"Ghosts 'n' Stuff" is a single by deadmau5 featured on his fourth studio album, For Lack of a Better Name. Initially released as an instrumental on 27 October 2008 by mau5trap and Ultra Records, it included the B-side "Peddler of Misery". A year later, on 27 September 2009, it was re-released with vocals by Rob Swire. The updated version of the track served as the second single from the album.
Background[]
The original demo for "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" was created in 2004. This early version, referred to as "Old Ghosts" and "Old Hotels", featured a melody that, when reversed, resembled that of the final track. The demo underwent at least ten revisions before its official release.[1]
Zimmerman stated that the final version of "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" was specifically produced for Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 Essential Selection show on 10 October 2008.[2] At the time, the track was titled "Hotels," as it was composed while he was staying at the Great Eastern Hotel in England. [3] When preparing for its release, he initially intended to rename it "Ghosts 'n' Shit" but was advised against it to avoid an explicit rating for his album.
Subsequently, Zimmerman and Rob Swire decided to collaborate after repeatedly encountering each other backstage at various festivals. According to Zimmerman, Swire's lyrics for the song were influenced by "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak.[4]
The track was first performed live by Zimmerman at HARD Haunted Mansion 2008 in Los Angeles, California, on 31 October 2008.[5]
Lyrics[]
It's been so long, I've been out of my body with you
I feel alone, feel at home, feel like nothing is true
She took me to a place where my senses gave-way
Turn it 'round, shut it down, what the people say
Climbing up, killing time, gonna give you some,
Take my hand and let it come, let it come, let it...
Take it back when she knows that you're doing it right
'Cause everybody else knows what they're taking tonight
But I just wanna play it right,
We are gonna get there tonight
It's been so far, I've been walking the line on my own
Lift me up to the stars, we are coming home
I only had a taste but we're out of time
We have sold in the cold, physical design
Set me free, set me out on the run
Lift me up to the sun, to the sun, to the...
We are burning down, we are burning down
It's the way that you fake it, I know it's too late
But I just want to play it right,
We are gonna get there tonight
I just want to take you down,
We are gonna bring you 'round
Releases[]
Digital EP[]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" (Radio Edit) | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" (Original Mix) | 5:27 |
| 3. | Ghosts 'n' Stuff" (Nero Remix) | 6:55 |
| 4. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" Original Instrumental Mix) | 6:10 |
| 5. | "Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff" | 4:58 |
Vinyl (2008)[]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" | 6:12 |
| 2. | "Peddler of Misery" | 7:40 |
Vinyl (2009)[]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" (feat. Rob Swire) | 5:27 |
| 2. | "Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff" | 4:57 |
| 3. | "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" (Original Instrumental Mix) | 6:16 |
Trivia[]
- The B-side of the original vinyl release, "Peddler of Misery," is one of the rarest deadmau5 tracks to come across.
- Kat Von D wrote an alternate version of the song called "Luv n' Stuff" with Danny Lohner as a gift to Zimmerman.
- The music video was featured on an episode of the 2011 revival Beavis and Butt-Head titled "Drones".
- Zimmerman is infamous for his disdain towards playing "Ghosts n' Stuff".
- The song was originally going to be titled "Ghosts 'n' Shit", but it was deemed as inappropriate.
References[]
- ↑ "old ghosts.", SoundCloud (via Internet Archive), 26 Apr 2010.
- ↑ "Deadmau5 @ Radio 1's Essential Mix - BBC Radio 1 2009", Liveset Database, 8 Jan 2009.
- ↑ "Deadmau5 reveals the story behind "Ghosts 'N' Stuff"'s name", Imgur, 16 Nov 2014
- ↑ "Deadmau5 Reacts his tracks Sampled", YouTube, 9 Apr 2020.
- ↑ "Ghosts N Stuff (Hard Intro Version)", YouTube, 6 Nov 2008.
Gallery[]
