"Batman: Arkham City" Soundtrack Lyrics

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"Batman: Arkham City" Soundtrack Description

FAQ

• Is there an official soundtrack album?
  Yes—two of them. The orchestral Original Video Game Score by Nick Arundel & Ron Fish, and the companion compilation Batman: Arkham City – The Album (various artists), both released by WaterTower Music in October 2011.
• What song does the Joker sing over the end credits?
  A cover of “Only You (And You Alone)”—performed in-character by Mark Hamill. In New Game Plus, a short “Hush, Little Baby” lullaby from Harley Quinn can play at the tail end of the credits.
• Which non-score songs were used in marketing?
  Trailers featured The Heavy’s “Short Change Hero” and Lykke Li’s “Get Some.” These accompany promos; they’re not part of the in-game score.
• Is the compilation album used in-game?
  It’s a tie-in “inspired by” release. Most tracks live outside the story; the game itself leans on Arundel & Fish’s orchestral score and a few diegetic stingers.
• Where can I listen to the music now?
  Both albums are available on major streaming platforms; a Deluxe Edition of The Album also bundles a few cues from the score.

Notes & Trivia

• Two coordinated releases: an orchestral score and a separate rock/alt compilation launched two weeks apart in October 2011.
• “Only You” is Joker’s parting voicemail to Batman—an eerie, fully in-character performance by Mark Hamill that rolls during the credits.
• Finish New Game Plus and you can hear Harley Quinn croon a fragment of “Hush, Little Baby” at the very end of the credits.
• The Deluxe edition of Batman: Arkham City – The Album folds in a handful of score cues—an early taste of the orchestral release.
• Retail quirks: the Collector’s Edition bundled a download of The Album; some store CDs packed all 11 compilation tracks.
• Marketing needle-drops: The Heavy and Lykke Li tracks supercharge trailers but don’t appear in the game’s score.

Overview

Why does a superhero game about fists and fear sound like a haunted cathedral? Because Rocksteady aimed for myth, not mere muscle. The score treats Gotham like a fallen kingdom—strings in flight, low brass in warning, choirs that feel like gargoyles waking up. Across the campaign, Nick Arundel and Ron Fish trade synth undercurrents for broad, orchestral gestures that can pivot from steely stealth to operatic tragedy in a breath. Around that spine sits a separate “inspired by” album of original songs from alt-rock heavyweights—built for mood, marketing, and fans who wanted a vinyl-ready echo of the game’s shadow.

Genres & Themes

• Orchestral noir: brooding strings and French horns sketch Batman’s vigilance without resorting to overt fanfare.
• Choral dread: wordless voices add ritual weight to Arkham’s worst nights—especially around climactic battles.
• Electronic pulse: subtle synth beds and low ostinati keep predator sequences tense but unobtrusive.
• Alt-rock tie-ins: “inspired by” cuts lean dusty, nocturnal, and minor-key—stylistically on-brand even when kept out of gameplay.

Key Tracks & Scenes

• “Arkham City Main Theme” — Nick Arundel
  Where it plays: Title screen/menu and motif reprises throughout; non-diegetic.
  Why it matters: Sets the cathedral-dark palette—rising strings, tolling harmony, and a resolute, hummable contour for Batman.
• “The Court Is Now In Session” — Nick Arundel
  Where it plays: Early courthouse sequence with Two-Face; non-diegetic tension underneath the show-trial chaos.
  Why it matters: Martial rhythm and sneaking figures underline Batman slipping from shadows to intervention.
• “A Monument to Your Failure” — Ron Fish
  Where it plays: Late-game escalation around Wonder Tower/Protocol 10; non-diegetic action writing.
  Why it matters: Brass surges and choral hits sell the sense of an authoritarian machine being torn down in real time.
• “Only You (And You Alone)” — performed by Mark Hamill (as Joker)
  Where it plays: End credits voicemail; diegetic recording.
  Why it matters: Gallows-sweet and chilling, it reframes Joker’s obsession as a final, unforgettable serenade.
• “Short Change Hero” — The Heavy
  Where it plays: Marketing trailer (“This Ain’t No Place for a Hero”); promotional use, not in-game.
  Why it matters: Swamp-blues swagger that nails the city-of-sinners vibe in one hook.
• “Get Some” — Lykke Li
  Where it plays: Catwoman reveal trailer; promotional use, not in-game.
  Why it matters: A sly, percussive strut that suits Selina’s whip-smart menace.
• “Deranged” — Coheed and Cambria
  Where it plays: On Batman: Arkham City – The Album; primarily tie-in listening, not used diegetically.
  Why it matters: An original song written to inhabit Batman’s mythos—angsty guitars with comic-book scale.

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats as connected to songs)

• Batman’s motif climbs rather than blares—an upward push that fits a hero forever getting back up. When the choir enters, it’s not triumph; it’s burden.
• Two-Face’s courthouse cues snap between stealth pulse and percussive strikes, mirroring that coin-flip morality play on the balcony.
• Protocol 10 action writing layers brass over relentless ostinati; every added layer feels like rooftops buckling under artillery.
• Joker’s “Only You” flips from bombast to intimacy—the ultimate needle-drop joke that lands as tragedy. It’s the last word because he wants it to be.
• Catwoman in trailers: “Get Some” weaponizes flirtation as power—exactly how Selina moves through a room before the whip cracks.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

• Composers: Nick Arundel (Rocksteady audio lead) and Ron Fish returned from Arkham Asylum to build a larger, darker orchestral canvas.
• Orchestration & recording: Tim Davies (orchestration/conductor); additional orchestrations by Jeremy Levy; score recorded and mixed by Nick Wollage.
• Prep & coordination: Music prep by Mark Cally, Susie Benchasil-Seiter, and Leo Birenberg; score coordination by Nick Fevola.
• Albums rollout: WaterTower Music issued the rock/alt compilation first, then the full score two weeks later; a Deluxe bundle previewed a few score cuts early.
• Marketing syncs: Trailers licensed songs outside the albums (notably The Heavy and Lykke Li) to telegraph mood in one punchy play.

Reception & Quotes

“Arundel seamlessly meshes styles—ominous chorus, furious percussion—into an atmosphere of desperation and heroism.” AssignmentX

“As far as main titles go, this is excellent stuff… high praise.” The Flickcast

“The compilation is eclectic and moody, an atmospheric set built for Gotham’s long night.” Geeks of Doom

• Industry nods included multiple Game Audio Network Guild nominations, notably for the choral “Main Theme.”

Technical Info

• Title: Batman: Arkham City — Soundtrack
• Year: 2011
• Type: Video game
• Composers (score): Nick Arundel, Ron Fish
• Music supervision: Not separately credited in game; compilation curated/released by WaterTower Music
• Orchestration/Conductor: Tim Davies (additional orchestrations: Jeremy Levy)
• Recording/Mix (score): Nick Wollage
• Albums: Batman: Arkham City – The Album (Various Artists; released Oct 4, 2011) and Batman: Arkham City (Original Video Game Score) (released Oct 18, 2011)
• Label: WaterTower Music
• Selected notable placements: Joker’s “Only You” (end credits, diegetic); “Short Change Hero” & “Get Some” (trailers/promos)
• Availability: Both albums stream on major platforms; a Deluxe edition of the compilation includes select score cues
• Release context: Game launched October 2011; compilation preceded score by ~2 weeks

September, 28th 2025

'Batman: Arkham City': Wikipedia, Official website

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