Very dark era by the way. Like he was really depressed.

Tremolina said:

Very dark era by the way. Like he was really depressed.

yes, I think it was more or less the visual mood of the film along with that total change of his life. just about everyone he knew since his career started were gone as of the Dream Factory/SOTT split. Sheile E Dr Fink Eric & Mico being the only ones still there, Susan Rogers now gone(most used engineer) life was probably dark

Tremolina said:

Very dark era by the way. Like he was really depressed.

guess thats another reason why i like this era best..dark brooding, etc

OldFriends4Sale said:

Batdance" was a last-minute replacement for a brooding track titled "Dance with the Devil", which Prince felt was too dark.[1] Incidentally, though "Dance with the Devil" remains unreleased, some of the lyrics appear on the album's liner notes.

"Batdance" is almost two songs in one—a chaotic, mechanical dance beat that changes gears into a slinky, funky groove before changing back for the song's conclusion. The track is an amalgam of many musical ideas floating around at the time. Elements from at least seven songs (some unreleased) were incorporated into "Batdance": "200 Balloons", "We Got the Power", "House in Order", "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" (later released on the album, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic), "The Future", and "Electric Chair", as well as the 1966 "Batman Theme" by Neal Hefti. Some of these were mere snippets, and other segments showed up only in remixes of the track. The song was also loaded with dialog samples from the film.





The song's music video, directed by Albert Magnoli and choreographed by Barry Lather, featured dancers costumed as multiple Batmen, Jokers and Vicki Vales.[2] Prince appears both as himself, and as well as a costumed character in face paint known as "Gemini", with one side representing the Joker (evil), and the other, Batman (good). The Batmen and Jokers alternate dance sections, while Prince/Gemini sing the lyrics. Eventually the video ends with Gemini hitting a detonator, exploding an electric chair (referenced in the song), and Prince warning, "Stop" as the video abruptly ends. The video also features one Vicki Vale wearing a shirt with the words "All this and brains too", a reference to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, in which a female news presenter wears a top with the same slogan.

Gemini is Prince's astrological sign, and is a reference to the duality throughout his music. "Gemini" would also make an appearance in the "Partyman" video, but with the "Batman" half replaced by Prince's normal appearance.




Batdance

B-side "200 Balloons"
Released June 8, 1989

"Oh, I got a live one here! Ha, ha, ha..."
Get the funk up! - Batman
Get the funk up! - Batman
Get the funk up!
"Go, go, go with a smile"

Batdance!
Do it
Keep bustin'

(Do it) {Repeat in BG}
I've seen the future and it will be
I've seen the future and it will be
Batman, Batman
I've seen the future and it will be
Batman (House, house)
"And where, and where is the Batman?"

(Do it) {repeat}
Let's do it {x2}

"Stop the press"
"Stop the press, who is that?"
"Vicky Vale"
"Vicky Vale"
"I like..." Batman, Batman, Batman
"Oh, bats"
"Hi, Bruce Wayne"
"I tried 2 avoid all this, but I can't"
"I just gotta know - are we gonna try 2 love each other?"
"Stop the press, who is that?"
"Vicky Vale"
"She is great, isn't she?"

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body right ("I'd like 2")
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah ("But he's out there right now")
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
2night

"Well, Miss Vale"
"U ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
"I always ask that of all my prey"
"I just like the sound of it"

"I've gotta go 2 work" – Batman
"I've gotta go 2 work" – Batman
("Work') {Repeat in BG}
If a man is considered guilty 4 what goes on in his mind
Then gimme the electric chair 4 all my future crimes – oh!
Electric chair

Hey Ducky, let me stick this 7-inch in the computer
Ha, ha, ha...

Hey, we got the power
Oh, we got the soul
Hey, we got 2 sho'nuff get off
Make the devil go, go

"This town needs an enema!"

(Let's do it) {sampled in BG}
"I'm gonna kill U" - Power
"I'm not gonna kill U" - Soul
"I'm gonna kill U" - Power
"I'm not gonna kill U" - Soul
"I'm Batman" - Batman
Don't stop dancin'!
"I'm Batman" - Batman
Don't stop dancin'!
Batman {x3}
Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop dancin'!
Batman {x2}
Don't stop dancin'! {x2}
No, damn it!
Turn the music back up!
Oh, son of a bitch!

"Have U ever heard of the healing power of laughter?"

Who's gonna stop 200 balloons? Nobody!
"Ha, ha, ha..." {looped}
"Batman" - Stop!

© 1989 Controversy Music - ASCAP