"Ghost Story" is a song by American singer Carrie Underwood, released as the first single from her ninth studio album Denim & Rhinestones.[1] It is the only song from the album that Underwood did not have a hand in writing.[2] The song was released digitally on March 18, 2022.[3]
"Ghost Story" was written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, and David Garcia.[4] Underwood said of the single, "Ghost Story is a thrilling, dramatic song that David, Hillary and Josh wrote for me. They are such talented, amazing songwriters who know me so well, and from the first time I heard it I knew I had to record it. I have always loved performing songs that tell a story and inspire some kind of cinematic imagery when you hear them, and that is definitely true of 'Ghost Story.' It creates a mood and a vibe that is different than anything else I've recorded before."[5]
The song is written in the key of G major and a 6/8 time signature. It has an approximate tempo of 48 beats per minute and a vocal range of E3 to D5. The song's main chord pattern on the verses is CMaj7-Asus2-Em-D.[6]
Critical reception
The Nash News gave a positive review of the song, writing, "One of Underwood’s strengths has been the storytelling within her songs...["Ghost Story"] is ethereal in style and vulnerable in message and it brings a new sound to the current radio climate.[7]Rolling Stone gave a positive review, praising its "slowed down, waltzing rhythm" and "eerie atmosphere", noting its departure from another of Underwood's breakup hits, "Before He Cheats".[8]Taste of Country praised Underwood's vocal performance, saying, "[she] belts emotively on the chorus, displaying her unbridled desire to hold her old flame captive" and calling the song "vividly-painted".[9]
Promotion
Underwood performed the song live for the first time at the 64th Grammy Awards, held in Las Vegas, on April 3, 2022.[10] The official lyric video was posted to YouTube on March 18, 2022.[11] She again performed the song live for the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11 wearing a purple asymmetric jumpsuit and bare feet, being carried into the air on a ribbon toward the end of the performance.[12] She included "Ghost Story" as part of her set at Stagecoach Festival, along with "Denim and Rhinestones" and "Crazy Angels".[13] She performed it again at CMA Music Fest in June 2022.[14] When Apple Music debuted its Sessions EP feature in July, Underwood was the first artist featured; she performed three songs, including "Ghost Story" and "Blown Away."[15] She included it for the setlist during an iHeart concert special, which aired September 29.[16]
Commercial performance
"Ghost Story" marks Underwood's thirtieth top ten on the Country Airplay;[17] it also reached No. 61 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Music video
The video for the song premiered on April 29, 2022.[18] The music video was filmed in the Los Angeles Theatre[19] and was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.[20] Underwood said of Nicholas, "I am very visually-oriented and from the first time I heard 'Ghost Story,' I had a vision for how I wanted to bring this song to life in performance and Randee always takes everything to a whole other artistic level beyond my own imagination." The male lead in the video is Craig Geoghan.[21] An alternate version of the video premiered in July.[22]
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