"They Just Want the Beat" Music and lyric by Marc Shaiman (sung to the tune of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray)
You can't write a melody, 'cause today they just want groove. If today a guy wrote "Laura," all the suits would disapprove. And if Max Steiner wrote them "Tara's Theme," All the good notes they'd remove!
'Cause the temp scores just go round and round, All they want is a synth and a ghosty sound. If you write "Lara's Theme" then you won't stay 'round today, 'Cause they just want the beat!
Everytime I hear drums and drone, It seems Hans Zimmer's given birth to yet another clone. When you get hired for a score, it seems you're not alone today.
'Cause they just want the... Motion of the ocean but without a theme. And yet it seems to get a score like that, you need a team! If Hank Mancini were around, I think he'd cry and scream "Oy vey!" 'Cause they just want the beat!
Pretty soon they won't care if you died, 'Cause in the future I bet every score is CGI'd, 'Cause every film is just a comic or an Xbox ride today.
'Cause you can't stop the... Prequels and the sequels that just leave me bored. Or should I pluck a few Gustavo licks to win an award? Bring me a bottle and a joint; I'll be at Betty Ford! Olé! 'Cause they just want the beat! 'Cause they just want the beat! 'Cause they just want the beat!
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999