I’m the kind of person who playlists songs by mood, and 'Spirits' by The Strumbellas is one of those tracks I reach for when I want a bittersweet lift. The original studio vocal is Simon Ward’s — he’s unmistakable: slightly rough around the edges, earnest, and catchy in a way that makes the chorus lodge in your head. The band released it on the album 'Hope' in 2016, and that recording is the one that climbed charts worldwide and popped up in adverts and TV spots.
If you hear a cover or a live version, the vocal texture changes, but the original’s character comes from Ward’s phrasing and the production choices that let his voice sit upfront. Hearing the studio version again always gives me a little nostalgic jolt; it’s the voice I picture when I think of that song.
Short, loud and totally sincere: the original 'Spirits' is sung by Simon Ward, lead singer of The Strumbellas. That recording on 'Hope' is the version that hit playlists and radio. I love how his voice straddles folk warmth and alt-pop grit — it sounds like someone telling a story over a campfire but with a drum kit behind them. When friends ask which track that familiar chorus comes from, I hum Simon’s line and they always go, 'Oh yeah!' — that rawness is what sticks with me.
I have this late-night habit of digging through credits on streaming services, and I always check who sings the songs that stick. For 'Spirits', the original recording features Simon Ward as lead vocalist; it’s The Strumbellas’ signature vocal from their 2016 album 'Hope'. I like to trace how production choices highlight his timbre — they leave enough grit in his voice to feel human, but polish the chorus for radio singalongs.
Beyond the lead vocal, I enjoy how the band layers gang vocals and melodic hooks, which makes Simon’s line feel communal. Many covers try to replicate that group energy, but the original’s mix and his phrasing give the song its particular melancholy-meets-anthem quality. I still find that voice comforting in an oddly wistful way.
If you're thinking of the indie hit 'Spirits', the voice on the original recording is Simon Ward — he’s the lead singer of The Strumbellas, the Canadian band that released the track on their 2016 album 'Hope'.
I still get a kick thinking about how that slightly ragged, singalong vocal carries the chorus; it’s part folk, part alt-pop, and Simon’s delivery sells the bittersweet, slightly haunted vibe. The band’s arrangement — tambourine, clacking rhythm, those chiming guitars — makes his voice feel like the song’s narrator calling out from a crowded bar. The record broke through on alt-radio and in playlists, and that original Simon Ward vocal is what most people recognize and hum along to. Fun little fact: lots of sports arenas and TV promos used the song, which helped lock that voice into people’s heads. I always associate it with late-night drives and neon signs, and Simon’s voice fits that memory perfectly.
I hum that opening riff every time I boot up a game playlist, and the original 'Spirits' vocal is Simon Ward from The Strumbellas. The version on 'Hope' is the recording most people know — his slightly rough but melodic delivery gives the chorus its chant-y, stadium-ready energy. I’ve heard indie covers and acoustic renditions that are nice, but the studio take with Simon up front is what keeps popping up in TV shows and compilations.
I love imagining the band in the studio, trying takes until Simon hit that sweet spot between worn and celebratory. That vocal is the one that makes me press repeat, and it still energizes my playlists even after a hundred listens.
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The moment I walked through the door, he had just come home from another woman's place.
He had an anniversary gift waiting for me. A set of sapphires. But the card tucked beside them bore another woman's name.
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This time, I said nothing.
It was him who froze instead, staring at me like I was a stranger. "You didn't used to be like this. I almost miss the way you used to fall apart over everything."
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That very afternoon, while I lay on the operating table, a photo of him and that woman hit the entertainment headlines.
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Like what I wear.
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The thing that made me wide-eyed is....
I am that girl.
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This is the story of a wandering ghost as she also met one.
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The story and ideas is my own~
Don't plagiarize~
Enjoy!
"This realm is your only chance of coming back to life in the mortal world, and if you attract those consequences, take note that you will die.”
“Death?” I ask, mostly to myself. And to the voice, “What do you mean by 'I’m on my way to death'?”
~~~
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***
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If you're hunting for sheet music for 'Spirits Song' online, I have a handful of spots I always check first and they rarely disappoint. Big retailers like Musicnotes and Sheet Music Plus often carry official piano/vocal/guitar arrangements or printable PDFs, and they offer transposition tools and mobile apps so you can change key on the fly. Hal Leonard and Alfred Music are the usual publishers for many contemporary songs, so searching their catalogs can lead to licensed, accurate editions.
Beyond the major stores, don't forget community-driven places: MuseScore has user-made arrangements that are great for quick practice and sometimes include multiple difficulty levels. Etsy is surprisingly good if you want an indie arrangement or unique voicing, and Fiverr or local arrangers will craft custom charts if nothing official exists. When downloading, pay attention to licensing (especially for performances), check if it’s piano/vocal/guitar or just lead sheet, and read reviews or preview pages. I usually end up using a licensed PDF for recitals and a MuseScore file for messy practice, which keeps things flexible and fun.
Every time that shimmering, otherworldly melody swells on the soundtrack I get chills — that's the work of Joe Hisaishi. He composed the music for 'Spirited Away', and the tracks that accompany the spirit world (think the quiet, wistful themes and the more mysterious, choral moments) are his handiwork. Hisaishi's style there mixes gentle piano lines, sweeping strings, and subtle choral textures to paint the bathhouse's eerie beauty and Chihiro's tender courage.
I like to play those pieces when I need to refocus: they’re cinematic but intimate, like a small movie in your headphones. Hisaishi worked closely with Hayao Miyazaki to match the moods exactly, and you can feel how much thought went into each cue. For me, those spirit themes are the heart of 'Spirited Away' — haunting, warm, and impossible to forget.