Ghost (Mystery Skulls song)

"Ghost" is a four-minute, eighteen-second song[1] described by Vibe as an "electro retro funk" track with harmonies influenced from disco.[2] "Ghost" is about wanting to "disappear completely and start over" again, as it was inspired by Dubuc relocating from Dallas to Los Angeles without letting anyone know.[2] The concept of the song is sung in the hook "This time I might just disappear."[3] He described it as "really special song. The moment I wrote it, I thought, 'Wow, this could really be something."[4] Written and produced by Dubuc, the original mix that appears on Mystery Skulls' debut album Forever was mixed by Jeremy Wheatley for 365 Artists at 4db Studios in London, with Adam Looker assisting. Colin Leonard mastered the track at SING Mastering in Atlanta using SING Technology.[5]

Warner Bros. Records premiered the final mix of "Ghost" for streaming on December 10, 2013,[6] and the song became available in digital stores by January 31, 2014.[1] A remix by house producer Claude VonStroke was released on February 18, 2014 by Spin magazine, which journalist Chris Martins named a "demented dance-floor delight."[7] A day later, Vice Media's channel Noisey released a remix by New York City-based duo Solidisco, advertised to "make you nostalgic for the long weekend just gone (thanks President's Day!), but super happy because Friday is just a little bit closer than it should be."[8] Both re-workings were part of the song's remix EP that also featured remixes from Fred Falke, Thomas Newson and Viceroy.[9] A re-cut by producer Martignetti that was not on the EP premiered on the blog Stoney Roads, who noted the song to be fitting in an episode of the HBO series Girls.[10] "Ghost" was also included on the soundtrack for the game WWE 2K15, and Dubuc has admitted to being happy of being involved with the game: "I've been a really big fan for a long time, and they found out I was a fan, and it turns out that some of the people that work at WWE and in the game specifically are fans of Mystery Skulls and they were like, "What the fuck? This is so cool! Let's do something together!""[11]

"Ghost" received widespread critical acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its production, melodies, catchiness and Dubuc's vocals.[2][12][13] One reviewer from Dance Music Northwest praised the song for putting Dubuc's diverse talent on display.[14] However, a critic who reviewed Forever was more mixed on the song, calling it, along with "When I'm With You", to be "slightly lackluster and boring."[15] The track also did well commercially; it debuted at its peak position of number 15 on the American Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, issue dated November 22, 2014, and landed the on the digital component of that chart in the top 20 the same week.[16] It lasted on the Dance/Electronic chart for eighteen weeks,[16] ending up at number 99 on the chart's 2015 year-end list.[17]

The official video for "Ghost", produced by company Oh Yeah Wow and directed by Josh Thomas,[13] parodies the 1973 horror film The Exorcist,[18] but was also noted to spoof scenes from 1976's Carrie by one writer.[19] It premiered on February 4, 2014 by Vice's electronic music channel Thump, who advertised it as "a really good video. It's got zombies. It's got a funny exorcist. It's got old people looking like they're about to poop their Depends. People (and things) fly through the air. It's neat, and it's all set to an extremely catchy beat."[13] The video, which involves a priest who dances through the exorcism of a young woman, was well received by publications.[12] This included a writer for Bloody Disgusting who called it "awesome",[18] and another one who honored the choreography of the dancing priest as "seriously impressive".[19]

The song's commercial success has been attributed to the critically acclaimed animated music video by Ben Mangum, also known as MysteryBen27, that garnered more than two million views in under a month.[3][11] The Scooby-Doo-esque video involves paranormal investigators Arthur Kingsmen (a parody of Shaggy Rogers), Vivi Yukino (a parody of Velma Dinkley), and their dog Mystery (a parody of Scooby-Doo himself) running from danger, including the ghost of Vivi's romantic interest and former team leader Lewis Pepper (a parody of Fred Jones), whom a possessed Arthur had previously killed, in "the most colorful, vibrant, psychedelic, funky fresh haunted mansion I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on", as described by PrinceofTheUniverse of Kotaku's Talk Amongst Yourselves.[20] He also noted that "Everything happens on rhythm to the song which some may find a little cheesy cliche but it's a nice way to keep the viewer into whats happening visual while still enjoying the music. As if one can't exist without the other."[20] The unexpected success of the "Ghost" animated music video led to it developing a strong cult following, and as of 2020, Mangum has created three other animated music videos involving the characters for the songs "Freaking Out", "Hellbent", and "The Future".

• Single[1]

1. "Ghost"  – 4:18

• Remix EP[9]

1. "Ghost" (Solidisco Remix)  – 3:38
2. "Ghost" (Fred Falke Remix)  – 6:38
3. "Ghost" (Claude VonStroke Remix)  – 6:15
4. "Ghost" (Thomas Newson Remix)  – 4:25
5. "Ghost" (Viceroy Remix)  – 4:20

• "Mystery Skulls Animated – Ghost" on YouTube