Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Ray Parker Jr. and Ghostbusters

Ray Parker Jr. was born May 1, 1954, in Detroit, MI. He started his music career as a session musician working with such notables as the Temptations and Stevie Wonder.

His first record, Raydio (1978), went gold, climbing to number eight R&B. He continued making music and hit number one with "A Woman Needs Love" in 1981.

Parker's biggest hit was "Ghostbusters". The song went to number one on the R&B chart for two weeks and topped the pop chart for three weeks. Parker was then sued by Huey Lewis for copyright infringement. Lewis claimed that "Ghostbusters" was a rip-off of his song, "I Want a New Drug." The two settled out-of-court. In 2001 Lewis discussed the matter on VH1, violating the terms of the agreement, and was sued by Parker.

After Ghostbusters, Ray worked behind the scenes producing songs for New Edition and Deniece Williams. On his website it says he is planning on going back to the studio again soon. It also appears that the statement was made in 1998, leaving me to question my interpretation of "soon" (Bunch O Junk will be funny... SOON!)

Regardless of what happens in the future, Ray Parker Jr. will most likely still be best known for "Ghostbusters". The song was a huge hit and had a very popular video.

The video showed Parker (looking like a queer Billy Dee Williams) chasing a model around an apartment. The apartment was affixed with tons of neon lights and wherever she turned THERE WAS RAY PARKER JR.!!!

Ray was in her closet, under her bed and at the top of her stairs. It was terrifying.

The video also featured some clips of the "Ghostbusters" including some painful-to-watch clips of Bill Murray break dancing. The video ended with a series of bizarre cameos.

Every time Ray said "who you gonna call" they would cut to a celebrity mouthing the words "Ghostbusters". Among the celebrities were George Wendt, John Candy, Chevy Chase and John Candy. It was surreal.

Let us take a good look at the song:

Ghostbusters!

If there's something strange in your neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
Ghostbusters!

Uh, this is a bit dumb. I would maybe call the police before Ghostbusters. Wouldn't the "degree of strangeness" be a factor in deciding weather to call Ghostbusters?
If there's something weird and it don't look good
Who you gonna call?
Ghostbusters!

See what I mean?

JOE: Hey that's weird, our neighbor painted his front door green. That doesn't look good at all.
JANE: It's WEIRD and IT DON'T LOOK GOOD? We better call Ghostbusters!
JOE: It DOESN'T look good, not it DON'T look good. You talk like such an idiot sometimes!
JANE: At least I'm not the one who's sleeping with "his personal assistant".
JOE: SECRETARY, you idiot! This is 1984! They won't be called "personal assistants" for another decade.
JANE: Oh, right. So do we call Ghostbusters?
JOE: Nah. I got a better idea. Let's just take our frustrations out on our neighbor.
JANE: Yeah! We can repaint the door red- with his BLOOD!

I ain't afraid of no ghost
I ain't afraid of no ghost

If you're seeing things running through your head
Who can you call?
Ghostbusters!
An invisible man sleeping in your bed
Oh, who you gonna call?

Again, these do not seem like good reasons to call the Ghostbusters. First off, if things are RUNNING THROUGH your head they aren't ghosts, that’s just called "thinking". Second if you SEE an invisible man in your bed, he is VISIBLE. You have a man in your bed. Deal with it.
Ghostbusters!

I ain't afraid of no ghost
I ain't afraid of no ghost

Who you gonna call?
Ghostbusters!
If you're all alone, pick up the phone
And call
Ghostbusters!

So, just call them ANYTIME? No reason needed? Are they just a bunch of lonely guys who need to talk to other lonely people?
I ain't afraid of no ghost
I hear it likes the girls
I ain't afraid of no ghost
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Huh? Who likes the girls? The ghost? Or the visible guy in your bed? Who are we talking about?
Who you gonna call?
Ghostbusters!
If you've had a dose of a freaky ghost
You'd better call
Ghostbusters!

A dose of "freaky ghost"? Unless that’s the name of a new vitamin from the Flintstones people, I don't want a dose.
Let me tell you something
Bustin' makes me feel good

Too much information, Ray, WAY too much.
I ain't afraid of no ghost
I ain't afraid of no ghost

Don't get caught alone, oh no
Ghostbusters!
When it comes through your door
Unless you just want some more
I think you better call
Ghostbusters!
Ow!

Unless you just want some more? What the heck is he babbling about?
Who you gonna call
Ghostbusters!
Who you gonna call
Ghostbusters!
I can't hear you
Ghostbusters!
Louder!
Ghostbusters!

Oh, I get it! He is at the end of the song, so he is just filling space to make the record over 2 minutes. Well done Ray, well done.

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