The Dark Knight (soundtrack)
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The Dark Knight is the Grammy award-winning soundtrack album to Christopher Nolan's 2008 film The Dark Knight, the sequel to Nolan's 2005 film Batman Begins. The soundtrack was released on July 15, 2008, in three editions: CD, limited edition CD digipak, and digital download. The 2CD Special Edition was released on December 9, 2008 along with the DVD. A limited edition 180-gram vinyl LP was released on August 12, 2008.[1] The soundtrack was composed by Batman Begins collaborators Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard and recorded in April 2008.
Awards
On February 8, 2009, the soundtrack was awarded the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture.[2] In May 2009, the soundtrack won a Classical BRIT Award for Best Soundtrack.
Composition
Zimmer originally said the main Batman theme was purposely introduced at the end of Batman Begins, and would be fleshed out in the sequel as the character develops.[3] Zimmer and Howard both believed that creating a heroic theme that a viewer could hum would ignore the complexity and darkness of the character. That the heroic theme is audible only twice, early on in the film, creates what Zimmer described as a "red herring", a kind of musical foreshadowing.[4], which was played by a cello.
The nine-minute suite for the Joker ("Why So Serious") was based around two notes played by Electric cello, solo violin, guitars and a string section. Zimmer compared its style to the band Kraftwerk, who come from his native Germany, as well as his work with bands like The Damned.[4] throughout the piece, Zimmer used razor blades on string instruments to achieve the tortured, twisted sound to accompany the character onscreen. When Ledger died, Zimmer stated that he felt like scrapping his original material and composing a new theme, but decided that to do so would compromise the "evil [performance] projects".[5] James Newton Howard composed the "elegant and beautiful" themes for Harvey Dent/Two Face, to work as a aural contrast.[4]
The heroic brass theme which plays when Batman leaves Ducard to die in Batman Begins makes a reappearance when Batman hurls the Joker off the building in the film's climax. The cue was released on the two-disc special edition, and can be found on the track "We Are Tonight's Entertainment". The second disc can also be found for digital download over iTunes. [6][7]
Sales
The soundtrack debuted on The Billboard 200 list at #20, with 25,000 copies sold in the first week.[8] During its second week in release, the track fell to #23, with an estimated 20,000 copies sold. It dropped out of top 100 on its third week, but held the position of #192 selling 2,100. On its fourth week it fell out of the Top 200.
A 2 CD Special Edition of the The Dark Knight soundtrack was released on December 9, 2008. In addition to the 14 tracks on the regular release, an additional 10 tracks of score were added to the second disc, along with four remixes by The Crystal Method, Paul Van Dyk, Mel Wesson, and Ryeland Allison, packaged as a digibook in a semi-artificial leather slipcase with the Batsign cut out. The Digibook features several movie scenes, production details and a few words from Christopher Nolan on the collaboration with Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. The first disc is exactly the same as the original release, with additional tracks and remixes on the latter disc.
Reception
The score has so far received favorable reponse. Websites like scorenotes.com, tracksounds.com and Soundtrack.net have released mostly positive reviews, commending the score's blend of electronic and orchestral elements as well as its' continued departure from the tone of the original Tim Burton Batman series set by Danny Elfman.[9][10][11] Other sites, like Movie Music UK and especially Filmtracks.com found the score to be bland and uncreative, with many elements borrowed from the previous scores of both composers, especially previous scores by Zimmer. Filmtracks.com reviewer Christian Clemmensen found the track "Why so Serious" unlistenable and referred to it as "nine minutes of your life that you'll never get back". Other complaints were about Batman's heroic new theme, featured most heavily in Like a Dog Chasing Cars, which Clemmensen considered "a murky blend of The Last Samurai, The Thin Red Line, The Da Vinci Code, and Crimson Tide" [12][13] Despite the controversial reception, the soundtrack went on to win the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture.
Track listing
1st Disc
| # | Title | Length | Key Scenes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Why So Serious?" | 9:14 | Played whenever the Joker appears. This song is named when the Joker tells Gambol "Why So Serious?" |
| 2 | "I'm Not a Hero" | 6:34 | Directly after the bank robbery (when Mike Engel is interviewing the Mayor), when the plane lands in the water to pick up Bruce and when Batman is in Hong Kong retrieving Lau. Edited slightly when Mr. Reese tries blackmailing Lucius Fox. This song is named when Batman says" Because I'm Not A Hero. Not like Dent." Played in sections throughout movie. |
| 3 | "Harvey Two-Face" | 6:16 | Harvey Dent and Two-Face's theme. This song is named when Gordon tells Harvey's nickname which is "Harvey-Two Face" |
| 4 | "Aggressive Expansion" | 4:35 | The first part is played at the end of movie; the scene when Batman escapes on his Batpod. The middle is during Fox's meeting with Lau in Hong Kong. The end is played when the Joker kills Commissioner Loeb, Judge Surillo, and comes for Harvey Dent at the party saying: 'We made it'! The name comes from the Joker line: "There's a lot of potential for Aggressive Expansion." |
| 5 | "Always a Catch" | 1:39 | The beginning is while the Joker wildly guns down other cars demanding Batman hit him. This line is not said in the film, but would have been placed during the scene where Gordon and Batman discuss the Joker's ferry situation. The script has Gordon yelling to Batman: "Then he'll blow them both up! There's no time- we have to go in now-" and Batman responds: "There's always a catch with him-" before getting ready to rescue the hostages from the hospital. |
| 6 | "Blood on My Hands" | 2:16 | During Harvey Dent and Gordon's first scene together. This one is named when Bruce says: "... Maybe but I have enough Blood On My Hands." |
| 7 | "A Little Push" | 2:42 | While Harvey threatens a thug using his coin and a revolver. This one is named from when the Joker says: "... All it takes is A Little Push." |
| 8 | "Like a Dog Chasing Cars" | 5:02 | Commissioner Gordon co-ordinates the assault on the Joker's building, but Batman interrupts him and glides to the building. The song is named after the hospital scene in which The Joker tells Harvey Dent "I'm Like A Dog Chasing Cars." |
| 9 | "I Am the Batman" | 1:59 | While Alfred tells Bruce a story of his time in Burma. The song is titled after the press conference scene when Harvey says that he's Batman. |
| 10 | "And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad" | 2:28 | When Bruce is driving around making sure Mr. Reese is not killed. The title is from when the Joker appears to the mobsters and says "And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad." |
| 11 | "Agent of Chaos" | 6:55 | Batman goes to rescue Rachel after the interrogation with the Joker, the Joker escapes, Rachel's death and Harvey's disfigurement, and aftermath. Named when Joker says, "I'm an Agent of Chaos" during the hospital scene. |
| 12 | "Introduce a Little Anarchy" | 3:42 | Begins as Batman realises that the Joker has dressed the hostages as his henchmen, "Clowns." Finishes when the Joker pushes Batman through a net. The line is said during the hospital scene. |
| 13 | "Watch the World Burn" | 3:47 | Plays as Harvey Dent/Two-Face holds Gordon and his family at gunpoint. Concludes with Batman tackling Dent. The title is from when Alfred describes the Joker by saying, "Some men just want to Watch the World Burn." |
| 14 | "A Dark Knight" | 16:14 | A compilation of parts of the ferry scene (in particular, the moment where the Joker counts down to midnight - "And... here... we.. go!"), Fox's arrival to Hong Kong, the ending scene, and the credits. The title comes from Gordon's final monologue when he describes Batman as, "a silent guardian, a watchful protector, A Dark Knight." |
2nd Disc - (Bonus Special Edition)
| # | Title | Length | Key Scenes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Bank Robbery (Prologue)" | 5:24 | During the bank robbery prologue. |
| 2 | "Buyer Beware" | 2:56 | When Batman breaks up the meeting between the Chechen and the Scarecrow. The title comes from a line said during the meeting by the Scarecrow in response to the Chechen yelling at him about his toxin. |
| 3 | "Halfway To Hong Kong" | 3:43 | The first scene in the new "Batcave" and Sal Maroni's trial. The title comes from a line said by Harvey when Lau escapes. |
| 4 | "Decent Men In An Indecent Time" | 2:51 | When Gordon returns home, when Batman tortures Sal Maroni, when Dent threatens Thomas Schiff (before 'A Little Push') and the opening titles. The title comes from the scene where Two-Face, confronted by Batman, says, "You thought we could be decent men in an indecent time!" |
| 5 | "You're Gonna Love Me" | 4:51 | During Dent's conversation with the Mayor in his office when the hanged Batman imposter slams on the window. Also when the Joker is at the penthouse party, Batman arrives, and Rachel is thrown off of the building. Also the end is where Rachel kisses Bruce in his apartment. The title comes from a line said by Batman before he fights the Joker and his men at the fundraiser. |
| 6 | "Chance" | 3:34 | The aftermath of the Joker's attempt to kill the mayor, Harvey claims to be Batman, and when he gives Rachel the coin. The title comes from the scene when Two-Face is confronted by Batman and says, "And the only morality in a cruel world is chance." |
| 7 | "You Complete Me" | 4:51 | During the interrogation between Batman and the Joker, when Harvey shows Gordon the burned side of his face, when the Joker kills the Chechen, and when the Batpod bursts out of the Tumbler. The title comes from a line said by the Joker in the interrogation scene. |
| 8 | "The Ferries" | 9:57 | When the Joker puts a death threat on Mr. Reese, the scene with the Joker and Harvey in the hospital, the bar scene with Two-Face and Wuertz, when the Joker threatens the ferries, and when Two-Face interrogates Ramirez. |
| 9 | "We Are Tonight's Entertainment" | 5:38 | The climax of the ferry scene, when Batman throws the Joker out of the building and the Joker tells Batman that he had corrupted Harvey. The title from a line said by the Joker when he crashes the fundraiser. |
| 10 | "A Watchful Guardian" | 6:45 | From the part where Batman tackles Two-Face until the credits. The title comes from putting together A watchful protector and silent guardian in the monologue mentioned in "A Dark Knight." |
| 11 | "Why So Serious?" | 5:30 | The Crystal Method Remix |
| 12 | "Poor Choice Of Words" | 6:15 | Paul van Dyk Remix. The title comes from when the Joker drops Rachel, saying, "Very poor choice of words." |
| 13 | "Gunpowder And Gasoline" | 4:34 | Mel Wesson Remix. The title comes from the scene where the Joker confronted the Chechen and sets the mob's money and Lau on fire, saying, "I enjoy dynamite and gunpowder and gasoline!" |
| 14 | "Rory's First Kiss" | 6:04 | Ryeland Allison Remix. The title comes from a fake working title for The Dark Knight. |
Tracks' not included within the release of the soundtrack:[14]
| # | Title | Performer(s) | Key Scenes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balmoral | The Pipes and Drums of Chicago Police Department | Played during Commissioner Loeb's funeral. |
| 2 | Scatterin' Monkey | Boom Boom Satellites | Played in Maroni's night club. |
| 3 | 4 A Moment of Silence | Boom Boom Satellites |
References
- ^ "The Dark Knight Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Coming July 15". IESB. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "Composer Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard: Return of the Dynamic Duo". Tracksounds!. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- ^ Dan Goldwasser (2006-11-02). "Breaking the Rules with Hans Zimmer, Part 3". SoundtrackNet. soundtrack.net. Retrieved 2006-11-03.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c Todd Martens (2008-06-02). "Zimmer Brings 'punk attitude' to Batman with 'The Dark Knight'". Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Jeanne Wolf (2008-07-01). "Singing the Joker's Praises". Parade. parade.com. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "The Dark Knight Special Edition at Amazon.com".
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=302503909&s=143441
- ^ "Billboard News Release".
- ^ http://www.tracksounds.com/reviews/dark_knight_hans_zimmer_james_newton_howard.htm
- ^ http://scorenotes.com/soundtracks/darkKnight.html
- ^ http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=4905
- ^ http://www.moviemusicuk.us/darkknightcd.htm
- ^ http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/dark_knight.html
- ^ The Dark Knight End Credits
External links
- The Dark Knight Soundtrack - official website
- Soundtrack Review at Tracksounds