 "The Ghostbusters soundtrack: Who does it better, the original or the reboot?")
Now that the new Ghostbusters movie is out, MCPs and ‘meninists’ are busy grumbling because they don’t think an all women star cast can do justice to the original male ghost busters gang. As far as reboots go, this one has received mix reactions from the audience and critics. [caption id=“attachment_2907184” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Stars of the remake of this year’s Ghostbusters film. Image courtesy: DPA[/caption] The movie has been compared to the comedy Bridesmaids (2011) more than it has been compared to the original Ghostbusters movie, because both were directed by Paul Kieg, and have Kristen Wiig’s brand of in your face humor in it. While the comedy in the original was more situational, the reboot has more slapstick laugh-out-loud moments that the crew of female comedians carry brilliantly. The story of the reboot may not string together perfectly, but the humor is a definite bulls eye. A big thumps up to Chris Hemsworth as Kevin, the male receptionist that the Ghostbusters gang keep around because of his looks. A male receptionist to a female-led crew is a unique thought. Though it is refreshing to have an all female cast taking the place of a male crew, the new soundtrack doesn’t hold upto the standards of the original soundtrack of the 1984 Ghostbusters movie that was as famous as the movie itself. The ‘Ghostbusters’ song by Ray Parker Jr, is a fun song with a sunny bass guitar and drum beat to it, and lyrics that don’t take themselves too seriously. The song became an instant hit, and everyone was humming to ‘Who you gonna call?’ long after the movie was over. Also worth listening to from the 1984 movie is the ‘Cleanin’ Up the Town’ by the jazz band The BusBoys. The dance hit ‘In the Name of Love’ by Thompson Twins will remind you of the time of shiny disco balls and John Trovolta, is also worth a hear.
Coming to the reboot, the ‘Ghostbusters’ version performed by the band Walk The Moon doesn’t have the same enthusiasm as the original. Infact, it seems like the band was forced to sing the song with a gun pointed to their heads.
Subsequently, there are many versions of the famous theme song in the new movie. The song ‘Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid)’ by rock band Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliot doesn’t hold a candle to the original either. Fall Out Boy’s music, usually right on target with an upbeat note seems to drone on for the length of 4 minutes, but the rap by Missy Elliot does liven the song up a little.
The other version ‘Get Ghost’, by musician Mark Ronson features the lyrics of Passion Pit and A$AP Ferg, is a ‘hip’ hip hop version of the song that also doesn’t work either.
The only song that you will want to keep playing on repeat is ‘Girls Talk Boys’ from the band 5 Seconds of Summer, which brings back the 80s vibe of the original movie.