On Our Own

“If you want something done right, you may as well do it yourself!” How many times have you thought this sentence or said it out loud? The sad part is that it’s true. Sometimes we can only trust God and ourselves.

You might think that the start of November instantly means that the Halloween season is over. Au contraire! Besides, this Monthly Mixtape song comes from a movie set on New Year’s Eve.

In 1989, Ghostbusters II (herein abbreviated as GB2) hit theaters and reprised a similar story of the ghost-chasing crew, now saving New York again, and getting into trouble…always lots of trouble.

The soundtrack for GB2 was a bit more expansive than the first movie, in that other original songs besides Ray Parker Jr.’s theme song were featured throughout the movie. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved one repeated song in the film: “On Our Own.”

Bobby Brown had just left the R & B group New Edition to pursue a solo career, and he had already made a name for himself with tracks such as “Every Little Step,” “My Prerogative,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Now he pushed the envelope even further with a secondary anthem for a popular movie franchise.

“On Our Own” by Bobby Brown

One of the cool characteristics about this song is that it lends itself to the beginnings of rap and the expansion of R & B, as both genres would further emerge in the 1990s. Songs like these from 1989 show the shift in sound that would occur in the upcoming decade. While the song isn’t heavy on the “rap” element, the rhyming pattern and fast, upbeat tempo give it a light rap feel.

Even more, this song tells a story, as its lyrics are smooth and continuous. At the beginning of GB2, we painfully watch Ray and Winston show up to a boy’s birthday party and sing to the GB theme song. The kids, of course, don’t give a hoot, especially because the ghost chasing business has slowed down tremendously, and the people of New York no longer believe that the Ghostbusters are legit.

As the plot advances, a pink slime is brewing in the sewers in New York while a painting of ancient tyrant Vigo comes to life. The slime feeds off the negative energy of the city while Vigo possesses the guy in charge of the art museum to steal Dana Barrett’s baby so Vigo can resurrect to a new life. The devious plan works pretty well for the majority of the movie, until the GB crew figure out the plan and “got a grip / came equipped / [and] grabbed their proton packs.”

I can’t help but smile when Brown calls the GBs “my boys.” In fact, in the movie, Brown can be seen holding the door open for them when they head to city hall to talk to the mayor. There is a bit of a double meaning with the line “try to battle my boys / that’s not legal.” Not only do the GBs get out of their criminal charges by trapping two ghosts that the judge sent to the electric chair, but they are courageous enough to go after Vigo and save New York City, even though the city’s citizens don’t care. The GBs are aiming for justice, so it’s not “legal” to stop them from this mission.

After a brief instrumental, the song shifts into more neutral territory, at least in terms of point of view. Although the lyrics do indirectly describe the GBs, since they want to win and catch the ghosts, Brown makes more connections by using “I” and “Me.” The “wanna take the ball” line can refer to any situation, sports or otherwise. The deviation in this verse allows this song to stand out as an ’80s motivator. It’s universal for all listeners.

But there is no “I” in Ghostbusters. Brown’s use of “we” focuses on the power of a team working together. In the case of GB2, Louis Tully couldn’t have saved New York by himself, even if he was an official GB. On the flipside, the plot and resolution relied on teamwork:

• Dana already had history with Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler, so she knew where to go when weird things started happening with baby Oscar.
• Poor Ray Stantz has to fall in the slime, hence allowing the group to truly discover it
• They needed to keep a good cover story straight in order to get past the sewer construction guys
• Janine and Louis make an awkward and careless couple…and then Oscar is kidnapped and taken to Vigo.
• Winston talks about Revelation and the apocalypse…fitting for Vigo’s “taking over the world” scheme
• Spengler plays with slime…and a toaster…plus a Jackie Wilson song.
• 4 guys + lots of slime = a statue of liberty that MOVES and breaks through a ceiling to save the day!
• The people of New York sing “Auld Lang Syne” and spread cheer, which deactivates the power of the slime.

One of the verses that feels out of the place is the “yeah, I think this is gonna be another one of those funky ones / Heart. Soul / d-d-dance…”

What on earth does that have to do with a Ghostbuster??? Well, at times this song is easily universal in that it is a funky dance song that encourages listeners. On the movie front, the GBs need some extra encouragement since the entire city is against them. Between angry New Yorkers, stuffy government officials, an irate Vigo, a baby-obsessed art lover, and TONS of ghosts, the GBs certainly need all the help they can get, even if that motivation helps them to stay strong and lean on each other.

They’re too “hot to handle” because they’re dedicated, dramatic, and slightly crazy, but they’re “too cold to hold,” as they don’t quite settle down or make it too far with women.

But give them wild spirits, demons, and Slimer, and they become the ultimate nerdy heroes…”on their own.”

Want more from the COACS Ghostbusters files? Check out this vlog!

Before You Go…

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist, which compiles all songs featured on Monthly Mixtape! You can now listen on either YouTube or Spotify!