Bobby Brown’s “On Our Own,” released in 1989, served as the standout track for the “Ghostbusters II” soundtrack.
While “Ghostbusters II” didn’t quite live up to the original’s legacy, Brown’s performance made the sequel unforgettable — a story that recently resurfaced on the Instagram account @bobbyxwhitney.
Who You Gonna Call…
What many might not realize is that Brown’s label, MCA Records, secured ownership of the “Ghostbusters II” soundtrack as part of a deal to tie Brown’s star power to the film.
The late ’80s music scene was characterized by various sounds, but nothing compares to the rise of New Jack Swing.
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Brown’s solo career and his consistent status as a hitmaker like “My Prerogative,” “Every Little Step,” “Roni,” and “Don’t Be Cruel” made it a clear choice for Ghostbusters II producer Peter Afterman to negotiate with MCA Records.
He offered them the rights to the soundtrack in exchange for Brown’s participation and a cameo role in the film.
The inclusion of Brown was a big deal at the time. As reported by the Los Angeles Times in 1989, he had five consecutive hit songs. Additionally, the “Ghostbusters” theme, performed by Ray Parker Jr. in 1984, had reached No. 1, setting the stage for Brown to achieve another hit of his own.
A 1989 article by Rolling Stone described how Brown’s involvement in the production marked his entry into the film industry as he was already at the peak of his music career.
”I’m not just a singer, or a dancer, or a performer,” Brown told Rolling Stone. “I want to be a lot of different things. People don’t know what Bobby Brown is. I want to be mysterious. I don’t want people to be able to label me. I just wanna be Bobby, the Man Who Does Everything.”
In the same article, Brown — then facing media accusations of drug use, which were linked to a career setback and tensions with his former group New Edition — sought to set the record straight and reintroduce himself to the public.
”People at MCA thought we was on drugs,” Brown said. ”That wasn’t us. We were a bunch of brats, but we wasn’t into drugs, we wasn’t into liquor. We was into girls.”
Most of the film had already been shot, but director Ivan Reitman found a way to incorporate a character for Brown. He played the mayor of New York’s butler, a minor character described as “chatty,” who briefly pesters the Ghostbusters before they enter Gracie Mansion.
The complete tracklist for the Ghostbusters II Original Soundtrack includes the following songs: “On Our Own” – Bobby Brown; “Supernatural” – New Edition; “The Promised Land” – James “J.T.” Taylor; “We’re Back” – Bobby Brown; “Spirit” – Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew; “Ghostbusters” – Run-D.M.C.; “Flesh ‘n Blood” – Oingo Boingo; “Love is a Cannibal” – Elton John; “Flip City” – Glenn Frey; and “Higher and Higher” – Howard Huntsberry.
Four of the 10 tracks on the soundtrack were released by MCA Records artists: Brown, John, Oingo Boingo, and Frey.
“On Our Own,” the first song on the track, became a major single from the soundtrack, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Genius.
The film itself grossed worldwide more than $215 million, a fall from grace considering the first “Ghostbuster” film was closer to $300 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Its music video had a cameo of celebrities that made the occasion even more special: Iman, Christopher Reeve, Rick Moranis, Jane Curtin, The Ramones — and Donald Trump.
