--- description: We do not accept. title: Fall Out Boy Is Here to Ruin the 'Ghostbusters' Theme Song image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Fall Out Boy Is Here to Ruin the _Ghostbusters_ Theme Song by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 23, 2016 5:12 PM CUT by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 23, 2016 5:12 PM CUT Paul Feig’s reboot of the beloved ’80s comedy [_Ghostbusters_](http://time.com/4364081/ghostbusters-jimmy-kimmel-melissa-mccarthy-bill-murray/?iid=sr-link7 "undefined") has not been without controversy, due mostly to sexists who can’t handle an [all-female cast](http://time.com/4086937/kristen-wiig-female-ghostbusters-backlash/?iid=sr-link9 "undefined") (even one as amazing as Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, and Kristen Wiig) taking over the proton packs formerly held by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. But it’s time to get over that non-issue and focus all your attention on this real one—Fall Out Boy’s nightmare-inducing cover of Ray Parker Jr.’s [corny yet classic theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9We2XsVZfc "undefined"), “Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid).” The Hot Topic-friendly track features singer Patrick Stump repeatedly yelping the phrase “I’m not afraid” while a nameless chorus whispers the word “ghostbusters.” Surely this cover will inspire some 9th grader to timidly pump their fists in the air before adding the track to their emo-goth playlist. Poor Missy Elliott’s guest verse does not improve the end result, but serves only to create a fervent desire that some editing genius would get rid of Fall Out Boy’s verses and just leave hers. The reboot deserves better. Missy Elliott deserves better. Even Huey Lewis, whose song “I Want A New Drug” [sounds suspiciously similar](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/22/11-suspiciously-sound-alike-songs/slide/all/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined") to Parker’s theme, deserves better. On the bright side, if the song manages to actually kill you, you can come back as a ghost and haunt Fall Out Boy. \[H/T [Consequence of Sound](http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/06/from-the-gates-of-hell-emerged-fall-out-boys-ghostbusters-theme-song/ "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4380046/fall-out-boy-missy-elliott-ghostbusters-theme-song/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4380046/fall-out-boy-missy-elliott-ghostbusters-theme-song/"},"headline":"Fall Out Boy Is Here to Ruin the Ghostbusters Theme Song","datePublished":"2016-06-23T17:12:29.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:33:42.042Z","description":"We do not accept.","url":"https://time.com/4380046/fall-out-boy-missy-elliott-ghostbusters-theme-song/","keywords":["Newsfeed","movies","Music","Ghostbusters","Missy Elliott"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4380046/fall-out-boy-missy-elliott-ghostbusters-theme-song/","name":"Fall Out Boy Is Here to Ruin the Ghostbusters Theme Song"}}]}] ```