Aloe Blacc and Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End.

Today I have an absolutely phenomenal song for you by the incredible artist Aloe Blacc. This song is used in the show Gotham, and I have to say, it fits this show to the most perfect extent. When you think of Gotham City, you see the darkness that shrouds the place both visually and in the people there. This song really captures that underlying darkness and mystery and intrigue and excitement that accompanies Gotham City. I love the way Aloe Blacc has sung this song because he does so in a way that maintains the tonal integrity of the song. For majority of the song, he sings in his lower register and really holds up the anticipation and suspense. And then the very last chorus comes around and he unleashes the waves of mystery and intrigue with his soaring note which he sustains with beauty and an undertone of rasp. That is one of the best moments in the song for not only being a climax, but being a climax that really holds character and function. This climax does not disappoint as it holds all the power and strength of the song and Aloe Blacc's vocals. Another thing that makes this song really cool is the way the guitar is used. When you really listen for it at the beginning, you can hear the sick strumming that is happening. All of the notes are played on the lower pitched strings and the way they thrum together is superb. This song really only uses the guitar, bass kick drum, and a little bit of piano. That guitar work really makes this song what it is. It acts a harmony line to the vocals, but is a completely different beast of its own. And I love that! This guitar work is truly impressive because it is able to hold onto that the darkness. The guitar work is what actually adds intrigue and mystery, anticipation and foreshadows the content of the show through the song. If you pulled that out, the song would lack pretty much every tone that it has. Another addition to the song which is very well placed is the choir in the background. They serve as this chant, the kind of chant that we would associate with dark rituals of old. They way they sing this is very smoothly, but the method in which they sing the notes definitely gives the song an air of tense and almost thriller moments. I have to say, there could have been other choices for Gotham's anthem, but this is the one that truly speaks, sings, and breathes the essence of Gotham City and its inhabitants. From the vigilantes to the villains, to the web of lies and deception between the cops and the mob, this song is the one that will capture all the thrill and exhilaration. Today's instrumental song is from the movie Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End. This movie is very similar to the idea of Batman and Gotham because both of them are layered in darkness. Even some of the filming done for Pirates was done with a darker screening. This song is not like the normal Pirate's theme, rather, holds this darker opening and a more haunting version of the original theme. However, like the first song, this one does have those moments of a less dark feel and tone. I won't say bright or happy because those words would describe the songs inaccurately. This one has nothing to do with happiness or contentment. Sometimes when I hear this song parts of it remind me of sacrifice. But in general, this song holds darker aspects of music and the orchestra does a phenomenal job of being extremely expressive in their performance. There is this perfect balance between the strings and the horns which makes this piece even more enticing. There are different themes and motifs in this piece. From the beginning till about the last 2 minutes or so, we get the slower, darker, and more contemplative side of the piece. The remaining part is full energy and thrill and gets you invigorated. It is one of those pieces that can make your heart race with anticipation and excitement and wonder as to what is going to happen next. This piece even includes the theme of Davy Jones, which means we get the supremely fantastic organ work which gets me every time. Hans Zimmer is of course a genius, but it is songs like this which remind me of how incredible talented and awe inspiring he is. When I hear this song, I hear everything and feel it with every fiber of my being. This is one of my favorite pieces from all the Pirates Of The Caribbean scores. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!