Karloff impersonation probably does have a lot to do with its popularity. According to Wikipedia Boris himself was delighted with it, and actually performed it on Shindig in 1965.
I just did a search on YouTube (Boris Karloff Monster Mash Shindig) and found 2 very interesting clips. Apparently the original show has been lost, but someone recreated it using "some" segments from the original broadcast. The second clip is an actual audio track of the performance that someone recorded in front of the TV on an old reel-to-reel! WAY TO GO!
And you're right, the many times Monster Mash has been covered by other artists has certainly extended its longevity! I have the Bonzo Dog Band album "Tadpoles" where Vivian Stanshall gives it his own peculiar twist!
Thanks for the responses!

[Fester]

ARRGGGHHH!!!!

ITS STILL STUCK IN MY HEAD!!!!!!

[Crazy1van]

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

[ChrisW]

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?

It's now the Mash!

[Crazy1van]

It's now the Mash!

It's now the Monster Mash?

[Fester]

ARRGGGHHH!!!!

Three days and ITS STILL STUCK IN MY HEAD!!!!!!

[ChrisW]

ARRGGGHHH!!!!

Three days and ITS STILL STUCK IN MY HEAD!!!!!!

[Gomez] Waitaminit, Fester! I'll get a pickaxe from the shed and see if I can get it out of there for you! [/Gomez]

[The Drunken Severed Head]

Why go all the way to the shed? I've got a blasting cap here that he can bite down on!

[Fester]

Thwack!
Crack!!

Crunch!!!



Thanks, fellas!  I feel much better now.

[Richard]

One more point:

Monster Mash is one of those earworm songs.  
The kind you get stuck in your head in a nonstop loop.

I read this thread last night and 10 hours later it is still bouncing around my cranium!

I'll add one more thought.
The opening spooky sounds (creaking hinge, bubbling liquid) and pounding drums, before Pickett even starts to sing, grabbed my undivided attention when I first heard this song~ compelling me to listen to the rest of the song (which I LOVE!). Very upbeat and unconventional for a spooky novelty song. Like the opening amplified feedback on I feel Fine or the steady hard drum beat at the start of Oh, Pretty Woman, the Monster Mash demands you listen~ with it's beginning mad laboratory rock 'n' roll sound. Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Karloff then takes over! A true radio classic~and the best rock 'n' roll tribute to our classic UniMonsters ever done, IMHO.

An earworm song, Fester? You bet it is~
for me too!   and I like that