Ghost Story (song)
{{short description|2022 single by Carrie Underwood}}
{{for|other songs with the same name|Ghost Story (disambiguation)#Music{{!}}Ghost Story}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ghost Story
| type = single
| artist = Carrie Underwood
| album = Denim & Rhinestones
| cover = Carrie Underwood - Ghost Story.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2022|03|18}}
| genre = Country pop
| length = 3:01
| label = Capitol Nashville
| writer =
| producer =
- Carrie Underwood
- David Garcia
| prev_title = If I Didn't Love You
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Hate My Heart
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|K0041eVbDt4|"Ghost Story"}}|header=Music video|type=single}}
}}
"Ghost Story" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood, released as the first single from her ninth studio album Denim & Rhinestones.{{cite tweet|user=carrieunderwood|number=1512022647424626695|title=I can't wait any longer!! I have a new album coming June 10! Get ready for #DenimAndRhinestones! Pre-order beginning at midnight ET!|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=April 8, 2022}} It is the only song from the album that Underwood did not have a hand in writing.{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-denim-and-rhinestones-track-list/|title=JUST IN: Carrie Underwood Drops 'Denim & Rhinestones' Track List|first=Billy|last=Dukes|website=Taste of Country|date=April 8, 2022 }} The song was released digitally on March 18, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/country/carrie-underwood-shares-thrilling-dramatic-new-single-ghost-story/|title=Carrie Underwood Shares 'Thrilling, Dramatic' New Single 'Ghost Story': 'A Great Story Song'|last=DeSantis|first=Rachel|date=March 18, 2022|website=people.com}}
Writing and composition
"Ghost Story" was written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, and David Garcia.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-1323377/|title=Carrie Underwood Exacts Mental Revenge in New Song 'Ghost Story'|first1=Jon|last1=Freeman|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 18, 2022}} Underwood said of the single, "Ghost Story is a thrilling, dramatic song that David, Hillary and Josh wrote for me. They are such talented, amazing songwriters who know me so well, and from the first time I heard it I knew I had to record it. I have always loved performing songs that tell a story and inspire some kind of cinematic imagery when you hear them, and that is definitely true of 'Ghost Story.' It creates a mood and a vibe that is different than anything else I've recorded before."{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Carrie-Underwood-Releases-New-Single-Ghost-Story-20220318|title=Carrie Underwood Releases New Single 'Ghost Story'|first=Michael|last=Major|website=BroadwayWorld.com}}
The song is written in the key of G major and a 6/8 time signature. It has an approximate tempo of 48 beats per minute and a vocal range of E{{Sub|3}} to D{{sub|5}}. The song's main chord pattern on the verses is CMaj7-Asus2-Em-D.{{cite web | url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0252891 | title='Ghost Story' sheet music | date=March 18, 2022 | publisher=MusicNotes.com | accessdate=July 10, 2022}}
Critical reception
The Nash News gave a positive review of the song, writing, "One of Underwood’s strengths has been the storytelling within her songs...["Ghost Story"] is ethereal in style and vulnerable in message and it brings a new sound to the current radio climate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenashnews.com/post/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-song-review|title=Carrie Underwood "Ghost Story" Song Review|first=Lesley|last=Janes|date=March 18, 2022|website=The Nash News}} Rolling Stone gave a positive review, praising its "slowed down, waltzing rhythm" and "eerie atmosphere", noting its departure from another of Underwood's breakup hits, "Before He Cheats".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-1323377/|title = Carrie Underwood Exacts Mental Revenge in New Song 'Ghost Story'|magazine = Rolling Stone|date = March 18, 2022}} Taste of Country praised Underwood's vocal performance, saying, "[she] belts emotively on the chorus, displaying her unbridled desire to hold her old flame captive" and calling the song "vividly-painted".{{Cite web |last=Chua |first=Jeremy|title=LISTEN: Carrie Underwood's 'Ghost Story' Is a Haunting Breakup Story |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-full-song/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Taste of Country |date=March 18, 2022 |language=en}}
Promotion
Underwood performed the song live for the first time at the 64th Grammy Awards, held in Las Vegas, on April 3, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/see-carrie-underwood-haunt-grammys-033642391.html|title=See Carrie Underwood Haunt the Grammys with Live Debut of 'Ghost Story'|access-date=April 10, 2022|archive-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410033546/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/see-carrie-underwood-haunt-grammys-033642391.html|url-status=dead}} The official lyric video was posted to YouTube on March 18, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood is someone's 'Ghost Story' in new song |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2022/03/18/Carrie-Underwood-releases-new-song-Ghost-Story/5381647618355/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=UPI |language=en}} She again performed the song live for the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11 wearing a purple asymmetric jumpsuit and bare feet, being carried into the air on a ribbon toward the end of the performance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-cmt-awards-rcna24007|title = Watch Carrie Underwood defy gravity in a dazzling aerial performance at CMT Awards| date=April 12, 2022 }} She included "Ghost Story" as part of her set at Stagecoach Festival, along with "Denim and Rhinestones" and "Crazy Angels".{{Cite web |date=2022-05-01 |title=Stagecoach 2022: Carrie Underwood and Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose bring Day 2 to a rockin' close |url=https://www.pe.com/2022/05/01/stagecoach-2022-carrie-underwood-and-guns-n-roses-vocalist-axl-rose-bring-day-2-to-a-rockin-close |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Daily News |language=en-US}} She performed it again at CMA Music Fest in June 2022.{{Cite web |last=Paulson |first=Marcus K. Dowling, Rachel Wegner, Molly Davis, Matthew Leimkuehler and Dave |title=CMA Fest updates: Carrie Underwood closes Saturday night with a Louisville Slugger |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/cma-music-festival/2022/06/09/cma-fest-2022-nashville-live-updates/7567540001/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} When Apple Music debuted its Sessions EP feature in July, Underwood was the first artist featured; she performed three songs, including "Ghost Story" and "Blown Away."{{Cite web |title=Apple introduces Apple Music Sessions |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/apple-introduces-apple-music-sessions/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}} She included it for the setlist during an iHeart concert special, which aired September 29.{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood Powerfully Performs Career-Spanning Hits In Unique VR Show |url=https://country.iheart.com/content/2022-09-29-carrie-underwood-powerfully-performs-career-spanning-hits-in-unique-vr-show/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=iHeartCountry Radio |language=en}}
Commercial performance
"Ghost Story" marks Underwood's thirtieth top ten on the Country Airplay;{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-country-airplay-top-10-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ | title=Carrie Underwood Hits Country Airplay Top 10 … with Help from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | magazine=Billboard }} it also reached No. 61 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Music video
The video for the song premiered on April 29, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood Posts Haunting Teaser Of Unreleased 'Ghost Story' Video |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-04-26-carrie-underwood-posts-haunting-teaser-of-unreleased-ghost-story-video/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=iHeart |language=en}} The music video was filmed in the Los Angeles Theatre{{Cite web |last=JessJess |title=WATCH: Carrie Underwood Haunts Old Flame in Theatrical 'Ghost Story' Video |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/carrie-underwood-ghost-story-music-video/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Taste of Country |date=April 30, 2022 |language=en}} and was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-30 |title=WATCH: Carrie Underwood's 'Ghost Story' Music Video Is a Visual Masterpiece |url=https://countrynow.com/watch-carrie-underwoods-ghost-story-music-video-is-a-visual-masterpiece/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Country Now |language=en-US}} Underwood said of Nicholas, "I am very visually-oriented and from the first time I heard 'Ghost Story,' I had a vision for how I wanted to bring this song to life in performance and Randee always takes everything to a whole other artistic level beyond my own imagination." The male lead in the video is Craig Geoghan.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-09 |title=Who Is The Actor In Carrie Underwood's "Ghost Story" Music Video? Meet Craig Geoghan |url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/who-is-the-actor-in-carrie-underwoods-ghost-story-music-video-meet-craig-geoghan/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Music Mayhem Magazine |language=en-US}} An alternate version of the video premiered in July.{{Cite web |title=Carrie Underwood's Cinematic 'Ghost Story' Video Gets Alternate Version: 'How Many Differences Can You Spot?' |url=https://country.iheart.com/content/2022-07-21-carrie-underwoods-cinematic-ghost-story-video-gets-alternate-version/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=iHeartCountry Radio |language=en}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Ghost Story" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA){{Cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 March 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1673|page=9|date=March 28, 2022}}
| 31 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|84|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|9|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=July 6, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|76|date=20220329|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| UK Singles Sales (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20220325/7509/|title=Official Singles Sales Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
| 78 |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|61|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|12|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|6|artist=Carrie Underwood|rowheader=true|access-date=October 3, 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Ghost Story" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-country-songs|title=Year-End Charts: Hot Country Songs (2022)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
| 41 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Country Airplay (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/country-airplay-songs|title=Year-End Charts: Country Airplay Songs (2022)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
| 37 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Ghost Story"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Carrie Underwood|award=Gold|type=single|title=Ghost Story|certyear=2023|access-date=June 21, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true | noshipments=true}}