The Future (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Future" is a song from Prince
's 1989 Batman
soundtrack, and the final single released from the album. The single was not the album version, but a remixed version by William Orbit
. "The Future" was released as a single only in Europe. The standard European 7" single was backed with the album version of "Electric Chair", but on the maxi-single, "Electric Chair" was also remixed by Orbit. Both 12-inch remixes add little to the original versions heard on Prince's Batman release. Orbit's remix of "The Future" is house
-inspired, whereas Prince's original is minimalistic and foreboding. Orbit substituted a muted, pulsating beat in place of the original elements of Prince's song. Orbit also removed Prince's original bassline, synthline, and snippets of sampled dialogue. Neither "The Future" nor its B-side were a hit on the pop or dance floors. Orbit's remixes were not well-received and therefore charted in only one country. This would be the last time Orbit would work with Prince for several years.
"Electric Chair", was recorded well before the album concept had begun, being cut in June 1988. Despite this, it fits well into the theme of the film, and evokes the Joker
's madness. The track blends hard rock
and funk
with a loud, booming drum machine
pattern, and aggressive bass and lead guitar wailing throughout. The bridge combines a funky, percussive bass line with a meshed guitar synth phrase.
The LP version of "The Future" features the sampled strings of Clare Fischer
lifted from the then unreleased 1986 track "Crystal Ball
", and samples the Sounds of Blackness
choir. The song is rather menacing, evoking the theme of the film. The lyrics speak of a bleak future, recalling Gotham City
, and that it needs "spirituality that will last."
12" / CD single
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's 1989 Batman
Batman (album)
Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival...
soundtrack, and the final single released from the album. The single was not the album version, but a remixed version by William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
. "The Future" was released as a single only in Europe. The standard European 7" single was backed with the album version of "Electric Chair", but on the maxi-single, "Electric Chair" was also remixed by Orbit. Both 12-inch remixes add little to the original versions heard on Prince's Batman release. Orbit's remix of "The Future" is house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
-inspired, whereas Prince's original is minimalistic and foreboding. Orbit substituted a muted, pulsating beat in place of the original elements of Prince's song. Orbit also removed Prince's original bassline, synthline, and snippets of sampled dialogue. Neither "The Future" nor its B-side were a hit on the pop or dance floors. Orbit's remixes were not well-received and therefore charted in only one country. This would be the last time Orbit would work with Prince for several years.
"Electric Chair", was recorded well before the album concept had begun, being cut in June 1988. Despite this, it fits well into the theme of the film, and evokes the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
's madness. The track blends hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
with a loud, booming drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
pattern, and aggressive bass and lead guitar wailing throughout. The bridge combines a funky, percussive bass line with a meshed guitar synth phrase.
The LP version of "The Future" features the sampled strings of Clare Fischer
Clare Fischer
Clare Fischer is an American composer, arranger, pianist and organist. His parents were of German, French, Irish-Scot, and English backgrounds.-Early years:...
lifted from the then unreleased 1986 track "Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball (album set)
Crystal Ball is the twentieth studio album by Prince . Crystal Ball is a four-disc set containing a three CD set of the same name featuring a much anticipated collection of "previously bootlegged" material, with The Truth, the twenty-first studio album by Prince which is a bonus disc of 12 new...
", and samples the Sounds of Blackness
Sounds of Blackness
Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. The group scored several hits on the Billboard R&B chart and Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play...
choir. The song is rather menacing, evoking the theme of the film. The lyrics speak of a bleak future, recalling Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, and that it needs "spirituality that will last."
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Singles Chart | 15 |
Track listings
7" single- "The Future" (remix edit) – 3:30
- "Electric Chair" – 4:13
12" / CD single
- "The Future" (remix) – 6:25
- "Electric Chair" (remix) – 5:36