The Dark Knight of Gotham City. Batman, the brainchild of the millionaire Bruce Wayne, has worked to keep his hometown safe from the likes of the Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, and many others for decades. And as a result, there have been several standout songs written in his honor for all of his hard work.
Videos by American Songwriter
Here below, we wanted to explore three such tracks. A trio of tunes that devote themselves to the man in the cowl. Indeed, these are three songs about the legend of Batman.
[RELATED: 3 Songs by Actors that Made the Charts]
“Batdance” by Prince from Batman (1989)
In 1989 when Tim Burton and Michael Keaton brought the Dark Knight to the big screen in the original Batman movie, it was the Purple One who wrote the entire soundtrack. And one of the tracks from that record was “Batdance,” an energetic tune driven by synths and electronic drums. It was such a hit that it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time Prince was able to achieve that mark since 1986 with his song “Kiss.” On the offering, the Minnesota native sings,
Get the funk up
Batman
Get the funk up
Batman
Get the funk up
(Go, go, go with a smile)
Bat dance
Do it
Keep bustin’
“Mercenary” by Panic! at the Disco from Batman: Arkham City (2011)
This song was written by the Las Vegas-born band for the soundtrack to the 2011 Batman video game Batman: Arkham City. It was one of 11 original songs written for the game. And on it, the group sings about the dark poetry that is the life of the Caped Crusader. Batman does not have powers, he only has his mind, two fists, and the dark to work with. Sounds like an artist, doesn’t it? And that’s the through line of this song for Panic! at the Disco, whose frontman Ryan Ross sings,
“Hey mister!” the bellman says
“I can only recall last’s night hotel, ” I said
So he replies, “Then how do you manage?”
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
In love, I’ve always been a mercenary
But I never leave my post when the cash runs out
I want to make you quiver
Make your backbone shiver
Hey kid, take the stage and deliver
“Batman & Robin” by Snoop Dogg from Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002)
This rap song is an ode to both Batman and his trusty sidekick Robin. Snoop knows the story well and puts it to a percussive rap track. One of the world’s best and most beloved entertainers, Snoop tells the story of the crime-fighting duo and on the offering, he raps his smooth lyrics,
No one, can save the day like Batman
Robin, will make you sway like that and
Beat for beat, rhyme for rhyme
Deep in Gotham, fighting crime
No one, can save the day like Batman
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Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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