13 Utterly Ghostly Ghost Songs features music courtesy of Carrie Underwood, Depeche Mode, Future, Justin Bieber, and SZA.
Once upon a time, rock collective 🎙 Taking Back Sunday asked the question, 🎵 “What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?”. It’s a fair question. What is unfair is the fact that this great record doesn’t get the full analytical treatment, or a sizable blurb on the ghostly musical compendium, 🎧 13 Utterly Ghostly Ghost 👻 Songs. BUMMER! Regardless, on this haunting sequel to 🎧 13 Songs All About Ghosts…Sort Of (2018), there are plenty of terrific songs by terrific musicians, all of which center around… GHOSTS 👻! 🎧 13 Utterly Ghostly Ghost 👻 Songs features music courtesy of 🎙 Carrie Underwood, 🎙 Depeche Mode, 🎙 Future, 🎙 Justin Bieber, and 🎙 SZA among others. With a little country, alternative, rap, pop, and R&B in the mix, 🎧 13 Utterly Ghostly Ghost Songs has a little bit of something for everybody. So, what we’re saying is, you should totally NOT ghost this ghostly playlist!
1. Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
💿 Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1984
“Ghostbusters” is by far the biggest hit that Ray Parker Jr. is known for. Shocking to many is the fact that while it’s his sole no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, he experienced success prior to “Ghostbusters” – looking at you, 🎙 Raydio! Ultimately, “Ghostbusters” would be his sole gold single, while the 💿 Ghostbusters soundtrack was ultimately certified platinum. Focusing a bit more energy on the record itself, it is the ample personality shown from start to finish is what really makes “Ghostbusters” excel. There’s no way you don’t grin when you hear Parker Jr. proclaim, “I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost” or the scandalous “Bustin’ makes me feel good,” which is likely to be misinterpreted by those of us with a dirty mind! Even with other hits to his name, Ray Parker Jr. will forever be known for one song and one song only: 🎵 “Ghostbusters”. Safe to say, he wrote, produced, and recorded a surefire classic. “Who you gonna call? / Ghostbusters!”
Appears in 🔻:
- Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 102 (2022)
- 11 Spooky Songs About Monsters, Mythical Creatures & Such (2022)
- 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 7 (2023)
2. SZA, “Ghost in the Machine” (Ft. Phoebe Bridgers)
💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 🗓 2022
3. Depeche Mode, “Ghosts Again”
💿 Memento Mori • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 2023
“Wasted feelings / Broken meanings / Time is fleeting / See what it brings.” Hmm, given the title of the album, the loss of Fletch, and the title of the song, “Ghosts Again” seems to fit the bill. The second verse sung by the always marvelous-sounding Gahan, projects a similar sentiment: “Sundays shining / Silver linings / Weightless hours / All my flowers.” One of the key lines, which appears on a variable chorus, finds Gahan (and Gore on backing vocals) singing the titular lyrics, “We know we’ll be ghosts again.” Perhaps Gahan describes the song best to Clash Magazine, asserting it “captures this perfect balance of melancholy and joy.” The lyrics do indeed lie somewhere between life and death, while the music is set in a major key, and remains true to the band’s signature sound. There are guitars, keys, and synths – a clear throwback to the 1980s without sounding anachronistic. All told, the band makes a triumphant return with 🎵 “Ghosts Again”. Gahan sounds amazing. Musically, “Ghosts” serves up ample ear candy and top-notch musicianship. Furthermore, the lyrics are compelling, perfectly capturing two varying emotions.
Appears in 🔻:
4. Carrie Underwood, “Ghost Story”
💿 Demin & Rhinestones • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 2022
5. Benson Boone, “Ghost Town”
💿 Walk Me Home… • 🏷 Night Street / Warner • 📅 2022
“Maybe you’d be happier with someone else
Maybe loving me’s the reason you can’t love yourself
Before I turn your heart into a ghost town
Show me everything we built so I can tear it all down
Down, down, down, down.”
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6. Ariana Grande, “Ghostin”
💿 thank u, next • 🏷 Republic • 📅 2019
Appears in 🔻:
- 15 G Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason (2019)
- 11 Spooky Songs About Monsters, Mythical Creatures & Such (2022)
7. Justin Bieber, “Ghost”
💿 Justice • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2021
“Youngblood thinks there’s always tomorrow,” Bieber asserts in the second verse, adding, “I need more time, but time can’t be borrowed.” That is indeed the case, given the passing of this specific person or persons. In the chorus, the centerpiece, Bieber sums up his feelings: “If I can’t be close to you / I’ll settle for the ghost of you / I miss you more than life.” Those are some sentimental, sweet lyrics. “Ghost” arrived at a time that coincided with plenteous loss, given the COVID-19 pandemic (still going strong in 2021), which makes this record mean a little bit more.
8. Future, “HOLY GHOST”
💿 I NEVER LIKED YOU • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2022
9. Adam Lambert, “Ghost Town”
💿 The Original High • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2015
“Died last night in my dreams / Walking the streets / Of some old ghost town / In God and James Dean / But Hollywood sold out…” Initially, “Ghost Town” commences as a folk-pop cut of sorts, with guitar accompaniment. There’s a ‘cool’ about this number that bodes well in the pop Lambert’s favor. He shows incredible poise vocally, making you lean on his every lyric and note. By the end of the first verse, “Ghost Town” transforms into a more danceable, modern pop record. The second verse successfully blends a dance beat with the folk-pop sensibilities, before Lambert ascends into his upper register on the simple, yet effective and memorable chorus.
“And now I know my heart is a ghost town
My heart is a ghost town.”
Aside from the chorus, the most memorable moment of “Ghost Town” is it’s most explicit – the bridge. Lambert asserts, “I don’t give a fuck if I go / Down, down, down / I got a voice in my head that keeps singing.” Woo!
Appears in 🔻:
10. blackbear, “me & ur ghost”
💿 everything means nothing • 🏷 Alamo / Interscope • 🗓 2020
Appears in 🔻:
11. The Rolling Stones, “Living in a Ghost Town”
🎵 “Living in a Ghost Town” • 🏷 Promotone B.V. • 🗓 2020
“Life was so beautiful / Then we all got liked down,” Jagger sings in the first verse, continuing, “Feel like a ghost / Living in a ghost town.” The second verse is also very representative of the times: “So much time to lose / Just starin’ at my phone / … Please let this be over, not stuck in a world without end, my friend.” Adding to the excellence are vocals infused with ample personality, and an instrumental comprised of ripe guitars, a robust bass line, groovy drums, and harmonica. “Living in a Ghost Town” is just what the doctor ordered!
Appears in 🔻:
- Songs That Capture & Embody the Pandemic, Vol. 2 (2020)
- Awesome Songs: April 2020
- 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Year in Review
- 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020: 100 – 76
- 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020
- Ghost Town: 3 or 4 BOPS No. 20 (2022)
12. Michael Jackson, “Ghosts”
💿 Blood on the Dance Floor – HIStory in The Mix • 🏷 MJJ Productions, Inc. • 📅 1997
The biggest attraction, beyond the sound of “Ghosts” are the prodigious vocals by Jackson – the man was incredibly gifted. Furthermore, the songwriting is a blast too with its ghostly intentions. “There’s something in the walls,” MJ continues singing in the first verse, adding, “There’s blood 🩸 up on the stairs.” Later, in the second verse, “There’s a ghostly smell around / But nobody to be found.” Frightening AF 😬 😱! Ultimately, Jackson admits, “Don’t understand it,” before unveiling the centerpiece of the record, the chorus:
“And who gave you the right to scare my family?
And who gave you the right to shame my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shake my family tree?
You put a knife in my back, shot an arrow in me!
Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?
The ghost of jealousy.”
All told, 🎵 “Ghosts” is another memorable Michael Jackson gem even if didn’t earn the same height of his greatest hits.
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13. Mavis Staples, “Holy Ghost”
💿 One True Vine • 🏷 Anti • 📅 2013
“I feel the hands, but I don’t see anyone, anyone,” Staples sings, referencing the unseen member of the Trinity. She adds, “Now, I don’t know much but I can tell when something’s wrong / And something’s wrong / But some holy ghost keeps me.” Interestingly, “Holy Ghost” is a cover 🤯! It was originally performed by Minnesota indie-rock trio 🎙 Low on their 2013 effort, 💿 The Invisible Way (written by 🎼 ✍ Alan Sparhawk). Throughout “Holy Ghost,” Staples sounds commanding and soulful atop the folky production of 🎛️ Jeff Tweedy. Although reserved, Staples still packs a punch, particularly with her earthy, expressive vocal cracks. You can definitely feel the presence of the holy ghost partaking of this one 🙌.
Appears in 🔻:
13 Utterly Ghostly Ghost 👻 Songs [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Alamo, Anti, Arista, Columbia, Def Jam, Epic, Interscope, MJJ Productions LLC, Night Street, Promotone B.V., RCA, Republic, Top Dawg Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner; ]
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