"Despicable Me 3" Soundtrack Lyrics

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"Despicable Me 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" Soundtrack Description

Overview

What happens when a villain stuck in the ’80s meets a franchise famous for earworms? You get a soundtrack that ping-pongs between neon synth-pop, Pharrell’s sunny originals, and Heitor Pereira’s elastic score. Despicable Me 3 leans into character-first needle drops: Balthazar Bratt’s world is scored with hits he would’ve grown up on, while the Gru/Lucy/family arcs get the warm, percussive glide of Pharrell’s new songs.

The official album arrived June 23, 2017, on I Am Other/Columbia, with five fresh Pharrell tracks and a curated blast of ’80s classics; a separate Pereira score album followed a week later. Variety noted how the film “ranges from Michael Jackson to Van Halen to A-ha,” while still squeezing in Pereira’s funky cues around the gags. The result: a family film that uses music as both punchline and propulsion.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. Despicable Me 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack released June 23, 2017 (I Am Other/Columbia). A separate Original Motion Picture Score by Heitor Pereira released June 30, 2017.

Who composed the score?

Heitor Pereira returned to score, continuing his work from the earlier films.

Which song plays during the final dance fight?

Madonna’s “Into the Groove” underscores the climactic Gru vs. Bratt dance battle, with a cheeky riff cameo from Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing.”

What song introduces Balthazar Bratt?

Michael Jackson’s “Bad” (Dance Extended Mix) blasts during Bratt’s early heist, instantly sketching his ’80s-obsessed persona.

What do the Minions sing/jam to in prison?

Pharrell’s “Freedom” scores their swaggering jail sequence, and “Doowit” rolls into the jailbreak prep.

Does Trey Parker sing on the album?

Yes. He’s featured with Pharrell Williams on “Hug Me,” which plays over the end credits.

Is the album on streaming services?

Yes. The soundtrack and score are widely available to stream; regional track availability can vary by territory.

Notes & Trivia

• The official album blends five new Pharrell tracks with ’80s pop staples; the separate score album contains 38 cues.
• Music supervision is credited to Rachel Levy, a longtime Illumination collaborator.
• “Hug Me” pairs Pharrell and Trey Parker (the voice of Bratt) for a tongue-in-cheek curtain call.
• Several needle drops reflect Bratt’s fixation on late-’80s MTV culture (keytar, boombox, breakdance gags).
• The album made modest chart appearances; the Official Charts Company lists UK soundtrack/compilation peaks.

Genres & Themes

80s synth-pop & new wave = Bratt’s arrested nostalgia. “Bad,” “Take On Me,” and “Into the Groove” telegraph his time-capsule worldview. The songs are bright and punchy, but they also underline how stuck he is—every plan literally choreographed to yesterday’s hits.

Pharrell’s funk-pop = family warmth and forward motion. Tracks like “There’s Something Special,” “Freedom,” and “Doowit” cushion family beats and Minion mischief with bounce, handclaps, and humming hooks. Score stingers & caper motifs from Heitor Pereira glue the comic timing between drops—quick brass puffs, elastic bass, and spy pastiche whenever gadgets appear.

Tracks & Scenes

Placement times are approximate and refer to the feature cut; diegetic notes indicate when music is playing within the scene’s world.

“Bad” — Michael Jackson
Where it plays: Early heist introducing Balthazar Bratt; he moonwalks through security while blasting his boombox (diegetic).
Why it matters: One cue and we understand him: theatrical, retro, and dangerously choreographed.

“Take On Me” — A-ha
Where it plays: During Bratt’s diamond caper, cutting between slick gadget moves and Gru’s pursuit (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: The synth arpeggios sharpen the cat-and-mouse rhythm and wink at VHS-era action TV.

“There’s Something Special” — Pharrell Williams
Where it plays: Lucy tucks the girls in; later reprises after the climactic fight (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: A warm family motif that centers Lucy’s bond-building with Margo, Edith, and Agnes.

“Chuck Berry” — Pharrell Williams
Where it plays: Gru and Dru take their father’s car for a flashy sibling heist spin (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Propulsive percussion and call-and-response vocals underline the brothers’ uneasy chemistry.

“Freedom” — Pharrell Williams
Where it plays: Minions swagger through prison life, temporarily thriving behind bars (diegetic-ish chant, then non-diegetic as montage expands).
Why it matters: The shout-along chorus flips incarceration into a comic, confidence-building detour.

“Physical” — Olivia Newton-John
Where it plays: Bratt’s training montage—retro aerobics visual jokes meet villain prep (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: On-the-nose needle drop that sells Bratt’s VHS-workout aesthetic.

“Doowit” — Pharrell Williams
Where it plays: Minions gear up a jailbreak with Rube-Goldberg-level antics (non-diegetic, with rhythmic diegetic overlaps).
Why it matters: Beatbox textures and humming make the Minions’ improvisations feel musical.

“99 Luftballons” — Nena
Where it plays: Bratt wakes and re-arms a new phase of his plan (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Cold-war pop confection that fits Bratt’s bubble-gum-as-weapon motif.

“Into the Groove” — Madonna
Where it plays: The final Gru vs. Bratt dance battle (non-diegetic; Bratt triggers cues with his keytar as a diegetic gag).
Why it matters: It turns the boss fight into a dance-off, fusing choreography with slapstick.

“Money for Nothing” — Dire Straits
Where it plays: Briefly riffs during the dance showdown as Bratt cycles ’80s licks (diegetic via the keytar gag).
Why it matters: A sly guitar-stab quote that adds texture to the mash-up finale.

“Hug Me” — Pharrell Williams & Trey Parker
Where it plays: End credits.
Why it matters: Villain and producer literally duet—closing the loop between character and soundtrack brand.

Music–Story Links

Bratt’s theme, frozen in time. His playlist is a personality diagnostic: “Bad” announces bravado; “Into the Groove” lets him weaponize choreography; “Money for Nothing” riffs underline consumerist showmanship.

Family warmth vs. flashy nostalgia. When the film pivots to Lucy learning motherhood, Pharrell’s “There’s Something Special” softens the color palette and tempo—music signaling new emotional stakes.

Minion agency through song. “Freedom” and “Doowit” reframe the prison arc from punishment to playful problem-solving, giving the Minions a musical language of competence and teamwork.

How It Was Made

Pharrell Williams produced the album and contributed five originals, while Heitor Pereira stitched action and comedy with a nimble brass-and-percussion score. The release strategy split songs (I Am Other/Columbia) and score (Back Lot Music) one week apart. The Hollywood Reporter highlighted how Pharrell’s new material stays “catchy,” true to the franchise’s earworm DNA. Music supervision by Rachel Levy helped wrangle ’80s catalog heavyweights alongside new cuts.

Fun to note: the climactic “dance fight” is cut like a music video, with editorial beats that land on bass drops and snare fills—pure cartoon timing.

Reception & Quotes

“Catchy Pharrell Williams songs on the soundtrack.” The Hollywood Reporter

“The movie can hardly find room for Pereira’s funky score.” Variety

“Solid entertainment…and some education on the classics.” Blogcritics

Commercially, the album charted modestly (for example, UK soundtrack and compilation lists via Official Charts Company), but its cues became fan-favorite scene partners.

Additional Info

• Release dates: songs album (June 23, 2017); score album (June 30, 2017).
• Labels: I Am Other/Columbia (songs); Back Lot Music (score).
• Regional single: Morat & Álvaro Soler’s “Yo Contigo, Tú Conmigo” supported international campaigns; it’s not on the core U.S. album.
• End-credits gag: “Hug Me” lets Bratt’s voice actor Trey Parker share vocal space with Pharrell.
• Chart notes: UK Soundtrack Albums Top 50 and UK Compilations appearances; ARIA Albums entry in Australia.
• Key placements not on album: “Take My Breath Away,” “Jump,” and “Sussudio” appear in-film but outside the core OST.
• Streaming: album and score available broadly; some tracks’ availability can vary by territory.

Technical Info

• Title: Despicable Me 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Year / Type: 2017 / Cartoon (animated feature)
• Songs album: Producer – Pharrell Williams; Label – I Am Other/Columbia; Release – June 23, 2017
• Score album: Composer – Heitor Pereira; Label – Back Lot Music; Release – June 30, 2017
• Music supervision: Rachel Levy
• Notable needle drops: “Bad,” “Into the Groove,” “Take On Me,” “Money for Nothing,” “Physical,” “99 Luftballons”
• Chart notes: UK soundtrack and compilation chart placements; ARIA Albums entry

Canonical Entities & Relations

Subject	Relation	Object
Pharrell Williams	produced	Despicable Me 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Heitor Pereira	composed	Despicable Me 3 (Original Motion Picture Score)
Rachel Levy	music supervised	Despicable Me 3
Columbia Records / I Am Other	released	Songs album
Back Lot Music	released	Score album
Madonna – “Into the Groove”	underscores	Final Gru vs. Bratt dance fight
Michael Jackson – “Bad”	introduces	Balthazar Bratt
Dire Straits – “Money for Nothing”	appears during	Dance-off riff gag

Sources: Variety; The Hollywood Reporter; Pitchfork; Wikipedia; IMDb; AllMusic; Official Charts Company; Discogs; Soundtrackradar; Despicable Me Wiki.

The animation film follows the two storylines. The villain named Bratt has stolen a hugest pink diamond ever and Dru now has to save humanity from this bad guy. The second line is that he finds out that he has a twin brother Gru that is still a villain (but only a good one, we guess), and this Gru is voiced by Steve Carell again, the same as Dru. We could never guess that Steve Carell, this home-cozy guy can be a voice of such spectacular persons as these two. The animation film will definitely be a super fancy in the box office, as it has all the components of what a great entertainment should be. Minions, lots of humor, unexpected meetings, fancy houses, super mega fancy toys, hilarious main everyone, and, of course, a fabulous dog with huge canines that are way bigger that the god itself. The soundtrack is also made with sense. It includes various famous artists, in addition to its main star, Pharrell Williams: Michael Jackson, Madonna, and A-Ha are amongst them. There are a few songs without normal lyrics (though it is hard to say the lyrics are absent in them – they are in, but sung in the language of minions that only has some sort of resemblance to the human one). These two pieces are ‘Papa Mama Loca Pipa’ and ‘Malatikalano Polatina’. They are hilarious and senseless – just like minions themselves. The famous songs here are Michael Jackson’s Bad and ‘Take on Me’ by A-Ha. The biggest part of volume has been given to Pharrell Williams and this is good because he did pretty fancy stuff that is nice to listen to all family with such weird and funny film that is also destined for the family view. We hope producers won’t limit themselves to this part and will do much more in the future!

November, 05th 2025

Visit 'Despicable Me 3' profile on Internet Movie Database, watch an Official Trailer

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