Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
Ghostbusters
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If there's something strange
In your neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
If there's something weird
And it don't look good
(Ghostbusters)
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
Sleepin' in your bed
Oh, who you gonna call?
(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)
I ain't afraid of no ghost
Ooh, I hear it likes the girls
Hm, I ain't afraid of no ghost
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
Mmm, if you've had a dose of a
Freaky ghost, baby
You better call
(Ghostbusters) ow
Lemme tell ya something
Bustin' makes me feel good
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
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
Uh, think you better call
(Ghostbusters)
Ha ha, who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters) I can't hear you
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
Louder
(Ghostbusters)
Who you gonna call?
(Ghostbusters)
Who can you call?
(Ghostbusters)
The song "Ghostbusters" is the theme song for the 1984 film of the same name. The song, written and performed by Ray Parker Jr., has become a classic and is instantly recognizable with its catchy melody and upbeat lyrics. The song's lyrics are about calling the Ghostbusters team when strange and paranormal things are happening in the neighborhood. It encourages people to not be afraid of ghosts and to pick up the phone and call the Ghostbusters.
The first two verses describe situations that would warrant a call to the Ghostbusters. The first verse talks about weird things happening in the neighborhood, and the second verse mentions an invisible man sleeping in your bed. The chorus encourages people to call the Ghostbusters when they are scared or experiencing strange things. The third verse talks about how the Ghostbusters are always available and willing to help, and the last verse mentions how "bustin' makes me feel good", implying that the Ghostbusters enjoy catching ghosts.
Line by Line Meaning
Ghostbusters!
The chorus is the theme of the song, urging the listener to call the Ghostbusters when they have paranormal problems.
If there's something strange
If there is something out of the ordinary that you can't explain,
In your neighborhood
In your local area,
Who you gonna call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
If there's something weird
If there is something unusual or strange,
And it don't look good
If it looks like it might be a problem,
Who you gonna call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
I ain't 'fraid of no ghost
I'm not afraid of ghosts.
If you're seeing things
If you're experiencing paranormal activity,
Running through your head
That you can't explain and seems unreal,
Who can you call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
An invisible man
A transparent person,
Sleepin' in your bed
Lodging in your bed without your knowledge,
Ow, who you gonna call?
Who are you going to contact for help (expressing surprise at the situation)?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
If you're all alone
If you're by yourself,
Pick up the phone
Answer the phone,
And call
Dial
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Ooh, I hear it likes the girls
Ghosts might have a preference for female targets.
Hm, I ain't 'fraid of no ghost
Hmm, I'm not scared of any ghost.
Mmm, if you've had a dose of a
If you've had an experience with a
Freaky ghost, baby
Strange or unusual ghost, my dear
You better call
You should contact
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Lemme tell ya something
Let me tell you something
Bustin' makes me feel good!
I enjoy fighting and capturing ghosts, and it gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Don't get caught alone oh, no
Don't get into trouble by yourself, no.
When it comes through your door
If paranormal activity shows up at your doorstep,
Unless you just want some more
Unless you want more of it to happen,
I think you better call
I believe it would be best to contact
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Ow! Who you gonna call?
Ow! Who are you going to contact for help?
Uh, think you better call
Uh, I think you should contact
Ha ha, who you gonna call?
Ha ha, who are you going to contact for help?
I can't hear you
I can't hear your answer.
Louder
Speak louder.
Who you gonna call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Who you gonna call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Who can you call?
Who are you going to contact for help?
Ghostbusters!
Call the Ghostbusters.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ray Parker Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rosebyanyname
All non-GB cameos:
1:16 - Chevy Chase
1:25 - Irene Cara (RIP!)
1:58 - John Candy (RIP!)
2:23 - Melissa Gilbert
2:31 - Ollie E. Brown
3:24 - Jeffrey Tambor
3:29 - George Wendt
3:34 - Al Franken
3:42 - Danny DeVito
3:46 - Carly Simon
3:51 - Peter Falk (RIP!)
3:54 - Teri Garr
3:58 - bonus - Chevy Chase nearly swallowing a cigarette
@COMODORO29
1:16 Chevy Chase
1:25 Irene Cara
1:58 John Candy
2:23 Melissa Gilbert
2:31 Ollie E. Brown
3:21 Cindy Harrell Horn
3:26 Jeffrey Tambor
3:29 George Wendt
3:34 Al franken
3:42 Danny DeVito
3:46 Carly Simon
3:50 Peter Falk
3:55 Teri Garr
3:59 Chevy Chase
@yungspookers
BUSTIN MAKES ME FEEL GOOD is definitely a line for the ages
@SuperSlayTbh
Ikr
@adnanjamil7271
bustin makes me feel good......an invisible man sleepin on your bed.....these lines have different meaning as an adult 😄 🤣 😂
@blackman9008
he knew what he was doing
@androsgreene9824
😂😂
@whiteeye2121movalik
what does the line mean?
@sambazparlak1445
I swear this song ruled the world for a while. this never gets old
@carloshinojosa4351
It always comes back for Halloween. And now that we’re having a ghostbusters movie we might actually see some costumes start to pop up again.
@LLVideomaker
@@carloshinojosa4351 hope so!
@dennismullany4755
It its the spot a sound