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Batman (album)

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"Batman Soundtrack" redirects here. For the Danny Elfman musical score, see Batman (score). For the soundtrack to the 2022 film, see The Batman (soundtrack).

Batman
Studio album / soundtrack album by
Prince
ReleasedJune 20, 1989
RecordedJune 1988 – March 1989
StudioPaisley Park, Chanhassen
Genre
Length42:52
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerPrince
Prince chronology
Lovesexy
(1988) 		Batman
(1989) 		Graffiti Bridge
(1990)
Batman soundtrack chronology
Batman (score)
(1989) 		Batman (album)
(1989) 		Batman Returns
(1992)
Singles from Batman
  1. "Batdance"
    Released: June 8, 1989
  2. "Partyman"
    Released: August 18, 1989
  3. "The Arms of Orion"
    Released: October 16, 1989
  4. "Scandalous!"
    Released: November 28, 1989
  5. "Trust"
    Released: 1989 (HK Promo)
  6. "The Future"
    Released: May 18, 1990 (US & EU)

Batman is the eleventh studio album by American recording artist Prince and the soundtrack album to the 1989 film Batman. It was released on June 20, 1989, by Warner Bros. Records. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival. The result was yet another multi-platinum successful cross media enterprise by Warner Bros., in the vein of Purple Rain.

The album stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for six consecutive weeks, being his first number one album since Around the World in a Day, while its lead single, "Batdance", became his first number-one song since "Kiss". It is certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Production

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The album was recorded in six weeks, from mid-February to late March 1989, and Prince used three tracks recorded earlier: "Electric Chair", "Scandalous!", and "Vicki Waiting" (originally known as "Anna Waiting", named for his then-girlfriend Anna Fantastic). Originally, the songs "1999" and "Baby I'm a Star" from earlier albums were slated to be used in the film, but Prince instead recorded an entire album's worth of material with Batman samples and lyrics. In a 2010 Rolling Stone interview, Prince revealed that the project was initially supposed to be a collaboration between himself and Michael Jackson: "Did you know that the album was supposed to be a duet between Michael Jackson and me? He as Batman, me as the Joker?" Prince would have sung funk songs for the villains, while Michael Jackson would have sung ballads for the heroes. This never came to fruition as Jackson was busy with his Bad World Tour and already signed with Epic Records (the label he had been with since 1975), while the film was a Warner Bros. production. The album was performed entirely by Prince, with a few exceptions: Sheena Easton duets with Prince on "The Arms of Orion", "Trust" features a sampled horn part by Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss, and "The Future" features strings by Clare Fischer sampled from the then-unreleased 1986 track "Crystal Ball" and samples of the Sounds of Blackness choir. "Batdance" includes a sample of Prince's technician Matthew Larson, and "Partyman" features a vocal performance from Anna Fantastic.[1] All dialogue sampled on Prince's Batman album is taken directly from a workprint of Batman and therefore lacks ADR and foley. This is especially noticeable in the beginning of the first track, "The Future", with dialogue of Michael Keaton speaking as Batman.

The producers originally wanted composer Danny Elfman, who was responsible for the film’s score, to collaborate with Prince but Elfman declined as he already had the score’s vision and did not want to be a music arranger.[2]

In the album's liner notes, the lyrics of each song are associated with one of the characters in the film: "The Future" and "Scandalous" are credited to Batman; while "Electric Chair" and "Trust" are credited to the Joker. "Vicki Waiting" is sung from the perspective of Bruce Wayne, while "Lemon Crush" comes from Vicki Vale; the two characters share the duet, "The Arms of Orion". "Partyman" was inspired by Prince's first meeting with Jack Nicholson (out-of-character) on-set.[3]

"Batdance", whose lyrics consist mostly of samples from the film, is credited to all aforementioned parties, as well as Gemini, Prince's Batman-centric alter ego that resembles Batman villain Two-Face—Prince on the right half of the body and the Joker on the left. Prince himself is credited with singing two lines of the album as himself: "Who do you trust if you can't trust God? Who can you trust—who can ya? Nobody." in "Trust"; and the word "Stop!" that ends "Batdance" and the album proper (though the "Stop!" is actually a sound bite of Michael Keaton, directly from the film where he tells the Batmobile to stop).

The Batman era also marked a change in Prince's appearance; he switched out the elaborate costumes, polka dots and lace from Lovesexy for much simpler attire, usually donning dark blue/black clothing and "Batman" boots. The artist's hair was fully straightened from his signature wavy curls, as shown in the "Batdance" video.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Blender[5]
Chicago Sun-Times[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[7]
The Guardian[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
NME9/10[10]
Q[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
The Village VoiceB+[13]

In 2016, film critic Matt Zoller Seitz praised Prince's songs and music videos for Batman, more so than the film itself, stating that his songs "suggest a goofy, perverse, sensuous, somewhat introverted Batman film that so far we've never gotten from anyone", and arguing that Prince's music videos "are more psychologically perceptive than any of the Batman films".[14][15][16]

In 2019, a Symposium took place to discuss the album.[17]

Ownership complexities

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Prince had to agree to sign the publishing rights to the songs used in the film over to Warner Bros.; Prince's hit singles from this album were not permitted to appear on any of his hits compilations until the 2016 release of 4Ever, which included "Batdance". Only the B-sides "200 Balloons", "Feel U Up", and "I Love U in Me" appeared on his 1993 The Hits/The B-Sides collection. On concert T-shirts which listed all of Prince's album titles to date, the song "Scandalous!" appeared in place of the album Batman.[citation needed] Despite this, Prince performed a number of the album's tracks in concert over the years.[18] A 2005 special edition DVD of the Batman film contains Prince's related videos as a bonus feature (although the video for "Partyman" is an edited down version of the original seven-minute long video).

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Prince, except where noted

Batman track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Future" 4:07
2."Electric Chair" 4:07
3."The Arms of Orion" (with Sheena Easton)Sheena Easton, Prince5:02
4."Partyman" 3:11
5."Vicki Waiting" 4:51
6."Trust" 4:23
7."Lemon Crush" 4:15
8."Scandalous"John L. Nelson, Prince6:14
9."Batdance" 6:13

Personnel

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Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

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  1. "Batdance" (edit)
  2. "200 Balloons"
  3. "Batdance" (The Batmix) (maxi single)
  4. "Batdance" (Vicki Vale Mix) (maxi single)
  1. "Partyman"
  2. "Feel U Up"
  3. "The Purple Party Mix" (maxi single)
  4. "Partyman" (music mix) (maxi single)
  5. "Partyman" (video mix) (maxi single)
  1. "The Arms of Orion" with Sheena Easton
  2. "I Love U in Me"
  1. "Scandalous!"
  2. "When 2 R in Love"
  3. "The Crime" ("The Scandalous Sex Suite" maxi single)
  4. "The Passion" ("The Scandalous Sex Suite" maxi single)
  5. "The Rapture" ("The Scandalous Sex Suite" maxi single)
  6. "Sex" ("The Scandalous Sex Suite" maxi single)
  1. "The Future" (Remix)
  2. "Electric Chair" (Remix)

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for Batman
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[52] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 250,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[54] Gold 10,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[55] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[56] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] Gold 7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[58] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[59] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[61] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 4,400,000[62]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Alex Hahn (2003). "Possessed: The Rise And Fall Of Prince". Billboard Books.
  2. ^ https://www.musicradar.com/news/danny-elfman-batman-prince
  3. ^ Prince, A. Pop Lifein. "Prince's second Rolling Stone interview, 1990".
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Batman – Prince". AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  5. ^ Harris, Keith (June–July 2001). "Prince: Batman". Blender. Vol. 1, no. 1. New York. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  6. ^ McLeese, Don (June 19, 1989). "'Bat' dancing". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  7. ^ Browne, David; Sandow, Greg (September 21, 1990). "A decade of Prince albums". Entertainment Weekly. No. 32. New York. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  8. ^ Price, Simon (April 22, 2016). "Prince: every album rated – and ranked". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Willman, Chris (June 18, 1989). "Prince's Gotham City Batdance: Id and Ego". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Morton, Roger (June 24, 1989). "The Blat!!! Album". NME. London. p. 36.
  11. ^ Bradley, Lloyd (August 1989). "Prince: Batman: Music from the Motion Picture". Q. No. 35. London.
  12. ^ Pareles, Jon (August 24, 1989). "Prince: Batman". Rolling Stone. No. 559. New York. Archived from the original on November 21, 2002. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  13. ^ Christgau, Robert (October 3, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  14. ^ Matt Zoller Seitz [@mattzollerseitz] (October 8, 2016). "Watching Burton's BATMAN. Not a good film but many striking elements; like that it has full scenes, contrasting w/Nolan's trailer aesthetic" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2016 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Matt Zoller Seitz [@mattzollerseitz] (October 8, 2016). "I wish Prince had directed at least one Batman movie. His BATMAN themed videos are more psychologically perceptive than any of the films" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2016 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ Matt Zoller Seitz [@mattzollerseitz] (October 8, 2016). "Prince's songs for BATMAN suggest a goofy, perverse, sensuous, somewhat introverted Batman film that so far we've never gotten from anyone" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2016 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPQQKHwGch0 Batdance30ATL Symposium Opening Keynote: Chuck Zwicky
  18. ^ "Prince Album Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm.
  19. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman". Hung Medien.
  20. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman" (in German). Hung Medien.
  21. ^ a b "Top 3 Albums in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. July 22, 1989. p. VII. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6424". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Top 3 Albums in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. August 5, 1989. p. VII. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  25. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. September 2, 1989. p. VIII. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  26. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Prince". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 204.
  27. ^ "Top 3 Albums in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. September 16, 1989. p. VII. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman". Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman". Hung Medien.
  31. ^ "Top 3 Albums in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. August 26, 1989. p. VII. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  32. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  33. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman". Hung Medien.
  34. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman". Hung Medien.
  35. ^ "Prince | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  36. ^ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  37. ^ "Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  38. ^ "Prince Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  39. ^ "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack / Prince – Batman" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 37. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  41. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1989". ARIA Charts. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  42. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1989: Alben". Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  43. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6625". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  45. ^ "European Top 100 Albums 1989#page=12" (PDF). Music & Media. December 23, 1989. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Album - Jahrescharts" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  47. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  48. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989". Swiss Charts Portal. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  49. ^ "Year End Albums" (PDF). Record Mirror. January 20, 1990. p. 42. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  50. ^ "Billboard.BIZ: Top Pop Albums of 1989". Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  51. ^ The ARIA Report. Vol. 1. ARIA. January 14, 1990. p. 19.
  52. ^ "French album certifications – Prince – Batman" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  53. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Prince; 'Batman')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  54. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  55. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Prince – Batman" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2019. Select 1989年9月 on the drop-down menu
  56. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Prince – Batman" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved September 11, 2019. Enter Batman in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1989 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  57. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Prince – Batman". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  58. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
  59. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Batman')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  60. ^ "British album certifications – Prince – Batman". British Phonographic Industry.
  61. ^ "American album certifications – Prince – Batman". Recording Industry Association of America.
  62. ^ Souza Filho, Otávio (December 20, 1992). "Prince: muito discos, poucas vendas". O Dia (in Portuguese): 7. Retrieved August 10, 2023.

Further reading

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