File "Trust" in the "Partyman" category: fun but very light dance music. "Trust" is also featured in the movie, when the Joker conducts a parade to give Gotham's citizens free money. The ending chant "Who do you trust if you can't trust God?" is credited to Prince, rather than the Joker. Rightly so, as such matters were not explored in the movie. Boisterously up-tempo, what was then nothing more than a throwaway serves now as a reminder of how effortless Prince's pop confections once were.
The party begins to run out of steam at this point. No amount of revisionism can alter that perception. "Lemon Crush," while not unlistenable, is by-rote dance/funk - boring by Prince's standards. It wasn't heard in the movie and doesn't feature any references or dialogue snippets. In other words, it's filler. "Scandalous" was featured in the movie (during the end credits) and was a Top 5 hit on the R&B charts. At over six minutes, this love ballad is Prince at his most indulgent (although the CD single went further by tripling the song length). His normally smooth, supple falsetto sounds a bit strangled here. The whole thing is overwrought, almost tipping over into self-parody.
The album is jolted back to life - and not a moment too soon - by one of the strangest chart-topping singles of all time: "Batdance." While not included in the movie, "Batdance" was inescapable on radio and music television during the summer of 1989. Containing three distinctly different sections, the song weaves together a variety of elements. There are bits reprised from other songs on the album, allusions to the '60s TV show theme, many movie dialogue soundbites, as well as the most searing guitar break on the album. It all adds up to nothing short of a pop art magnum opus; kitschy yet cutting edge, tongue in cheek yet seriously funky. For those not familiar with the song, it needs to be heard to be believed. For those who regard it as a novelty song, it deserves to be revisited.
Article comments
1 - Lynnette
Interesting retrospective. I might have to dig out my old CD.
2 - Al Barger
And you're probably still underestimating the album. Comparing the Batman album unfavorably to Sign o the Times is like saying that John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album isn't as good as Sgt Pepper. You could be a couple steps below Abbey Road or Parade and still have a heller good album.
I especially appreciate the props for the "Batdance." I really appreciate how Prince took the rare chance of a guaranteed hit radio song as the opportunity not to put out some cheesy easy schlock, but one of the freakiest and most experimental pieces of even His career.
But you're all wet on "Lemon Crush." That one is AWESOME!!! I am not the only one to consider that to be a forgotten classic.
PRINCE RULEZ!!!
3 - anonymous
good overview. I recently listened to this due to a renewed interest in Tim Burton's Batman, as well as a newfound interest in Prince. In parts it contains more character development than the film! Also, when listening to "Vicki Waiting," imagine Christian Bale singing about Rachel Dawes and Heath Ledger's Joker - it gives it all an added dimension.
4 - Leandro
I have a strage liking for this album since it was my first LP, when I was 4-5 years old.
Vicki Waiting indeed is a very good song, my favorite.