Peak
2
Weeks
20
Score
3,644
Chart Year
1989
The video was filmed in May 1989 and released in June. The video features several guest appearances by celebrities including Jane Curtin, Malcolm Forbes, Iman, Victoria Jackson, Sally Kirkland, Rick Moranis, Joey and Marky Ramone of the Ramones, Christopher Reeve, Lori Singer, Doug E. Fresh, and Donald Trump. Additionally, there are scenes from Ghostbusters II, interspersed with New York City locations such as the Trump Tower, World Trade Center, and Plaza Hotel.
This was the theme song to the movie Ghostbusters II. Brown was hot at the time, with a #1 single "My Prerogative," so he was courted to do the song. He was invited to the movie set, where he met the cast and the crew. The film's joint music supervisor, Kathy Nelson, suggested he record this song for the movie. Brown agreed in a deal that involved a small part in the film - he played a doorman who greets the Ghostbusters when they arrive at Gracie Mansion. "You guys got another one of those proton packs? My kid brother really wants one," he asks. "The proton pack is not a toy," Egon (Harold Ramis) tells him. "On Our Own" plays under this scene. This was written by L.A. Reid, Babyface and Darryl Simmons. Reid and Babyface were the founders of LaFace Records. Brown was originally a member of the teen group New Edition who enjoyed several American hits and a UK #1 ("Candy Girl") in the mid-'80s. He left in 1996 to to go solo and enjoyed immediate success with a stream of hit singles including "My Prerogative." In 1992 he married Whitney Houston but had several run-ins with the law. In January 1998 he was imprisoned for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and in May 2000 (having tested positive for cocaine), he was refused bail and was again incarcerated. The first Ghostbusters movie came out in 1984 and used a song of the same name by Ray Parker Jr. that went to #1 in the US. Parker, who wrote that song, had to incorporate the word "Ghostbusters" into the chorus, a daunting challenge for a songwriter. For the sequel, the movie gets its plugs during Brown's raps, which bookend the song along with an interlude where he gives a quick plot summary. The song itself is about self-reliance, but the message is clear: go see the movie. Donald Trump makes an appearance in the video, which shows Brown and scenes from the movie projected on buildings and signs around New York City.
You want somethin' done? You gotta do it yourself Ow! y'all think this is gonna be another one of those funky joints Heart, soul, d-d-dance! If I was you, and you were me, you ought a be winning If you want something better, you gotta want to keep your all 'Cause I believe, so much do we, they know we're not kidding If you feel the same as me, girl, you gotta learn to take the fall Now I find out that nothing is given Don't know where the cards may fall All I know is that we gotta get it We've gotta make it on our own Well I guess we're gonna have to take control (On our own) If it's up to us, we've got to take it home (On our own) Can't you see that all we need to be a go-getter Gotta make your own decisions, gotta go for what ya know There comes a time in our lives, you want to be bigger Gotta keep, keep on pushing, you gotta learn to take control, yeah Well I guess we're gonna have to take control (On our own) If it's up to us, we've got to take it home Gotta, gotta, take it home, gotta, gotta, gotta take it home (on our own) Heart, soul, d-d-dance! Too hot to handle, too cold to hold They're called Ghostbusters and they're in control Had 'em throwin' a party for a bunch of children While all the while, the slime was under the building So they packed up the crew, got a grip came quick Grabbed the proton packs on their backs, and they split To battle out Vigo, the master of evil Try to battle my boys? That's not legal (Oh we oh) They're in control (Oh we oh) why why ya know it I said they're in control (Oh we oh) why why ya know it (Oh we oh) why why ya know it Well I guess we're gonna have to take control Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta (on our own) If it's up to us, we've got to take it home Too hot to handle, too cold to hold, they're called Ghostbusters and they're in control (on our own) Well I guess we're gonna have to take control Gotta, gotta, take it home, gotta, gotta take it home (on our own) If it's up to us, we've got to take it home Gotta, gotta, take it home, gotta, gotta, gotta take it home (on our own) (Oh we oh) OW! (Oh we oh) why why ya know it (Oh we oh) Uh! (Oh we oh) why why ya know it Well I guess we're gonna have to take control
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 10, 1989 | 64 | 62 |
| 2 | Jun 17, 1989 | 45 | 81 |
| 3 | Jun 24, 1989 | 42 | 84 |
| 4 | Jul 1, 1989 | 27 | 99 |
| 5 | Jul 8, 1989 | 19 | 107 |
| 6 | Jul 15, 1989 | 12 | 114 |
| 7 | Jul 22, 1989 | 6 | 120 |
| 8 | Jul 29, 1989 | 5 | 121 |
| 9 | Aug 5, 1989 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | Aug 12, 1989 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Aug 19, 1989 | 2 | 124 |
| 12 | Aug 26, 1989 | 5 | 121 |
| 13 | Sep 2, 1989 | 15 | 111 |
| 14 | Sep 9, 1989 | 18 | 108 |
| 15 | Sep 16, 1989 | 27 | 99 |
| 16 | Sep 23, 1989 | 37 | 89 |
| 17 | Sep 30, 1989 | 47 | 79 |
| 18 | Oct 7, 1989 | 60 | 66 |
| 19 | Oct 14, 1989 | 72 | 54 |
| 20 | Oct 21, 1989 | 85 | 41 |