Ghostbusters (song)

"Ghostbusters"
Single by Ray Parker Jr.
from the album Ghostbusters OST
Released	1984
Genre	Rock, funk, dance, pop
Length	4:04 4:45 (extended instrumental version)
Label	Arista
Writer(s)	Ray Parker Jr.
Producer	Ray Parker Jr.
Ray Parker Jr. singles chronology
"Woman Out of Control" (1984) "Ghostbusters" (1984) "Jamie" (1984)

"Ghostbusters" is a 1984 song recorded by Ray Parker, Jr. as the theme to the film of the same name starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11 in 1984, and stayed there for three weeks. It also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart on 16 September 1984, where it stayed for three weeks.

It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song, but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You".

Background

According to Parker, he was approached by the film's producers to create a theme song for the film. Unfortunately, he only had a few days to do so and the film's title seemed impossible to include in any lyrics. However, when watching television late at night, Parker saw a cheap commercial for a local service that reminded him that the film had a similar commercial featured for the fictional business. This inspired him to write the song as a pseudo-advertising jingle that the business could have commissioned as a promotion.

The repeating line from the song, "I ain't afraid of no ghost", is probably borrowed from the children's book "The Ghost-Eye Tree" by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, in which the protagonist's brother exclaims, "I'm tough! Real tough! I ain't 'fraid of no ghost."

Parker was later the defendant in a copyright infringement lawsuit which claimed "Ghostbusters" was too similar in musical structure to "I Want a New Drug," written and performed by Huey Lewis and the News (more specifically, the bass/guitar riff which runs through the song). "I Want a New Drug" was a U.S. top-ten hit earlier the same year. The two parties settled out of court. Details of the settlement (specifically, that Parker paid Lewis a settlement) were confidential until 2001, when Lewis commented on the payment in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music. Parker subsequently sued Lewis for breaching confidentiality. Coincidentally, Lewis had at one point been asked to record a theme song for the movie, but turned it down because he was writing songs for the Back to the Future soundtrack.^{[citation needed]}

In later years, AutoNation adopted the theme for their advertising campaign. In the United Kingdom, the song is parodied with Parker himself being featured in a commercial advertising direct enquiries line 118 118.

The song re-entered the UK Top 75 on 2nd November 2008 at No. 49.

Lindsey Buckingham claims to have been approached to write the Ghostbusters theme based on his successful contribution to Harold Ramis's National Lampoon's Vacation (the song "Holiday Road"). He turned down the opportunity as he did not want to be known as a soundtrack artist. He mentions this on the "Words & Music" interview disk.

Music video

A music video for the song featured a young woman, played by Cindy Harrell, who was being haunted by a ghost portrayed by Parker, roaming a nearly all-black house interior with vibrant neon designs outlining the sparse architectural and industrial features. It also contained footage from the film Ghostbusters, and featured cameos from many celebrities of the day, including Chevy Chase, Irene Cara, John Candy, Melissa Gilbert, Ollie E. Brown, Jeffrey Tambor, George Wendt, Al Franken, Danny DeVito, Carly Simon, Peter Falk and Teri Garr; all of whom exclaim the "Ghostbusters!" line of the song when shown.

The video concludes with Parker and the stars of the film, in full Ghostbuster costume, dancing down the streets of New York City. The Ghostbusters also performed the similar dance in the closing credits to the Real Ghostbusters cartoon series as well as in a trailer for the 2009 Ghostbusters video game.

Track listing

1. "Ghostbusters" — 3:46
2. "Ghostbusters" (instrumental) — 4:03

Run–D.M.C. version

"Ghostbusters"
Single by Run-D.M.C.
from the album Ghostbusters II OST
B-side	"Pause"
Released	July 12, 1989
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:07 6:00 (12" mix)
Label	MCA, Profile Records
Writer(s)	Ray Parker Jr., Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizell
Producer	Jam Master Jay, Davy D
Run-D.M.C. singles chronology
"Run's House" (1988) "Ghostbusters" / "Pause" (1989) "What's It All About" (1990)

For the film's 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II, a remixed version of the "Ghostbusters" song was recorded featuring a rap by Run–D.M.C.. It was released on 7" vinyl and cassette as a standard single, as well as on 12" vinyl and CD as a double A-side maxi single with the track "Pause" from Run-D.M.C.'s fifth studio album, Back from Hell.

Music video

The song's music video begins with Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts climbing out of a limousine in front of a large crowd. They are accompanied by Run–D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay dressed in the standard beige Ghostbusters' uniform, who then perform the song on stage to a packed audience for the remainder of the video, intercut with clips from the film.

Track listings

7" single / cassette

1. "Ghostbusters" – 4:07
2. "Ghostbusters (Ghost Power Instrumental)" – 4:07

12" single

1. "Ghostbusters" – 6:00
2. "Ghostbusters (Dub Buster)" – 4:10
3. "Pause" – 6:00
4. "Pause (Dub Version)" – 3:32
5. "Pause (Radio Version)" – 3:46

CD single

1. "Ghostbusters" – 6:00
2. "Pause" – 6:00
3. "Pause (Dub Version)" – 3:32
4. "Pause (Radio Version)" – 3:46

Mickael Turtle version

"Ghostbusters"
Single by Mickael Turtle
Released	2005
Length	2:26
Label	Universal
Writer(s)	Ray Parker Jr.
Mickael Turtle singles chronology
"Ghostbusters" (2005) "Super Freak" (2006)

In 2005, the original song was covered by the animated character Mickael Turtle, reaching No. 5 in France on December 3, 2005, and No. 23 in Switzerland on January 15, 2006.

Track listing

1. "Ghostbusters" (radio edit) — 2:26
2. "Ghostbusters" (extended club original mix) — 5:07
3. "Ghostbusters" (who's that remix long voix) — 6:15
4. "Ghostbusters" (extended club instrumental mix) — 5:07
5. "Ghostbusters" (Who's that remix long dub) — 6:12
6. Mickael The Turtle - Teaser Video

Other versions

• A version of the song with a different set of vocals serves as the theme song for the spin-off cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters.
• A remix of the song serves as the theme song for the cartoon series Extreme Ghostbusters.
• Ska band Attaboyskip recorded a version of the song. It is often attributed to other other Ska band like Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger on various file sharing sites.
• David Essex covered the song on his 1987 album Central Stage.
• Rapper Mistah F.A.B. samples the song in his 2006 single "Ghost Ride It".
• A cover of the song also appears on the debut album Peep by the Finnish band The Rasmus. It is available on their compilation album Hell of a Collection as well.
• British thrash metal band Xentrix covered the song as a single and released it in various versions on several albums. There was a bit of controversy when they used a parody of the Ghostbusters logo on the single sleeve (with the ghost flicking a V Sign) without permission, but the band later reissued the single with different artwork.
• DJ team Umi Ghoulies remixed and covered the song at 175 bpm for the 2003 dance compilation Speed SFX.
• "Ghostbusters" was also covered in 2004's Kidz Bop Halloween album.
• The band McFly performed the song live on their 2006 "Motion in the Ocean" tour. The song later appeared on their tour edition album as well as on the DVD of the show.
• Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song in their cartoon episode "Who Ghost There?"
• Rapper The Game, used the song as a sample for the first song on his mixtape Ghost Unit.
• St. Louis based band Ludo performs a cover at their concerts around the month of October.
• A cover by heavy metal / experimental band Vomitron can be found circulating the internet.
• Another mashup of "Ghostbusters" and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" was included on Mash Up Your Bootz Vol.6.
• Texas pop-punk band Bowling for Soup covered the song for the movie Just Like Heaven.
• The alternative band Hoobastank recorded a version of the song for Halloween in 2009. A video, which features the band dressed in the multi-colored uniforms worn by The Real Ghostbusters, opposed to the tan jumpsuits worn by the motion picture Ghostbusters, was also put on YouTube.
• The song was covered on the sixth series of the UK version of The X Factor by the twins John & Edward, and later included on their debut album Planet Jedward.
• Latvian instrumental cello rock trio Melo-M (featuring Intars Busulis on vocals) included a cover version in their 2007 album Singalongs.

In the media

The song is referenced in both the films and the cartoon series.

In Ghostbusters II, at one point in the movie, Peter Venkman says, "Kitten, I think what I'm saying is that sometimes, shit happens, someone has to deal with it, and who you gonna call?" There was also a scene where a commercial for the company's business featured Janine Melnitz and Louis Tully as a couple being bothered by a ghost. Louis picks up a phone, Janine asks who he is going to call, and the Ghostbusters appear answering "Ghostbusters!" Also, in the birthday party scene at the beginning of the movie, Raymond Stantz and Winston Zeddemore play and sing along to the song.

In an episode of The Real Ghostbusters, the Ghostbusters are trapped in an alternate reality New York populated by ghosts, where a group of ghosts called the Peoplebusters go around the city catching human beings. When they are fleeing from the Peoplebusters, the GBs pass a ghost dining in an outdoor cafe, who witnesses the scene and sings "When there isn't something strange/in your neighborhood/Who you gonna call?/Peoplebusters!"

In TokyoPop's Ghostbusters series, Ray, Peter, and Egon eat at a diner with pictures of famous patrons on the wall. Ray comments on the people on the wall, and, finding Ray Parker Jr, remarks that he's never heard of him.

The song appears in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. It is played fully in the end credits of the game (on the Wii, PS2, and PSP versions), and on the PS3 Cross Menu Bar screen when a user is on the disc icon for more than 3 seconds.

St. Louis CBS station KMOV spoofed the song for its mid-1980s "Newsbusters" promos.

Washington, DC NBC station WRC-TV spoofed the song in 1988 with "Broncobusters", which is all about the Washington Redskins and their, at the time, upcoming match up against the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl XXII.

Professional wrestler Jerry Lawler made a parody of the song in Memphis Wrestling entitled "Wimpbusters".

In the 1995 movie Casper when Carrigan and Dibbs are trying to get the ghosts out of the mansion, several pieces of furniture are thrown out of the door, and Dan Aykroyd (dressed as his Ghostbusters character, Dr. Raymond Stantz) is seen running out. He stops by Carrigan and Dibbs and says, "Who you gonna call? Somebody else." He then leaves quickly.

In "Sunday in the Park with Fran" (Episode 1.18 of The Nanny), Niles and Fran are discussing the refrigerator, which has been broken throughout the entire episode. Fran says "Who you gonna call?" and opens the door. Dan Aykroyd enters dressed as a repairman and announces "Frost Busters!"

In the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spike asks Buffy, "Who you gonna call?" then follows it with "God, that line is never gonna be usable again, is it?" to which she replies, "Probably not."

Disney produced an abridged music video of the song in the special DTV Monster Hits, set entirely to clips from the 1937 cartoon Lonesome Ghosts.

A musical number on the Kids' WB! show Histeria!, about Theodore Roosevelt and his anti-trust campaign (featured in the episode "The Teddy Roosevelt Show"), was sung to the theme.

In the "Petergeist" episode of Family Guy, Tom Tucker reports that the Griffin family's house is infested with ghosts. "Who they gonna call?" he asks. His co-anchor, Diane Simmons, suggests "Ghostbusters?" and Tucker replies with "No, Diane, their insurance company. That's just stupid what you said."

In an episode of the TV show Max and Paddy's Road To Nowhere, a motor mechanic who goes by the name of Mick Bustin has the slogan "When there's something strange/Underneath your hood/Who ya gonna call?/Mick Bustin" for his business, and Ghostbuster parody logos all over his auto shop.

In the "Bloooo" episode of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, when Wilt asks Coco what to do for their "ghost" problem, Coco picks up a telephone, and Wilt says, "Who you gonna call?" Coco responds by saying "Co-coco!" in the same way the word Ghostbusters is said in the song. Wilt replies, "They've been out of business for years."

The BBC children's comedy series Maid Marian and her Merry Men featured a spoof of the song entitled "Call The Dentist".

In Sonic Unleashed (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions) there is an achievement called "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost", which is unlocked by freeing several NPCs from possession. It is also the name of an achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the Ghostbusters game that is unlocked after the player traps the Sloth Ghost.

An advert for UK Directory Enquiries service 118 118 features Ray Parker Jr multiple times in different costumes in a parody of the song. It alters lines slightly such as "If there's something strange, going through your head, Who Ya Gonna Call? 118!", and "I ain't afraid of no goats" (shortly after Parker Jr. frees two goats from the back of a car). The advert also features giant versions of the 118 men, in a parody of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Ads for the Maroone car dealerships (Auto Nation affiliate of Palm Beach and Broward County, South Florida) featured variations on the famous chorus. The variation went: "If you need a car/Truck or van/Who you gonna call/MAROONE!". Other Auto Nation affiliates (ex: AutoWay of Tampa, Courtesy of Orlando) use this song for their advertisements.

In the Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts", a couple lines of the song are sung by both The Doctor and Rose Tyler, the Doctor carrying equipment that visually resembles the equipment the Ghostbusters used.

A parody version sung by the dead character Nappa ('Ghost Nappa') was used to close the first season of That Guy with the Glasses hosted Dragon Ball Z Abridged.

The song is one of the playable songs in Lego Rock Band, both in the console versions and in the Nintendo DS version.

Beatmania IIDX 14: Gold includes a remix of the "Ghostbusters" Theme as a playable track.

In the film Zombieland, the central characters listen to the song while at Murray's mansion.

In the episode "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis" in the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the gang references the Ghostbusters a few times during the episode, and drive around the city to the theme song.

In "Nan's Christmas Carol", a special Christmas 2009 episode of The Catherine Tate Show based on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, The Ghost of Christmas Present (David Tennant) makes his entrance dancing to the song as it plays on his phone.

In The Hoosiers video "Goodbye Mr. A", a sign briefly appears saying "Hoosier gonna call?"

"Ghostbusters" was played before a commercial break during the NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots on Halloween 2010.

In the Futurama episode, Ghost in the Machines, Philip J. Fry responds to Hermes' "Who ya gonna call?" with "Ghostbusters", but is cut off mid-sentence by a cannot be connected dial tone followed by "The number you have dialed has been lame since 1989".

The song was remixed for club play in 2010 by U.S. producer, Joel Dickinson. A commercial version (including the original synth riff) and an underground club mix were released.

Certifications

Ray Parker Jr. version

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Canada	Platinum	September 1, 1984	100,000
France	Platinum	1985	1,000,000
UK	Gold	October 1, 1984	500,000
U.S.	Gold	August 7, 1984	1,000,000

Mickael Turtle version

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
France	Silver	December 1, 2005	125,000

Charts

Ray Parker Jr.

Chart (1984/85)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	8
Dutch Singles Chart	4
French SNEP Singles Chart	1
German Singles Chart	4
Irish IRMA Singles Chart	4
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	9
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play	6
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	1

End of year chart (1984)	Position
Swiss Singles Chart	12

Mickael Turtle

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	21
French SNEP Singles Chart	5
German Singles Chart	56
Swiss Singles Chart	23

End of year chart (2005)	Position
French SNEP Singles Chart	50

Preceded by "When Doves Cry" by Prince	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single August 11, 1984 - August 25, 1984 (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner
	Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks number-one single August 25, 1984 - September 1, 1984 (2 weeks)	Succeeded by "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" by Billy Ocean
Preceded by "When Doves Cry" by Prince	Canadian RPM Singles Chart number-one single August 25, 1984 – September 1, 1984	Succeeded by "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner
Preceded by "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder	French SNEP number-one single (first run) December 29, 1984 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Besoin de rien, envie de toi" by Peter & Sloane
Preceded by "Besoin de rien, envie de toi" by Peter & Sloane	French SNEP number-one single (second run) January 19, 1985 - January 26, 1985 (2 weeks)	Succeeded by "When the Rain Begins to Fall" by Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson
Preceded by "When the Rain Begins to Fall" by Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson	French SNEP number-one single (third run) February 16, 1985 (1 week)
Preceded by "When the Rain Begins to Fall" by Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson	French SNEP number-one single (fourth run) March 2, 1985 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Square Rooms" by Al Corley

External links

• Ray Parker Jr. discusses the making of 'Ghostbusters'