LinnLM1 said:

This soundtrack album was truly the beginning of the end of Prince as musical greatness. Its a slapped-together mess not worthy of any of his prior albums.

"Partyman" "Vicki Waiting" and "Scandalous" are it...the rest is garbage.

I remember riding the bus to school and they debuted "Batdance" on Q106 here in San Diego. Everyone knew I was the huge Prince fan so it was all eyes on me.

One of my more embarassing Prince moments...not the worst, but its up there.

laurarichardson said:

funkomatic said:

Prince went for the quick cash and lost both: his artistic credibility and his muse!

Wow the music for Batman fits the film really well and it is one of the few times P really did do a great job fitting the music with the film. He did not lose any credibility with this project and why are fans carping about it 20 years later. The truth of the matter is more people in the U.S remember P for Batman than they do Lovesexy which was a hugh bomb in the U.S. He needed to sell some records and get back into the public eye. I honestly think if P listened to his so-called fanbase he would be performing at the Maryland state fair this weekend as many seem clueless on how the industry works.

"He did not lose any artistic credibility with this project"??? Are you serious??? Its not even debateable that the Batman soundtrack was a quick attempt to cash-in. You must think the "Purple & Gold" song kicks ass too, eh?

And actually you don't know how the music industry works. When bands or artists who've built up a loyal fanbase the old fashioned way - through great albums and great live tours - suddenly decide to cash-in the quick way by cutting an obvious piece of commercial pap they lose their original audience's respect. And when you do that you've slit your own throat long term. Why, you ask? Because the audience who jumps on your commercial pap will drop you like a hot potato as soon as the next song by another artist comes round the bend. But you've also lost you original fanbase too. So you're screwed. That's why Prince's albums no longer sell like they used to and why there's far less interest generated than they used to. If you don't sell out your original audience will stay with you.

And Prince sells out concerts due to his '78-'88 output, not what came after - such as that woeful Batman soundtrack.

xsam2 said:

Per my previous post, Tim Burton liked the music, but he didn't want it in the film - read the Rolling Stone Interview...

- Yes, it´s clear in the interview. IMO, Prince shouldnt have done an entire Batman album. It has nothing to do with him (Prince and Batman dont match, IMO, as a fan of both). Maybe one song would be enough.

thebanishedone said:

i read that Tim Burton the director of 1989 movie Batman

was not pleased

with the songs Prince contributed.

Prince wasn't his choice for doing the music but studio and Jack Nickolson insisted.

hahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!

Mindbells9 said:

muleFunk said:

My only problem with the Batman soundtrack was the lack of any release of the Vicki Waiting intrumental/extended version.

I will also add that while the 1989 Batman today looks very dated compared to the great Begins and The Dark Knight ,it was a kick ass movie for the times.

GB I see U still trying 2 find that long Vicki Waiting huh lol

I remember one of the first questions U asked me when we first met was if I had it or knew anybody with it! That's your holy grail!

Still looking after 21 years ! That's the only known Prince "song" that I have not seen released anywhere.

The soundtrack wasn't garbage by any means, and I challenge anyone who says it was trash. What people fail to realize is that it's not a Prince album. It's not supposed to be. It's him making songs for a specific project (one that wasn't his own, thank God).

Stuff like "The Future" and "Electric Chair" are not only great songs, but they work well as part of the foreboding doom and gloom feel that the movie emotes. There's also an almost-aggressive playfulness in songs like "Vicki Waiting" and "Lemon Crush" that fit the cat and mouse game that Vicki Vale was caught in the middle of with Bruce and The Joker, and then finding out who Bruce really was.

It's "Scandalous" that sticks out for me, as a song that's more of a "Prince Song" than the others.

The whole album is very Tim Burton in some ways too, and that's perfect for the project as a whole. It was the latter Batman soundtracks that started sounding a bit haphazard and thrown together.

But fuck the naysayers, the album was his first #1 album since Around The World In A Day (unless you want to count some chart like Japan or Sweden for which Lovesexy popped up from the extensive Asia and European touring), and it was #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Billboard R&B and UK Albums charts.

ernestsewell said:

But fuck the naysayers, the album was his first #1 album since Around The World In A Day

- True, but I am not sure if it was good or not for his career. Many people only bought it because of the movie, and nobody knows how many disliked Prince after that album, that isnt much praised even by the fans.

I like this album more than Lovesexy or SOTT.

ernestsewell said:

The soundtrack wasn't garbage by any means, and I challenge anyone who says it was trash. What people fail to realize is that it's not a Prince album. It's not supposed to be. It's him making songs for a specific project (one that wasn't his own, thank God).

Stuff like "The Future" and "Electric Chair" are not only great songs, but they work well as part of the foreboding doom and gloom feel that the movie emotes. There's also an almost-aggressive playfulness in songs like "Vicki Waiting" and "Lemon Crush" that fit the cat and mouse game that Vicki Vale was caught in the middle of with Bruce and The Joker, and then finding out who Bruce really was.

It's "Scandalous" that sticks out for me, as a song that's more of a "Prince Song" than the others.

The whole album is very Tim Burton in some ways too, and that's perfect for the project as a whole. It was the latter Batman soundtracks that started sounding a bit haphazard and thrown together.

But fuck the naysayers, the album was his first #1 album since Around The World In A Day (unless you want to count some chart like Japan or Sweden for which Lovesexy popped up from the extensive Asia and European touring), and it was #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Billboard R&B and UK Albums charts.

Erm.

"Electric Chair", "Vickie Waiting", "Lemon Crush".... All songs written for Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.

ernestsewell said:

The soundtrack wasn't garbage by any means, and I challenge anyone who says it was trash. What people fail to realize is that it's not a Prince album. It's not supposed to be. It's him making songs for a specific project (one that wasn't his own, thank God).

Stuff like "The Future" and "Electric Chair" are not only great songs, but they work well as part of the foreboding doom and gloom feel that the movie emotes. There's also an almost-aggressive playfulness in songs like "Vicki Waiting" and "Lemon Crush" that fit the cat and mouse game that Vicki Vale was caught in the middle of with Bruce and The Joker, and then finding out who Bruce really was.

It's "Scandalous" that sticks out for me, as a song that's more of a "Prince Song" than the others.

The whole album is very Tim Burton in some ways too, and that's perfect for the project as a whole. It was the latter Batman soundtracks that started sounding a bit haphazard and thrown together.

But fuck the naysayers, the album was his first #1 album since Around The World In A Day (unless you want to count some chart like Japan or Sweden for which Lovesexy popped up from the extensive Asia and European touring), and it was #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Billboard R&B and UK Albums charts.

You're right, ernest...garbage is too strong a word, especially if you look at it from the perspective of not being a "Prince" album. I just dont dig it...it sounds way to rushed and simple. "The Future" is okay, but I really dont get all the props that go to "Electric Chair." "Arms of Orion" is way too cheesy, "Trust" gets old real quick, and "Lemon Crush"? The "ready fo--ooooor the crush" just grinds me! Once again, to each his own.

As for it being number one, you know full well that anything with a Bat-symbol on it sold like hotcakes in the summer of 89!

The Future is a great, funky song with extremely creative use of sounds. Electric Chair is a great song too. I'm surprised other people don't love these two songs.

I agree that Batdance is underrated. When I first heard Batdance on the radio, it blew my mind how different of a sound Prince had created. I had the same reaction to Alphabet Street when it first came out. So when it happened with Batdance, it was like Prince had redefined his sound two years in a row - definitely impressive.

Spinlight said:

Erm.

"Electric Chair", "Vicki Waiting", "Lemon Crush".... All songs written for Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.

That doesn't make sense. "Vicki Waiting" references Gotham, and even a cathedral, and the Joker. So either Prince was telepathic, or he wrote it later.

I found this:

The album was quickly recorded in six weeks—from mid-February to late March 1989—and Prince used three tracks recorded earlier: "Electric Chair" was recorded in June 1988; "Scandalous!" in October 1988; and "Vicki Waiting" in December 1988.

So that doesn't mention "Lemon Crush" as an earlier song. "Rave" was also given to Burton for Batman, but was rejected in lieu of "Partyman". It seems "Vicki" was rerecorded, so we're both right on that one, in one way or another.

You might be thinking of stuff like "Dance With The Devil" (which "Batdance" replaced), and "We Got The Power" which was recorded late 1988 (October). More over:

Batman, Paisley Park, mid February - March 1989
200 Balloons (5:05)*
Batman Theme #2 (previously 19 (Jailbait)), speeded up
The Future (4:08)*
Electric Chair #2 (4:08)*
The Arms Of Orion (5:03)* - duet with Sheena Easton
Partyman #1 (3:11)*
Vicki Waiting #2 (4:52)* (previously "Anna Waiting")
Trust (4:24)*
Lemon Crush (4:15)*
Dance With The Devil (7:54)
Batdance #1 (8:49) (incorporates chorus from We Got The Power)
Batdance #2 (6:13)*

The * indicates this was the released version. So yeah....you might wanna recheck some stuff.

Oh, here's my reference page: http://prince.org/msg/7/312081 Very helpful stuff there.

ernestsewell said:

Spinlight said:

Erm.

"Electric Chair", "Vicki Waiting", "Lemon Crush".... All songs written for Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.

That doesn't make sense. "Vicki Waiting" references Gotham, and even a cathedral, and the Joker. So either Prince was telepathic, or he wrote it later.

I found this:

The album was quickly recorded in six weeks—from mid-February to late March 1989—and Prince used three tracks recorded earlier: "Electric Chair" was recorded in June 1988; "Scandalous!" in October 1988; and "Vicki Waiting" in December 1988.

So that doesn't mention "Lemon Crush" as an earlier song. "Rave" was also given to Burton for Batman, but was rejected in lieu of "Partyman". It seems "Vicki" was rerecorded, so we're both right on that one, in one way or another.

You might be thinking of stuff like "Dance With The Devil" (which "Batdance" replaced), and "We Got The Power" which was recorded late 1988 (October). More over:

Batman, Paisley Park, mid February - March 1989
200 Balloons (5:05)*
Batman Theme #2 (previously 19 (Jailbait)), speeded up
The Future (4:08)*
Electric Chair #2 (4:08)*
The Arms Of Orion (5:03)* - duet with Sheena Easton
Partyman #1 (3:11)*
Vicki Waiting #2 (4:52)* (previously "Anna Waiting")
Trust (4:24)*
Lemon Crush (4:15)*
Dance With The Devil (7:54)
Batdance #1 (8:49) (incorporates chorus from We Got The Power)
Batdance #2 (6:13)*

The * indicates this was the released version. So yeah....you might wanna recheck some stuff.

Oh, here's my reference page: http://prince.org/msg/7/312081 Very helpful stuff there.

Electric Chair and Lemon Crush (written after Anna Garcia's favorite drink) were both on various configurations of Rave and Vicki Waiting was Anna Waiting - the lyrics were changed to reflect the character in the movie.

^ Anna Waiting was given as a gift to Anna Garcia on December 31, 1988. Prince later asked her if he could use it for the Batman soundtrack.

squirrelgrease said:

^ Anna Waiting was given as a gift to Anna Garcia on December 31, 1988. Prince later asked her if he could use it for the Batman soundtrack.

Yep, and he rewrote it, which in effect makes it a new song for the soundtrack.

Oops, Spinlight cock-blocked my post to Ernest.

ernestsewell said:

squirrelgrease said:

^ Anna Waiting was given as a gift to Anna Garcia on December 31, 1988. Prince later asked her if he could use it for the Batman soundtrack.

Yep, and he rewrote it, which in effect makes it a new song for the soundtrack.

That doesn't make it a new song for the soundtrack. Do you consider "We Can Funk" a new song for the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack? "Graffiti Bridge" a new song? etc.

ernestsewell said:

squirrelgrease said:

^ Anna Waiting was given as a gift to Anna Garcia on December 31, 1988. Prince later asked her if he could use it for the Batman soundtrack.

Yep, and he rewrote it, which in effect makes it a new song for the soundtrack.

You fuckers post too fast.

squirrelgrease said:

You fuckers post too fast.

Hahaha. My index finger is wearing out my F5 key.

crazydoctor said:

I like this album more than Lovesexy or SOTT.

I like it more than Lovesexy for sure.

thebanishedone said:

Maybe thats the reason so small amount of Prince songs are used in the movie

on the contrary.all songs but batdance,arms of orion and lemon crush were played 9somewhere)in the film

khemseraph said:

thebanishedone said:

Maybe thats the reason so small amount of Prince songs are used in the movie

on the contrary.all songs but batdance,arms of orion and lemon crush were played 9somewhere)in the film

I like how the lyric sheet says "duet by Vicki Vale & Bruce Wayne"

Speaking of Batman, there is a Prince docu where he is shown playing a funky slap bass over ´Partyman´. Was it released as a remix (at least I never heard it, and I got some versions of it) or he was only having fun in front of the camera?

GustavoRibas said:

Speaking of Batman, there is a Prince docu where he is shown playing a funky slap bass over ´Partyman´. Was it released as a remix (at least I never heard it, and I got some versions of it) or he was only having fun in front of the camera?

So you're asking if "Partyman" was a single. Hmmm, there's this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partyman via Google.com by searching "Prince Partyman".

The video you're referring to is part of a documentary, and it's just as you see it: Him recording the bass part for "Partyman". Love that clip.

ernestsewell said:

GustavoRibas said:

Speaking of Batman, there is a Prince docu where he is shown playing a funky slap bass over ´Partyman´. Was it released as a remix (at least I never heard it, and I got some versions of it) or he was only having fun in front of the camera?

So you're asking if "Partyman" was a single. Hmmm, there's this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partyman via Google.com by searching "Prince Partyman".

The video you're referring to is part of a documentary, and it's just as you see it: Him recording the bass part for "Partyman". Love that clip.

WOW WHAT A BITCH YOU ARE ERNEST GEEZ

thebanishedone said:

i read that Tim Burton the director of 1989 movie Batman

was not pleased

with the songs Prince contributed.

Prince wasn't his choice for doing the music but studio and Jack Nickolson insisted.

Fact: WB play the Prince songs on the Batman red carpet premiere, there's a River Phoenix interview during the Batman red carpet where Scandalous is on out loud.

BTW River Phoenix rules!

I think the irony here is that (In my opinion)-Prince captured the darkness of Batman more correctly than Tim Burton. Yes TB brought his usual gothic darkness to the movie-but I don't feel he brought it to the actual characters

"Is my character ones that deserves a copy mad"-is far more insightful than the two dimensional role given to Michael Keaton

I recently listened to the Batman Demos again and it's really interesting to hear him start and stop the tape where he thought the original versions of the songs could be inserted in the film. e.g. When Alfred calls Bruce on the phone and says Vicki rang to say she'll be running late for lunch, Bruce says ok..waitaminute Alfred. I'm not meeting her for lunch today.. and then Prince cues the tape for Vicki Waiting starts.

Also after listening to the demos and then the final album, it's obviously been put together in an operatic form. It seems Prince intended to tell or add to the story through the album. I read somewhere (probably on the Org) that while he and Femi were working on the album he'd proclaim how proud of it he was and "This will be MY film!".

It's definitely got some of my favourites - Arms of Orion, Partyman, The Future, Scandalous and Vicki Waiting. Also dig 200 Balloons, Feel U Up and I Love U in Me - so the B-sides were a real bonus.

I think it's interesting for what it is - a soundtrack that tells the story from the view of the characters in the film adding a little more depth to them and adding to the film. It's a different story that Tim Burton couldn't find a place for them or agree with Prince's placement of the songs in the film (assuming that's what he pitched as per the demos).
Dance with the Devil is really, really dark too. It's great to see such quality B-Sides and outtakes circulating from this era.

Nobody puts Princey in a corner... except maybe Tim Burton.

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