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mmm Page 12A - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, Juljr 13, 1989 SUBSCRIBE TO THE POST TODAY: 376-0496! WGSP 1310 AM 24 HOUR INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC k % Prince I's Music Connects With Batman Film "Prince's enei^, movements - his whole persona reminded us of "the character that was being created on screen. Once we made that connection, the rest was Inevitable," says producer Jon Peters on the subject of Prince's extraordinary musical contribution to the Guber/ Peters production of Urn Bur ton's film Batman. That connection - between the myth of the super hero and the music of Prince - may seem obvious match of talents that clicked from the Inception. Yet the real story behind what may be the most Innovative sound track album In history Is most Interesting for what It reveals about the creative process In the collaborative arena of mo vie-making. "We wanted to use Prince's mu sic from the very beginning," said Peters. 'We Just weren't sure how. One of the original ideas was to have Prince write music for the dark characters only. But as the film progressed. It was obvious from the texture and look of what Tim (Burton) was getting, that we needed a unified approach to the score." That approach clarified Itself when It came time to select Inci dental music for various key scenes In the movie. "Both Tim and Jack Nicholson are long time Prince fans," explains Mark Canton, Vice President. Music, Warner Bros. Pictures. "They were the ones who Insisted on putting In two Prince cuts — '1999' and 'Baby, I'm A Star' - as temporary music for specific se quences. They worked so well that we decided to ask Prince If he would redo them for the pic ture. We flew him to London to take a look at the rushes and he had three Ideas right on the spot The next night he had din ner with Tim and that was that. There was no stopping him. He had a vision for what this music should sound like and, once we heard What he had In mind, we knew he had captured the mood of the film perfectty — dark, edgy and a lot fim..." "Prince was In the midst of the Japanese leg of his Lovesew tour," continues Alan Leeds, Vice Resident, Paisley Park Records, "but he was so enthused about what he'd seen In London that he wrote nine songs In two weeks. It was an extraordinary burst of creative energy that. In my opinion, reflects his grasp on what Tim and the others were after on screen. What was even ble." "Batman Is a movie painted on a large canvas," concludes Pe ters. "It's about myths and the power of myths. About good and evil and the struggle between the two. In many ways. Prince's music deals with those themes. It wasn't a matter of looking for the biggest name although Prince certainly has that. There was a clear connection happen ing between his music and Tim's movie. It only made sense." Once we heard what he had in mind, we knew he had captLired the mood of theJUm perfecUy — dark, edgy and a lot of fun. more remarkable was his ap proach to the material. Prince really got Into the characters, thinking about motivations and personalities almost as a screenwriter might do. After we got back to the States, Tim kept showing him rough cuts and the depth and dimension of these musical character studies con tinued to grow. Prince wasn't Just writing to enhance what was happening visually. In a veiy real way he was creating a musical equivalent of the film - something that would stand on Its own, as a story and as an al bum" The subsequent soundtrack release would mirror Prince's ground breaking strategy for scoring. "It's quite simply never been done before," says Peters. 'This Is not background music by any means. Danny Elfinan, who Is the best young film score composer In the business and has worked with Tim prevlousty, provided a first rate original soundtrack. What Prince has done Is created music written for and Inspired by Batman. The album and the film are two separate works. In two different media, complementing and sup porting each other." Prince's Batman is Indeed a self- contained album In Its own right, a kind of aural souvenir that doesn't so much evoke mo vie memories as create their musical equivalents. Each song Is sung In the character of the one of the film's principal players, with Prince alternately taking on the personas of the Joker, Vicki Vale, Bruce Wayne and Batman. The album's debut single, "Batdance," a Irresistible hip-hop, funky psychodrama featuring Vicki Vale, the Gaped Crusader, and a character that Prince created called Gemini. Another standout selection, "The Arms Of Orion," was co written by Prince and Sheena Easton, who also performs on the track. 'We have a relationship with Prince dating back to Purnle Rain." explains Canton. "We knew that whatever he would do would be as original as the mo vie Itself. That gave us a lot of confidence to let things evolve naturally. We had a great film and that meant we needed great music. I guess you could say that the marriage was Inevlta- If you are a church or a business person looking for a wise Investment why not Invest In Christian Radio. Jesus called his followers the "Salt of the Earth". Our listeners with all their human frailties, try to follow him. These are the people who take their earthly responslblltles to heart. They sup port the work of the Lord In both church and secular life. These are the people most likely to vote, pay their taxes, cheerfully pay their bills on time, have a good credit rating. Love and discipline their children, own thelT own home, support the schools. Love their neighbors, and support over 140 schools. They are loyal to WGSP. That's what has made us (WGSP) #1. Call 375-1310 today, ask for Ann Williams, Sales Manager and you'll see a prosperous change In your church and business. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 13, 1989, edition 1
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