Birds of Prey: The Album is the soundtrack album by various artists for the film Birds of Prey, released by Atlantic Records on February 7, 2020.[2] Atlantic released five singles leading up to the album's release day. The album debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200, number nine in Australia, and within the top 40 in Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It won the 2020 American Music Award for Top Soundtrack.[3] A separate film score album, titled Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) – Original Motion Picture Score and composed by Daniel Pemberton, was released on February 14 by WaterTower Music.[4]
Described as the "candy-colored, R-rated new entry in the DC Extended Universe", Birds of Prey, the film honored a classic superhero movie tradition as seen with the Suicide Squad soundtrack for the 2016 film, Suicide Squad. The album features songs by various female artists, including Megan Thee Stallion, Halsey, Saweetie, Doja Cat, Normani, and Summer Walker. [5] The director of the film, Cathy Yan, stated that music is a super important concept in film and that it "motivates [her]". She went on the say that "it kind of helps me create the characters". Yan and the production team worked closely with Atlantic Records to assemble a "sort of musical girl gang", and create an all-female soundtrack for this women-powered world.[5]
Kevin Weaver, president of the Atlantic Records West Coast of the soundtrack, went on to say he "was looking for a female, badass sensibility to tie directly back to Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey characters" and he "wanted to mirror Harley's journey with a music sensibility that kind of spoke to those same themes and through-lines".[5]
The genres of the album have been described by Crimson staff writer, Annie Harrigan, as hip hop, pop, alternative rock and rap.[1] Songs like "Boss Bitch", "So Thick" and "Diamonds" include uplifting lyrics and embody themes like "self-sufficiency, hard work, and confidence".[1] "Experiment on Me" has "heavy guitar, a steady beat, and screamo-style vocals", while "Danger" is "one of the more hardcore tracks", featuring "strong beats, echoey and screamo vocals, and strong hip-hop and rock influences".[1]
The album's first single, "Diamonds" by Megan Thee Stallion and Normani, was released on January 10, 2020, with a music video inspired by Harley Quinn.[6] The second single, "Joke's On You" by Charlotte Lawrence, was released on January 17.[7] The third single, "Boss Bitch" by Doja Cat, was released January 24 with a music video. The fourth single was "Sway with Me" by Saweetie and Galxara, with a music video featuring Ella Jay Basco reprising her role as Cassandra Cain from the film, and was released on January 31.[8] The fifth single, "Experiment On Me" by Halsey, was released on February 7, alongside the album's release.[9][10] A solo version of "Sway with Me" by Galxara was released as a standalone single on May 1.[11]
The album debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was the week's fifth best-selling album.[12][13] "Boss Bitch" by Doja Cat was the only single from the album to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 100.[14] "Diamonds" by Megan Thee Stallion and Normani peaked at number 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 but missed the mainstream chart.[15]
The soundtrack was met with positive reviews. Variety regarded it as "one incredible needle drop after incredible needle drop, bursting with the energy, freedom and sometimes chaotic sounds reflected in [the film]".[18] The use of only female artists was praised by Crimson, who noted that they "exhibit a broad range of musical genres and styles" and "despite drastic differences amid the artists", the songs "flow perfectly into the next in terms of style, genre, and lyrical content".[1]AllMusic wrote, "while the album whips around genres at breakneck speed, everything fits together nicely", commending the "blend of energy, menace, and danger from a team of badass women".[16]Clash praised the soundtrack, calling it an "incredible sonic companion to the [film], both of which show the world the power of an all-female roster, exploding with creative dexterity".[17]
The separate film score titled Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) – Original Motion Picture Score composed by Daniel Pemberton was released on February 14, 2020, by WaterTower Music.[4]
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