:Ghostbusters (song)

Parker was approached by the film's producers to create a theme song, although he only had a few days to do so. Parker had been specifically instructed to include the film's title in the lyrics, but struggled to find a way to do so. 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 include the phrase "Who ya gonna call?", which allows a crowd to respond with "Ghostbusters!" sparing him from needing to sing the phrase{{Cite news|url=https://www.professorofrock.com/ghostbusters-by-ray-parker-jr/|title=Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. - Professor of Rock|date=2018-10-25|work=Professor of Rock|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232439/https://www.professorofrock.com/ghostbusters-by-ray-parker-jr/|url-status=dead}}

Lindsey Buckingham, on his interview disc Words & Music [A Retrospective], stated that he was approached to write the Ghostbusters theme based on his successful contribution to National Lampoon's Vacation, "Holiday Road". He declined the opportunity as he did not want to be known as a soundtrack artist.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Glenn Hughes and Pat Thrall also submitted a demo that was ultimately rejected. The Hughes and Thrall version was later rewritten and used as the track "Dance or Die" for the 1987 film Dragnet.

The theme is estimated to have added $20 million to the film's box-office gross.{{sfn|Austin|1989|p=78}}

File:Ray Parker Jr., 1984.jpg

The music video for the song was directed by Ivan Reitman, who also directed the Ghostbusters film, and produced by Jeffrey Abelson. It features a young woman played by actress Cindy Harrell{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Mike |date=June 6, 2014 |title=Who Ya Gonna Call? The Inside Story Of The 'Ghostbusters' Music Video |url=https://screencrush.com/ghostbusters-music-video/ |website=ScreenCrush}} who is 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) until the woman finally calls the service.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Directed by Reitman, the "Ghostbusters" music video was No. 1 on MTV and features cameos by celebrities 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. None of the actors were paid for participating but did so as a favor to Reitman.

The video concludes with Parker and the stars of the film, in full Ghostbuster costume, dancing down the streets of New York City. Times Square was closed in order to film the scene, although a sizable crowd may still be seen in the background. The Ghostbusters also perform the same dance in the closing credits to The Real Ghostbusters, the cartoon spin-off, as well as in a trailer for the 2009 Ghostbusters video game.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

{{Further|List of songs that have been the subject of plagiarism disputes}}

Shortly after the film's release, Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr. for plagiarism, alleging that Parker had copied the melody from Lewis's 1983 song "I Want a New Drug". The case was settled out of court in 1985 for an undisclosed sum and a confidentiality agreement that prohibited discussion of the case. According to Parker, there were several lawsuits at the time, because "when you sell that many records, I think everybody wants to say that they wrote the song." Parker later sued Lewis for breaching the confidentiality agreement in a 2001 episode of VH1's Behind the Music by reasserting that Parker stole the song. Regarding his case against Lewis, Parker said, "I got a lot of money out of that." Lewis said it was at least $30,000 in an interview with Dutch television NPO.[https://npo.nl/start/serie/top-2000/seizoen-72_1/top-2000-untold-stories_3 Untold Stories Ray Parker Jr]

In a 2004 article for Premiere magazine, the filmmakers admitted to using the song "I Want a New Drug" as temporary background music in many scenes. They also noted that they had offered to hire Huey Lewis and the News to write the main theme but the band had declined. The filmmakers then gave film footage, with Lewis's song in the background, to Parker to aid him in writing the theme song.{{cite journal|title=Who Ya Gonna Call? Ghostbusters Exclusive! Inside story of a comedy classic|journal=Première|date=June 2004}}

• Ray Parker Jr. – lead vocals, electric guitars, Korg Poly-61 and Roland Jupiter-6 synthesizers, Roland MSQ700 sequencer, LinnDrum programming, maracas, cowbells, Simmons drums {{cite web|title=Classic Tracks: Ray Parker Jr.'s 'Ghostbusters'|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-ray-parker-jrs-ghostbusters-365695|access-date=2023-06-04|website=mixonline.com|date=September 2006 }}{{cite web|title=All Access: Ray Parker Jr.|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f-DBedaHh4|access-date=2023-06-04|website=youtube.com| date=7 April 2017 }}
• Charles "Chazzy" Green – saxophone{{cite web|title=Biography - Chazzy Green|url=https://www.chazzygreen.net|access-date=2024-02-11|website=chazzygreen.net}}{{cite web|title=Ray Parker Jr performs 16 minute long version of 'Ghostbusters' live at Ghostbusters Fan Fest!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nshfDxfm3O4|access-date=2024-02-11|website=youtube.com| date=10 June 2019 }}
• Martin Page – keyboards, atmospheric synthesizer effects{{cite web |title=Interview with Martin Page |url=https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2021/08/interview-with-martin-page.html |website=Rediscover the 80s |date=August 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2025}}
• Brian Fairweather – rhythm and lead rock guitar{{cite web |title=A Radio OwlsNest Halloween Special – The Making of Ghostbusters |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-554184759/a-radio-owlsnest-halloween-special-the-making-of-ghostbusters-w-martin-page-and-brian-fairweather |website=SoundCloud |date=October 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2025}}
• Unknown – backing vocals

;Side one

1. "Ghostbusters" – 3:46

;Side two

1. "Ghostbusters" (instrumental) – 4:07Discogs.com https://www.discogs.com/Ray-Parker-Jr-Ghostbusters/release/398813

Ray Parker, Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 11, 1984, two months after the film's release, and remained there for three weeks. It spent a total of 21 weeks on the charts.

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Ghostbusters"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Ghostbusters|artist=Ray Parker Jr.|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|access-date=April 29, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Ghostbusters|artist=Ray Parker Jr.|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2023|id=13165|access-date=November 17, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Ghostbusters|artist=Ray Parker Jr.|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1984|certyear=1984}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Ghostbusters|artist=Ray Parker Jr|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1984|certyear=2022|id=2506-1934-1|salesamount=1,170,587|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/|title=The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=September 19, 2017|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=August 3, 2018}}|access-date=September 6, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Ray Parker, Jr.|title=Ghostbusters|access-date=December 18, 2020|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1984}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{col-end}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Ghostbusters

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Run-D.M.C.

| album = Ghostbusters II

| B-side = Pause

| released = July 12, 1989

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hip hop

| length =

• 4:07
• 6:00 (12" mix)

| label =

• MCA
• Profile

| writer =

• Ray Parker Jr.
• Joseph Simmons
• Darryl McDaniels
• Jason Mizell

| producer =

• Jam Master Jay
• Davy D

| prev_title = Run's House

| prev_year = 1988

| title =

| title2 = Pause

| next_title = What's It All About

| next_year = 1990

}}

For the soundtrack of the film's 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II, Run-D.M.C. recorded a hip hop version of "Ghostbusters", featuring new lyrics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/revisiting-run-d-m-c-s-hip-hop-version-of-the-ghostbus-1798249165|title = Revisiting Run-D.M.C.'s hip-hop version of the Ghostbusters theme|website = The A.V. Club| date=9 July 2016}} It was released on 7-inch vinyl and cassette as a standard single, as well as on 12-inch 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.

The song's music video begins with Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts climbing out of a limousine in front of a large crowd, with Run-D.M.C., dressed in the standard beige Ghostbusters' uniform, accompanying them. The group then performs the song on stage to a packed audience for the remainder of the video, intercut with clips from the film. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson also cameo at the beginning of the video as security personnel.

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

{{Clear}}

Finnish rock band The Rasmus recorded a cover of the song which is included on their debut album Peep and EP album 3rd, both from 1996, as well as their compilation album Hellofacollection by 2001.

{{Infobox song

| name = Ghostbusters

| cover = Mickael Turtle Ghostbusters Single.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Mickael Turtle

| album =

| released = 2005

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 2:26

| label = Universal

| writer = Ray Parker Jr.

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Super Freak

| next_year = 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."Ghosbusters", by Mickael Turtle [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mickael+Turtle&titel=Ghostbusters&cat=s Lescharts.com]. Retrieved December 16, 2007.

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

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Ghostbusters|artist=Mickael The Turtle|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2005|relyear=2005|certmonth=11|access-date=22 January 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliott

| album = Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

| released = June 23, 2016

| recorded = 2016

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:07

| label =

• RCA
• Sony

| writer =

• Ray Parker Jr.
• Missy Elliott

| producer = Fall Out Boy

| chronology = Fall Out Boy

| prev_title = Irresistible

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title = Young and Menace

| next_year = 2017

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Missy Elliott

| type = singles

| prev_title = This is For My Girls

| prev_year = 2016

| title = Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)

| year = 2016

| next_title = I'm Better

| next_year = 2017

}}

}}

"Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)", a version of the song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, featuring hip hop recording artist Missy Elliott, was released on June 23, 2016, from the soundtrack of the 2016 reboot Ghostbusters. The cover received negative reviews from critics, who criticized its musical structure.{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/07/ray-parker-jr-responds-to-fall-out-boys-catastrophic-ghostbusters-theme-song/|title=Ray Parker Jr. responds to Fall Out Boy's catastrophic Ghostbusters theme song|work=Consequence of Sound|date=July 9, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2020|first=Collin|last=Brennan}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/ghostbusters-theme-fall-out-boy-cover|title=What Have We Done to Deserve Fall Out Boy's Ghostbusters Theme Song?|first=Hillary|last=Busis|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-fallout-boy-missy-elliott-ghost-busters-theme-20160623-snap-story.html|title=Exactly how bad is Fall Out Boy's new 'Ghostbusters' theme song?|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Randall|last=Roberts}}

Another cover version of the song appeared on the soundtrack album to the Ghostbusters reboot film. Walk the Moon's version drew comparisons to the original by Ray Parker Jr. and was met with a positive reception.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

British thrash metal band Xentrix covers the song{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMAMlrOFnYg |title=Xentrix - Ghostbusters|date=26 August 2014 |via=YouTube}} and it was released as a single in 1990.{{cite web|url=https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Xentrix/Ghost_Busters/11259 |title=Ghost Busters - Xentrix|website=Encyclopaedia Metallum|access-date=February 23, 2025}}

Over the years, a handful of local and national businesses across North America and around the world have done parodies of the Ghostbusters theme for advertising or promotional purposes, and used an instrumental version of either the original theme or a remake. The most notable parodies were used by CBS station KMOX-TV (now KMOV) in St. Louis, AutoNation, and the Carpet Mart chain of Central, Berks County, and Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania among others.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRHw0XyyZnk KMOV "Channel 4 Newsbusters" Promo - YouTube][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYJjsTf68CY Autonation Ghostbusters ad - YouTube][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0iyWS7sgmw Carpet Mart Ghostbusters Commercial - YouTube] In the UK, the 118 118 directory assistance telephone service also used the Ghostbusters theme in one of their ads, and featured Ray Parker Jr. performing the parody.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIWsAQduRA 118 118 Uk Ghostbusters parody with Ray Parker Jr - YouTube] In Romania, Automobile Dacia released a television advertisement in 2018 for one of its models, the Duster, accompanied by the song, in an instrumental version, but with people in various costumes singing "Go, Duster!" when in the standard song the chorus says "Ghostbusters!".[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNHvizqMLTM Dacia Duster Ghostbuster (Go Duster) commercial - YouTube].

American musician and comedian Neil Cicierega uses the song in "Bustin", released on his 2017 mashup album Mouth Moods.{{Cite web|last=Heins|first=Scott|title=Flashback Friday: Ray Parker Jr's "Ghostbusters" Is Reborn As The Brilliant "Bustin"|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/news/ray-parker-jr-bustin.html|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=okayplayer|date=25 September 2015}} It takes Parker Jr.'s vocals and edits them to feature many innuendos, most notably by repeating the titular line "Bustin makes me feel good" to use it as slang for ejaculation.

Streamer Vargskelethor Joel made a parody album, titled Super Ghostbusters, using a MIDI of the song, that has received over 3 million views on YouTube.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynQsDFxTSU4 Vinesauce Joel - Super Ghostbusters ( Full Album ) - Youtube]

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1984

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web| title=Ghostbusters (1984) | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57089| website=American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films| access-date=January 12, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113003857/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57089| archive-date=January 13, 2019| url-status=live}}

{{cite web| title=Ghostbusters| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/hsi/| website=Billboard.com | access-date=January 14, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023154/https://www.billboard.com/music/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/hot-100/song/333215| archive-date=January 15, 2019| url-status=live}}

{{cite web|first=Melody|last=Lau|url=https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/12032/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-ghostbuster|title=15 Things You Might Not Know about the Ghostbusters Theme Song|date=July 14, 2016|website=CBCMusic.ca |access-date=September 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230845/https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/12032/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-ghostbuster|archive-date=December 20, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{cite web| first=Jason| last=Matloff |title=An Oral History of Ghostbusters| url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a27498/ghostbusters-oral-history/| website=Esquire|date= February 24, 2014|access-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426011948/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a27498/ghostbusters-oral-history/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Pizzo |title=The Freaky Legacy of the Ghostbusters Theme Song |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-ghastly-legacy-of-the-ghostbusters-theme-song-28094f0e71a1 |website=Medium |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190627184237/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-27-ca-18449-story.html |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}}}

• {{cite book | last=Austin | first=Bruce A. | title=Immediate Seating: A Look at Movie Audiences | year=1989 | chapter=Which Show to See? | isbn=0-534-09366-3 | publisher=Wadsworth Publishing | location=Sydney | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFMbAQAAIAAJ&q=ghostbusters}}

• [http://www.songlyrics.com/ghost-busters/ghostbusters-lyrics/ Lyrics of this song]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015711/http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_ray_parker_jrs/ Ray Parker Jr. discusses the making of "Ghostbusters"] (archive)
• {{YouTube|Uvck7ItXwdc|Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters}}

{{Ghostbusters}}

{{navboxes

|list =

{{Ray Parker Jr.}}

{{Run–D.M.C.}}

{{The Rasmus}}

{{Fall Out Boy}}

{{Missy Elliott singles}}

{{Walk the Moon}}}}

{{Authority control}}

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