io9: the edge

U2's Spider-Man Musical Can't Be Worse Than Brian May's "Spy-D" Theme Tune

Charlie Jane Anders — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:00 PST

Long before U2's Bono and The Edge even thought about writing emo ballads for Peter Parker to sing, Queen's Brian May put out a Spider-Man theme song under the name "MC Spy-D." It may be the worst theme song ever.

I love how 1995's "M.C. Spy-D" theme tune (which I own on CD, because I am a total loser, and because it only cost 50 cents) mashes up Queen's "We Will Rock You" with a very ill-advised hip hop vibe. And then at some point, it feels as though May is trying to do his own version of Prince's "Batdance," by changing tempos and grooves several times for no reason. It's a relief when it finally gets to a May-esque guitar solo, which is the only thing we really love him for anyway.

I guess May recorded this masterpiece as the theme tune for a BBC radio series about Spidey's adventures, but it was also released as CD single on its own merits.

Sample lyrics:

There's a new street fighter on your window sill
The weapon is peace, the word is... chill.

...

Our hero is lithe, and as thin as a rake
He's as sharp as a scythe with the muscles of a snake
He can run, he can crawl, he can grapple in the air
Watch him wrap it all up without turning a hair
The amazing Spiderman!

...

Now the city's sleeping
Spy-D do his creeping
Creeping, he is creeping
We'll be weeping, weeping, weeping, woo!
To the wall he's clinging
A spider's web he's spinning
A better life he's bringing
For all the stranded pretty, pretty women!

Spider-Man Musical Hanging On A Single Strand?

Meredith Woerner — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:06:14 PDT

We thought the Spider-Man musical fiasco was finished, crushed to death under its $45 million budget. But it seems the sunglassed superstar Bono, who wrote the show's score, has stepped in to save the day. [New York Post]

Spider-Man Musical "Biggest Fiasco In Broadway History"

Meredith Woerner — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:30:00 PDT

Sounds like the rumors about singing Spidey's rapidly fraying money web are true. The $45 million musical written by Bono and The Edge, put the crew on hiatus and now the actors have been released from their contracts. The New York Post is calling it the biggest fiasco in Broadway history, and quoting experts saying it could never have broken even, absent a miracle. Still: the BIGGEST fiasco ever? Do we not remember Carrie: The Musical? [NY Post]

U2 Talk About Scoring the "Spider-Man" Musical

Gary Susman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:00 PDT

Does the Spider-Man musical make your Spidey-sense tingle with possible lameness? U2's Bono and The Edge felt the same. They explain their change of heart in a video interview, which also shows off what may be the show's logo.

If you had misgivings about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark when the project was announced a couple years ago (not me! I even wrote some lyrics that, alas, U2 declined to use), you're not alone.

Even Bono and The Edge weren't sure about the idea, as they explain in this video interview (below). But then, Edge realized that the story of a bullied kid who cultivates a special gift and becomes a target of worldwide fascination is also the story of every music geek who ever became a rock star. In other words, like nearly every other great Broadway musical, the U2-scored Spider-Man will be all about self-reinvention and showbiz. Watch the interview, and you'll also spot what may be the logo or poster art for the show, whose curtain is expected to rise next February.

Spider-Man Musical Will Be Circus Of Pain

charliejane — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:00 PST

Singing and dancing worked out so well in Spider-Man 3 that somebody felt we needed a more concentrated dose. The Spider-Man musical hits Broadway in late 2008 or early 2009. Director Julie Taymor wants to use Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood, stars of her critically panned Beatles romp Across The Universe. You won't go see Spider-Man: The Musical unless your family drags you to it, but you could still have plenty of cause to rue its existence.

The musical will be "a cross between a play, rock 'n' roll and circus," Taymor says. If it does well, it could spawn imitators, and even help drag superhero films back to the era of Batman and Robin. Taymor wants the musical to be based on the severely dated sixties comics, not the movies. It may also be bad news that Bono and The Edge from U2 are scoring the thing. If only the Julie Taymor who directed the bleak, jarring Titus would take charge of this thing, instead of the Lion King helmer.

Spinning A Spectacular Web With Spider-Man Musical [Daily Mail]