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Ray Parker Jr., Bobby Brown & Run-D.M.C.: Black Performers' Impact on the 'Ghostbusters' Franchise
Episode 159 • 1st October 2024 • Queue Points • Queue Points LLC
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Soundtracks play a pivotal role in enhancing the emotional and cultural resonance of films, often becoming as iconic as the movies themselves. This episode of Queue Points delves into the significant contributions of three Black artists to the Ghostbusters franchise, highlighting how their music transcended the films. Despite the limited representation of Black characters in the first two Ghostbusters films, the soundtracks were dominated by Black talent, with Ray Parker Jr.'s unforgettable theme song leading the way. The discussion continues with Bobby Brown's "On Our Own," a track that not only defined the sequel but also showcased Brown's crossover appeal and New Jack Swing influence. Finally, Run DMC's version of "Ghostbusters" is explored, emphasizing their cultural impact and unique style that left a lasting mark on the franchise. This episode underscores the power of music in film and celebrates the pivotal role Black artists have played in shaping cinematic soundscapes.

Topics: #Ghostbusters, #MovieSoundtracks, #BlackMusicHistory, #MusicPodcast, #BlackPodcasters

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Transcripts

Speaker:

DJ Sir Daniel: Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast.

Speaker:

I am DJ Sir Daniel.

Jay Ray:

And my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my government

Jay Ray:

as Johnnie Ray Kornegay III.

Jay Ray:

And we about to talk about a movie songs.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Ray, you know, soundtracks are super important and let's just

Jay Ray:

break it down real quick as to why

Jay Ray:

soundtracks give an emotional enhancement to a movie

Jay Ray:

on the genre of the movie.

Jay Ray:

songs associated with it will heighten that

Jay Ray:

The thing about soundtracks as well too, is it also, uh,

Jay Ray:

Expands on the themes in the film.

Jay Ray:

I think it's interesting because the songs we'll talk about today have this

Jay Ray:

very kind of literal tie to the movie,

Jay Ray:

but oftentimes with soundtrack songs, it's just like a beautiful song that

Jay Ray:

describes the scene or describes a moment in the film that really

Jay Ray:

brings us more into it and sometimes even surpasses the film itself.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

And I think what you're referring to is a cultural resonance that songs

Jay Ray:

from soundtracks have, and they can take on the life of their own

Jay Ray:

Mm.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: they can speak to a time period, a specific time period.

Jay Ray:

And it also just.

Jay Ray:

It just gives such a cultural, just makes a cultural stamp on the, on

Jay Ray:

the, on the movie itself, as well as to the listeners that are listening.

Jay Ray:

And of course, where this is, um, a capitalist society, soundtracks

Jay Ray:

are branding opportunities.

Jay Ray:

Come on now.

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

We love, listen, Hollywood is at selling things in multiple ways.

Jay Ray:

You are going to get a film,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm.

Jay Ray:

to get action figures, and

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes.

Jay Ray:

are going to get a hit song sung by Celine Dion that you cannot forget.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: And if you're lucky, there'll be comic books.

Jay Ray:

There'll be a cartoon based on the movie.

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: There'll be spinoffs.

Jay Ray:

So yes, you're absolutely right.

Jay Ray:

Um, it's just really, it's a very smart way to make some more money

Jay Ray:

and to capitalize off the success of an already successful movie.

Jay Ray:

And sometimes, like we said before, the soundtrack can be more successful

Jay Ray:

than the actual movie itself.

Jay Ray:

So let's just break it down for the people.

Jay Ray:

We are talking about none other than the Ghostbusters franchise.

Jay Ray:

On this episode.

Jay Ray:

We're going to discuss how three black performers actually enhanced

Jay Ray:

the movie franchise with their three different versions of the

Jay Ray:

soundtrack for ghost busters.

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

And what's interesting about this particular conversation, too, is if

Jay Ray:

you go back and you look at the cast of Ghostbusters, there are very few

Jay Ray:

black folks in the first two films.

Jay Ray:

And we're specifically focusing Ghostbusters one and two.

Jay Ray:

And of course, you get Ernie Hudson,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes.

Jay Ray:

character in Ghostbusters in the group of four, but there's very few

Jay Ray:

black characters in either of those films.

Jay Ray:

So it is particularly interesting that the three main soundtrack songs,

Jay Ray:

and we did say three, because I know y'all are like, there's only two main

Jay Ray:

soundtracks, so is the Ghostbusters.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Nope.

Jay Ray:

true.

Jay Ray:

There are

Jay Ray:

three.

Jay Ray:

And so it's interesting that all three of those songs are by black artists.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Real quick, J Ray.

Jay Ray:

I think, don't you find it funny in movies how there's always just

Jay Ray:

like one black person, this one black person in the friend group,

Jay Ray:

Yes!

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: did that happen?

Jay Ray:

That's just a question that I've always had.

Jay Ray:

in New York, in the 80s.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: In the eighties.

Jay Ray:

Well, of course this movie took place in Manhattan.

Jay Ray:

They didn't venture out into the outer boroughs like Brooklyn or,

Jay Ray:

um, Queens, Jamaica, Queens, or even Harlem for that respect.

Jay Ray:

So that's how we get here, but let's take it back to 1984.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: So Ghostbusters is propelled into the, the

Jay Ray:

atmosphere, the, the stratosphere of being a very successful movie

Jay Ray:

Mm

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: of course, because it's got all these special effects and.

Jay Ray:

Ghosts and whatnot.

Jay Ray:

And it's a, it's a comedy, but it's also a action.

Jay Ray:

It's an action comedy with a little bit of horror to it.

Jay Ray:

But the one thing that you always remember about Ghostbusters is that frigging

Jay Ray:

theme song, who you're going to call.

Jay Ray:

Uh

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Ghostbusters.

Jay Ray:

And we have none other, we have nobody else to thank for that.

Jay Ray:

But Ray Parker jr.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

So that's, uh, really interesting.

Jay Ray:

So of course, Ray Parker Jr., famed session guitarist.

Jay Ray:

You can hear Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

on Barry White tunes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes.

Jay Ray:

him on Bill Withers tunes, Bob Saggs, Parker Jr., and also his own band.

Jay Ray:

He had a band called

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Radio.

Jay Ray:

And, um, which I love the spelling of that.

Jay Ray:

It's R a Y D I O.

Jay Ray:

I thought that was great named after him.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Exactly.

Jay Ray:

Why not?

Jay Ray:

and Ray Parker jr.

Jay Ray:

Kind of, uh, what he was known for was kind of Ray Parker jr.

Jay Ray:

Had a shtick.

Jay Ray:

So not only was he just like a main, uh, uh, guitar player, but he also

Jay Ray:

had a way of songwriting that kind of lended itself to kind of the humorous.

Jay Ray:

in, in a lot of ways.

Jay Ray:

So you would find these interesting lyrics and Ray Parker Jr songs.

Jay Ray:

um, by the time Ray came on board for Ghostbusters, Sir Daniel,

Jay Ray:

the, they were already into the mixing process for like the film.

Jay Ray:

So he kind of came later and he has been on the record as

Jay Ray:

saying he struggled a bit.

Jay Ray:

like the songs, lyrics like coming up with the songs, lyrics and, um, so reason why

Jay Ray:

he came up with the who you gonna call is because apparently he started to reminisce

Jay Ray:

back to like jingles around like plumbing

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes,

Jay Ray:

And that's what kind of led him down that path.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: absolutely.

Jay Ray:

So of course the song became a massive hit.

Jay Ray:

Um, it reached number one, of course on the billboard hot 100

Jay Ray:

and just catapulted him into the spotlight because at this point.

Jay Ray:

A lot of people didn't know Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

Well, I didn't remember him as a part of a group or a session

Jay Ray:

writer, things of that nature.

Jay Ray:

So he, he just got, became a cultural figure at that point.

Jay Ray:

Jay Ray, I remember he showed up on, give me a break acting.

Jay Ray:

Oh,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: It was so, it was really quite hilarious because Nell Carter's

Jay Ray:

character had the hots for Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

But anyway, so, um, what was I about to say?

Jay Ray:

Oh yes.

Jay Ray:

Songwriting.

Jay Ray:

Jay Ray.

Jay Ray:

Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

has written my favorite Sherrilyn song.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Shake It Up Tonight.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Love that song, especially when she did, I'm going out tonight.

Jay Ray:

la la la la.

Jay Ray:

said, he had a very specific way of writing,

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: that allowed the vocalist to, you know, To do some, some, you know,

Jay Ray:

very particular things with their, their phrasing and the way that it was shaped

Jay Ray:

their minds while they were singing.

Jay Ray:

So I just thought that was so interesting that he wrote

Jay Ray:

my favorite Sheryl Lynn songs.

Jay Ray:

wrote a song on your favorite Diana Ross album.

Jay Ray:

Yes, he did that.

Jay Ray:

He, um, Ray was everywhere.

Jay Ray:

Oh my

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: where

Jay Ray:

You, but, you know, my, my favorite actually, Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

Written song.

Jay Ray:

So then you might, you might know, you might could guess this, but

Jay Ray:

a lot of people do not know that.

Jay Ray:

Um huh.

Jay Ray:

This is a great connection actually.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: I was, I know where you're going.

Jay Ray:

A lot of people do not know that New Editions Mr.

Jay Ray:

Telephone Man is actually a cover.

Jay Ray:

It was written by Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

and originally performed by Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

and I love that song because other than Bobby Brown wears out that whole hook.

Jay Ray:

He is singing his little heart out on

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: For his breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Jay Ray:

And of course, Bobby Brown is connected to the second,

Jay Ray:

uh, main Ghostbusters theme.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: That's right,

Jay Ray:

So.

Jay Ray:

Um, in 1989, Bobby Brown hot as fish grease.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: baby.

Jay Ray:

listen, don't be cruel have been released.

Jay Ray:

We actually have an entire live show that we did on Bobby Brown and on our own.

Jay Ray:

So you should definitely go and check that out in addition to this.

Jay Ray:

But the CliffsNotes is Bobby Brown was super hot.

Jay Ray:

Don't be cruel had spawned like.

Jay Ray:

Four top 10 hits by the time on our own Was recorded so bobby brown.

Jay Ray:

Um, the producer one of the producers of the film was like listen I

Jay Ray:

want this guy bobby brown this guy bobby brown who's really hot right

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes,

Jay Ray:

to do a song for Ghostbusters was like Sure.

Jay Ray:

If I could get a part in the film

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: exactly.

Jay Ray:

say less, Bobby.

Jay Ray:

So, so when we talked about few black characters in

Jay Ray:

Ghostbusters two, there are two.

Jay Ray:

There's Ernie Hudson and Bobby Brown, who is the doorman.

Jay Ray:

And right?

Jay Ray:

So.

Jay Ray:

They record on our own, but it is written and produced by L.

Jay Ray:

A.

Jay Ray:

and Babyface, of course.

Jay Ray:

So, it is in the same line of all of the other songs that were released

Jay Ray:

from the Don't Be Cruel project.

Jay Ray:

And what I love about this particular song is It's still hot.

Jay Ray:

Like, even though it's very literal, it's, it's very much

Jay Ray:

incorporates the film into the song.

Jay Ray:

The song still sits on its own.

Jay Ray:

That's funny.

Jay Ray:

The song still sits on its own.

Jay Ray:

Sir, Daniel.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

Because of the infusion of new Jack swing, um, the Bobby Brown literally

Jay Ray:

is part of the freshman class.

Jay Ray:

They introduced the R and B pop sensation that we know as new Jack swing.

Jay Ray:

Um, like you said, Bobby Brown was approached because

Jay Ray:

of his crossover appeal.

Jay Ray:

He, uh, Again is one of the few artists that was able to successfully

Jay Ray:

blend R& B and hip hop because Bobby is spitting his own verse at

Jay Ray:

the beginning because at this time

Jay Ray:

too

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: too cold to hold and but Bobby has always been a

Jay Ray:

hip hop head and has always infused hip hop in a lot of his music.

Jay Ray:

And I think that he's been a, because he's a pioneer of that.

Jay Ray:

He was able to just definitely do that on, on our own.

Jay Ray:

And it just sounds so dope.

Jay Ray:

So fun to see him doing the running man.

Jay Ray:

Jay Ray, I had a Gumby.

Jay Ray:

I had, uh, I went to merry go round to purchase my very first pair of patent

Jay Ray:

leather shoes with the smooth bottom.

Jay Ray:

Strictly so that I could be in step with Bobby Brown, Mr.

Jay Ray:

Dance.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

You know it because this song is not featured on any

Jay Ray:

on his don't be cruel album.

Jay Ray:

This song is actually a remix is featured on the dance.

Jay Ray:

You know, it remixed album.

Jay Ray:

So this song, his career has such a major life.

Jay Ray:

And like we said, it brought much life to the Ghostbusters soundtrack

Jay Ray:

Ghostbusters to, um, I might add to that.

Jay Ray:

And then Jay Ray.

Jay Ray:

There's another groundbreaking group that put their stamp on this Ghostbusters

Jay Ray:

franchise hailing from Hollis Queens.

Jay Ray:

You know, so, In all fairness, I had forgotten this existed until

Jay Ray:

we were getting ready, and I do think that's kind of unfair, but

Jay Ray:

it is a, it's an interesting time.

Jay Ray:

So Run DMC did a song called Ghostbusters as well.

Jay Ray:

So here's what's interesting about this song.

Jay Ray:

Ghostbusters.

Jay Ray:

This particular song as well was written by Ray Parker, Jr.,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes.

Jay Ray:

Um, but it doesn't feature Ray Parker, Jr.

Jay Ray:

It is similar to the first song, but different than the first song.

Jay Ray:

Like, some of the lyrics are kind of switched up and, and it's, it's

Jay Ray:

done in kind of this rap format.

Jay Ray:

Not unlike, Run DMC had already done.

Jay Ray:

So if you hear this song, it does remind you of like Run DMC

Jay Ray:

songs from the mid eighties.

Jay Ray:

I do think what's really interesting about Run DMC's version of

Jay Ray:

Ghostbusters is it was 1989.

Jay Ray:

It did feel like this song was almost like a couple of years older in a

Jay Ray:

lot of ways in terms of style in terms of their flow specifically not

Jay Ray:

the production because we have some interesting notes about that production

Jay Ray:

Run DMC did a version of Ghostbusters.

Jay Ray:

That was the second single for the film.

Jay Ray:

It didn't do as well as Bobby Brown's On Our Own, which

Jay Ray:

became, of course, the main song.

Jay Ray:

But they did do a song, they did a music video, and it is out there.

Jay Ray:

So you can go and check out Run DMC's version of Ghostbusters, which was,

Jay Ray:

of course, produced by Jam Master Jay and the whole Run DMC team.

Jay Ray:

But um, yeah, written by Ray Parker Jr.

Jay Ray:

and performed by, uh, and DMC.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm glad you mentioned, um, the production of the sound of

Jay Ray:

this particular song, because when I, when I was reintroduced to it, the

Jay Ray:

first thing that popped in my head was.

Jay Ray:

Oh, this is supersonic.

Jay Ray:

This is

Jay Ray:

Same Supersonic

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: by JJ fad enhanced with a little bit of, um, planet rock by Afrika

Jay Ray:

Bambaataa, which is fine, which is fine.

Jay Ray:

It's easy on the ears and hearkening back to another point you made

Jay Ray:

about the scarcity of black, uh, Um, performers in this movie and in this

Jay Ray:

franchise, it is so, so significant.

Jay Ray:

When you watch the music video, run DMC's video for, um, Ghostbusters, all

Jay Ray:

the stars, particularly, particularly the female stars of the movie come out.

Jay Ray:

Of a limousine and they're escorted by one of the members of run DMC,

Jay Ray:

but what do each of these female performers have on these white women?

Jay Ray:

Weaver has on a fedora

Jay Ray:

and a gold chain.

Jay Ray:

has on a fedora.

Jay Ray:

a gold chain.

Jay Ray:

And I think maybe a pair of gazelles

Jay Ray:

um, actress that comes out, another white woman

Jay Ray:

thing.

Jay Ray:

So it's like Run DMC's cultural impact lent itself to this movie and to these

Jay Ray:

actors, because they're trying to appeal to the widest audience that they can.

Jay Ray:

So I just wanted people to realize that when you go and look back.

Jay Ray:

You can see that run DMC stamped that movie with their parents and their

Jay Ray:

feature on the soundtrack, but you know, Jay Ray, before we, um, get up out of

Jay Ray:

here, I want to mention that run DMC has killed several other soundtracks.

Jay Ray:

In 1985, they were featured on the Crush Groove soundtrack, which

Jay Ray:

literally was a movie about them and their journey to superstardom.

Jay Ray:

And of course, the, um, Christmas in Hollis.

Jay Ray:

Was the big hit off of that.

Jay Ray:

And can you rock it like this?

Jay Ray:

Several other songs became hits off of that soundtrack.

Jay Ray:

Of course, they're featured on the Ghostbusters to soundtrack,

Jay Ray:

which we just discussed.

Jay Ray:

And then fast forward to 2006.

Jay Ray:

of their old hits gets revamped and gets a new life in the Fast

Jay Ray:

and Furious Tokyo Drift soundtrack

Jay Ray:

we all know the Fast and Furious franchise has like what 50 movies

Jay Ray:

Oh

Jay Ray:

my God.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

They're on movie.

Jay Ray:

Uh, 51 is probably coming soon.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: at this point.

Jay Ray:

run GMC not only

Jay Ray:

their music on movies, but they also represent for hip hop and they also

Jay Ray:

bring a style and a fashion to wherever they go, including the music videos that

Jay Ray:

aren't, um, enhanced by these music, by these sounds on the soundtrack.

Jay Ray:

Um, Looking at artists like Run DMC, looking at their

Jay Ray:

contributions, we also recognize the importance of soundtracks

Jay Ray:

in the careers of Black artists.

Jay Ray:

think that when we take a look at, uh, certain folks careers, like

Jay Ray:

we can pinpoint soundtrack songs as like some of their best songs.

Jay Ray:

So, Sir Daniel, that is kind of the, the kind of our final question of the day.

Jay Ray:

For you, one of your favorite songs from a soundtrack that's not Ghostbusters.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Okay, this is really easy because I was blasting

Jay Ray:

it on the way home last night.

Jay Ray:

I love.

Jay Ray:

Tevin Campbell's just asked me to from the boys in the hood soundtrack.

Jay Ray:

Great

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: is quintessential, um, nineties R and B pop,

Jay Ray:

new Jack swing flavor.

Jay Ray:

We got, it's produced by I'll be sure you got Chub Rock on the rap and a 14 year

Jay Ray:

old Tevin Campbell singing his heart out.

Jay Ray:

That song always makes me smile because I remember the video was very bright

Jay Ray:

and colorful, like nineties videos were.

Jay Ray:

So.

Jay Ray:

In my heart, just ask me to is my favorite song from a soundtrack.

Jay Ray:

What's yours, Jay Ray?

Jay Ray:

Oh my goodness.

Jay Ray:

The one today,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Cause it changes.

Jay Ray:

changes.

Jay Ray:

I have a lot of them.

Jay Ray:

Um, but the one today, Hopeless by Dion Farris.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: solid, solid pick

Jay Ray:

hello morning

Jay Ray:

Baby That song is so beautiful from the love jones soundtrack 1997, which

Jay Ray:

is one of the best soundtracks Um ever released because what once again

Jay Ray:

as we talked about at the beginning like that soundtrack of enhances the

Jay Ray:

themes of the film in a lot of ways.

Jay Ray:

They exist on their own and are separate, but, um, yeah, Hopeless just feels like

Jay Ray:

a breezy, beautiful Sunday morning where everything is going to be okay that day.

Jay Ray:

And so the song I'm picking today is Hopeless by Dion Farris.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: baby Tate.

Jay Ray:

Your mama did her big one on that one.

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

She absolutely did.

Jay Ray:

Well, listen, we've come to the end of this episode of Queue Points podcast,

Jay Ray:

but Jay Ray real quick, remind the people how they can follow and subscribe.

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

So you can do a couple of things, make sure that you definitely

Jay Ray:

visit our website, Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

com there.

Jay Ray:

You can sign up for our newsletter.

Jay Ray:

You can also read Queue Points magazine, wherever you are checking out this show,

Jay Ray:

make sure that you hit the subscribe button and hit the notification bell.

Jay Ray:

So that you get notified about other episodes of Queue Points and

Jay Ray:

last but not least, uh, can support us by checking out our Patreon.

Jay Ray:

You can also visit our store at store.

Jay Ray:

Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

com.

Jay Ray:

We really appreciate y'all.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: J.

Jay Ray:

Ray, another amazing episode of Queue Points podcast.

Jay Ray:

But what do I always say in this life, you have a choice.

Jay Ray:

You can either pick up the needle or you can let the record play.

Jay Ray:

I'm DJ Sir Daniel.

Jay Ray:

My name is J.

Jay Ray:

Ray, y'all.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: And this has been Queue Points podcast, dropping

Jay Ray:

the needle on black music history.

Jay Ray:

We'll see you on the next go round.

Jay Ray:

Peace.

Jay Ray:

Peace, y'all.

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