"Face to Face" was a song that was recorded by English rock band, Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was composed by the Banshees along with Danny Elfman and was produced by Stephen Hague. The track was featured in the 1992 film, Batman Returns, and was included on its soundtrack. Elfman also composed the score for the film. The track also appeared on the Siouxsie and the Banshees compilation album, Twice Upon a Time: The Singles.
In the Melody Maker, the Stud Brothers wrote: "it's a slow, heavily orchestral & sensuously tense piece with Siouxsie first tapt, then cracked and finally spiralling off into the ether".[1]
The song featured strings which built to a dramatic conclusion. Thanks to Elfman's involvement, the song featured elements from his score to the film. Lyrically, the song made indirect references to Batman Returns characters Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. "Face to Face" was heard in the film during the Masquerade Ball scene in which the characters danced together, and did not realize that, as their alter-egos (Batman and Catwoman), they were enemies. The lyrics reflected the characters' conflict ("...Cheek to cheek / the bitter sweet / commit your crime / in your deadly time / It's too divine / I want to bend / I want this bliss / but something says I must resist..."). At one point, Siouxsie could be heard purring like a cat, which was a reference to Catwoman.
"Face to Face" peaked at number twenty-one in the UK singles chart. It also performed well on American alternative rock radio, where the single peaked at number seven on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart. Remixes of "Face to Face" were produced by 808 State.
Music Video
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 23 |
References
- ↑ Melody Maker, The Stud Brothers, 11 July 1992