Gotham City (song)

"Gotham City" is a song by American R&B singer R. Kelly based on the fictional city of the same name. It was featured on the soundtrack to the film Batman & Robin, and it reached number nine on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. In Europe, the song peaked within the top 10 in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, and within the top 20 in Iceland, Ireland and Scotland. The music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams. A remix version for the song was released featuring rapper Strings with a video also directed by Williams.

"Gotham City"
Single by R. Kelly
from the album Batman & Robin soundtrack and R.
Released	June 3, 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	R&B soul gospel
Length	4:55 (album and single version) 4:40 (radio edit)
Label	Warner Bros. Jive
Songwriter(s)	Robert Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"I Believe I Can Fly" (1996) "Gotham City" (1997) "Half on a Baby" (1998)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard complimented the singer for "his spiritual side, infusing this atmospheric acoustic soul ballad with uplifting lyrics and a choral climax." He noted that "the whole tone and musical texture of this single are markedly different from anything that Kelly has previously recorded. It's a refreshing change that leaves you anticipating the direction he will take on his next album."[1] Music & Media wrote that the song is "a very well-crafted ballad". Programmer Vranz van Maaren at the Netherlands leading station, AC outlet Sky 100.7 FM commented, "In general I am not that R&B-minded but when I first saw the clip I was just blown away and when I contacted the record company (Zomba) they handed me a copy a's soon as possible, because they were afraid that I'd change my mind if I found out it was R. Kelly." He added, "The song is far less R&B than many of his previous efforts, and shows that he's beer able to broaden his potential audience a great deal without alienating his traditional fan base."[2]

Music video

The music video is directed by Hype Williams.[3] Kelly is seen driving his motorcycle around New York City in the video, he also passes Times Square. Kelly also drives the Batmobile. Singer Sparkle is also featured in video as a dancer. The video for the remix was also directed by Williams.[4]

Track listings

"Gotham City"

1. "Gotham City" [LP version]
2. "Thank God It's Friday"
3. "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" [radio version]
4. "Gotham City" [acapella and music]

"Gotham City" remix

1. "Gotham City" [LP version]
2. "Gotham City" [remix]
3. "Gotham City" [acapella and music]
4. "Gotham City" [instrumental]
5. "Gotham City" [remix instrumental]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 27 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 26 Canada (Canadian Singles Chart) 19 Canada (Canadian Singles Chart) 37 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 15 Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[10] 8 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11] 18 Ireland (IRMA) 15 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 20 Norway (VG-lista)[15] 10 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[16] 14 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 9 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 9 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[19] 9 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[20] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 9 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[23] 21 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[24] 18

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[25] 68 Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 39 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 36 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 56 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[31] 70 US Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Chart[32] 62 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Germany (BVMI)[33] Gold 250,000^^ United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 600,000[35] ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 7, 1997. p. 78. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
2. "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 16. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472896/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_dr#directors
4. http://www.oocities.org/hypepaul/hwvideos.html
5. "Austriancharts.at – R. Kelly – Gotham City" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
6. "Ultratop.be – R. Kelly – Gotham City" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
7. "Ultratop.be – R. Kelly – Gotham City" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
8. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – R. Kelly – Gotham City". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
10. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
11. "Íslenski Listinn NR. 239 Vikuna 18.9. '97 - 25.9. '97" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. September 19, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 5, 2020.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – R. Kelly – Gotham City" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
14. "Charts.nz – R. Kelly – Gotham City". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
15. "Norwegiancharts.com – R. Kelly – Gotham City". VG-lista. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
17. "Swedishcharts.com – R. Kelly – Gotham City". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
18. "Swisscharts.com – R. Kelly – Gotham City". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
20. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
21. "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
22. "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
23. "R. Kelly Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
24. "R. Kelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
25. "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
26. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
29. "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
30. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
31. "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
32. http://www.soulsystem.it/yend.asp?date=31/12/1997
33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (R. Kelly; 'Gotham City')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
34. "American single certifications – Kelly, R. – Gotham City". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
35. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.