Joker's Song from Batman: The Musical

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:23pm

Some of you may remember the old rumours of a BATMAN musical (set to premiere in 2004 / 05 produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Music & Lyrics by Jim Steinman, Book by David Ives and Director Tim Burton)

Steinman has just given us, the fans, a taste of the music with this demo. It's a song for THE JOKER, "Where does he get those Wonderful Toys?" Totally insane

Here, check it out: http://www.jimsteinman.com/02WonderfulToys.mp3

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:26pm

Um...I really want to say that it was good. But I can't.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:29pm

... Hubuhwhatthehell?

Updated On: 7/8/06 at 03:29 PM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:32pm

Oh, and that's Steinman himself on that demo (which is a huge rarity, to actually hear him sing). I think it works perfectly as a character-piece

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:38pm

Wow... that was just... awful...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:39pm

Oh my....

You can see why this project was abandoned, if the whole score is this bad.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:43pm

It MIGHT work in the context of the show...but I doubt it. I've certainly heard worse.

HAHAHAHA! OF COURSE there is a Peter Pan reference in there. Oh Jim Steinmen. So predictable.

[Mythus]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:44pm

I wanted to say something nice but I can't think of anything. I would be very sad if The Joker was represented by this song, ever. I don't see how this works as a character piece, because it's not a "Joker" song at all. He's dark and insane. He doesn't spend five minutes makes bad puns and jokes.
Updated On: 7/8/06 at 03:44 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:45pm

If a (successful) musical version of Batman is ever made, the Joker would be a dream role for me (although I think the character should probably be like, crazy rock tenor IMO).

It could work as an environmental theater piece. Never in a traditional Broadway house, but perhaps theater in the round, with Batman swinging around and stuff. I don't know.

I love Batman, I love musical theater. Seeing the two combined would be awesome.
Updated On: 7/8/06 at 03:45 PM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:47pm

You want that role too, eh? You'd have to kill me if we were in competition :P

[tophertilson]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:55pm

Come back, Joe Brooks - all is forgiven!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 3:56pm

Let's make it a 3-Way swordfight. That link isn't working for me

I was getting really excited for this show when I heard about it.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:01pm

OK, it's working. I think the song is mildly clever. I'd have to see it in the context of the show and with a real cast and music.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:14pm

the joker is confused(and so am i)

i would post the pic instead of the link but it comes up giant otherwise, btw thats me under all that

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:24pm

Ummm - wow. I really like Jim Steinman. I do. But this was just...not very good. I hate saying that because I LOVE The Confidence Man and I really like a lot of Meatloaf's stuff...but I can't see HOW this song could be pulled off in a show...

They need to scrap the Batman Musical idea -- it's NOT going to work (even though the Batman/Catwoman song you sent me a while ago wasn't too bad)

At any rate - I thought he was doing Bat Out of Hell 3 with Meatloaf...

Updated On: 7/8/06 at 04:24 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:26pm

The show is scrapped.

What's the Batman/Catmwoman song?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:34pm

That was one of the wost things I have heard. Ever. In My Life.
Did he really use the word "Coon"? I know he meant "raccoon" but come on. What stage is this musical in? And PLEASE post more clips when they become available. This one will go down in history if it ever gets produced.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:38pm

"I would be very sad if The Joker was represented by this song, ever. I don't see how this works as a character piece, because it's not a "Joker" song at all. He's dark and insane. He doesn't spend five minutes makes bad puns and jokes. "

The Joker on the 60's Batman TV series did. Caesar Romero was quite funny. Perhaps this was the direction they were taking the character?

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:03pm

The Catwoman / Batman song is "Not Allowed To Love", one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life

I know of two others, "I Need All The Love I Can Get", a Catwoman song, and "In The Land Of The Pigs The Butcher Is King", the anthem for Gotham City.

Jim is (soon) going to be releasing the long sought-after Batman demos to his fans, so if you're curious... hold out.

As for BAT 3: Jim is not involved with ANYTHING to do with Meat's latest album, Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose, other than the fact Meat's covering eight songs (one of them "It's All Coming Back To Me Now", Steinman's hit for Celine Dion).

Meat sued Jim for $50 million, over trademark-rights (Jim registered the name BOOH in 1995), but they have reached an agreement. Meat gets his (albeit crappy non-Steinman) BAT 3 and Steinman gets his stage extravaganza BAT OUT OF HELL: THE MUSICAL (to premiere in the West End) co-written with TERRY JONES of Monty Python fame.

Jim reports he is trying to secure famous director TERRY GILLIAM to the helm

BAT: The Musical is the latest incarnation of Steinman's life-work, NEVERLAND, a rock and roll Peter Pan; and this version is reported to be the greatest show on earth, designed for a theatre especially built for it.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:22pm

I'm listening to it now...HORRIBLE!

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:24pm

Yes. It is a rarity to hear Steinman sing.

Wanna guess why?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:25pm

I think in the olden days, Joker was more jovial. But he started out as a pretty vicious character. In the 50s all the comics became jokey for a while.

I don't love this song at all. As a song, it doesn't illuminate The Joker even a little bit to me and it feels like it came out of one of those bad animated knockoffs of Disney movies. I appreciate how zany the lyrics are though.

"You can see him everywhere these days. What did Batman do in Kathmandu? Oh, what a rhyme. Eat your heart out Stephen Sondheim."

Does ayone have the heart to tell him that the stresses are off and Man du and Man du are identities, so the rhyme isn't even slightly clever? Although maybe that's the point ;P

I have to hand it to him. Whatever he does he likes to do big.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:36pm

The musical is based on the Burton movies, from what I know. You may remember the scene where The Joker enters the museum and starts trashing all the paintings?

The music there, which was by Prince, was more irrelevent and out of place than this was. I can see how it works, it captures the Joker's quirky Cesar Romero-ey side... but there's probably a whole other dark side

"Land of the Pigs" is a very vicious, brutal EVIL song.. like a mutant "At the end of the Day" or "City on Fire". It will be interesting to see how Meat Loaf approaches it on BAT III

Yes, Steinman is excessive. You either love his music with a diehard passion, I know I regard his songs as God, or you absolutely HATE it

[tophertilson]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:37pm

I have a recording of a song called "What Part Of My Body Hurts The Most?" I think this is supposed to be from BATMAN, too. It's a cool song out of context, but as a song for Batman, it's laughable.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 5:40pm

No, "What Part Of My Body Hurts The Most?" was never written for Batman

That was intended for Meat Loaf's BAT III