“ | Oh no. When ze bad guy is zat happy, it always, always means... (pulls out tuba) ...BAD GUY SONG!! | „ |
~ The Troubadour (Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers) |
A Villain Song is a musical number in a film or a play that is sung by and/or about a major wrongdoer, typically the main antagonist. Usually, the song is quite about the wrongdoer's plans, personality, abilities and overall character, and often serves as an introduction to the wrongdoer; Villain Songs usually appear fairly early in the story, as opposed to, say, the climax.
It is rare for a movie to contain more than just one Villain Song, but it is indeed very possible, especially if there is more than just one antagonist.
Villain Songs are most common in animated films, where they are often quite dark and frightening compared to the rest of the movie; many of the most famous Villain Songs are found in the films of the Disney Animated Canon, especially from the 1980's and onward. They are much less common in live-action movies, which rarely have musical numbers, but also appear frequently in stage musicals.
A variant is known as "The Villain Sucks Song", which is sung by another character (usually a hero, naturally) insulting the villain in question. Example: "Father Christmas" to Ebenezer Scrooge.
Another rarer variant is "The Villain's Lament", which is sung by the evildoer, usually regretting his or her actions. An example of this is "Reviewing the Situation".
List of Notable Villain Songs
Disney
- Be Prepared - Scar, The Lion King.
- Hellfire - Judge Claude Frollo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- Poor Unfortunate Souls - Ursula, The Little Mermaid.
- Friends on the Other Side - Dr. Facilier, The Princess and the Frog.
- The World's Greatest Criminal Mind - Professor Ratigan, The Great Mouse Detective.
- Gaston - Gaston LeGume and the Villagers, Beauty and the Beast.
- Mine, Mine, Mine - Ratcliffe, Pocahontas.
- Prince Ali (Jafar's version) - Jafar, Aladdin.
- Mother Knows Best - Mother Gothel, Tangled.
- It's Our House Now! - All Disney Villains, Mickey's House of Villains.
- The Phony King of England - Little John along with the residents of Nottingham, Robin Hood.
- Feel Like a Million - Yzma, Kronk's New Groove.
- Tonight We Strike - Janja, The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.
- Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo - Alemeda Slim, Home on the Range.
- I, Ivan Krank - Dr. Ivan Krank, Teacher's Pet.
- The Oogie Boogie Song - Oogie Boogie, The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- My Lullaby - Zira, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride.
- Petey's King of France - Peg Leg Pete, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers.
- Hail to the Legion of Pirate Villains - The Grim Buccaneer, Captain Hook, ShiverJack and Doctor Undergear: Captain Jake and the Neverland Pirates: The Legion of Pirate Villains.
- Bring Back a Legend - Janja, Ushari, The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar.
- I Have A Plan - Scar, The Lion Guard.
- Big Bad Kenge - Ushari, The Lion Guard.
- Are You In or Out? - Sa'luk, the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
- Welcome to the Forty Thieves - Cassim, The Forty Thieves, Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
- You're Only Second Rate - Jafar: The Return Of Jafar.
- I'm Looking Out for Me - Iago: The Return Of Jafar.
- Shiny - Tamatoa: Moana.
- I'm Gonna Run This Dump - Janja, Reirei, Mzingo, The Lion Guard.
- Sky Pirates - Don Karnage, the Air Pirates, TaleSpin and DuckTales.
- I'm The Bad Guy - Lord Dominator, Wander Over Yonder.
- Evil for Extra Credit - Carl Karl, Phineas and Ferb.
- Happy Evil Love Song - Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb.
- Yodel Odel Obey Me - Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb.
- Evil Tonight - L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N., Phineas and Ferb.
- I'm Handsome - Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb.
Non-Disney Animation
- Last Breath - Death, Teen Titans Go!.
- Other Friends - Spinel, Steven Universe: The Movie.
- Toxic Love - Hexxus, FernGully.
- Don't Make Me Laugh - Drake, The Pebble and the Penguin.
- In The Dark of the Night - Rasputin, Anastasia.
- The Money Cat - Meowrice, Gay Purr-ee.
- My Name is Mok - Mok, Rock N' Rule.
- You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft (for The Grinch), How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
- Ruber - Baron Ruber, Quest for Camelot.
- Intelligence - Joe, Help, I'm a Fish!/A Fish Tale.
- Pretty Bird - Nigel, Rio.
- Kyle's Mom's a B--ch - Cartman, South Park.
- Aku's Theme - Aku, Samarai Jack.
- Let's Have a Battle (of the Bands) - The Dazzlings, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks.
- This Day Aria - Queen Chrysalis, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
- It Feels So Good to be Bad - Red and Carface, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2.
- No More Mr. Nice Guy - Rothbart, The Swan Princess.
- Money is Such a Beautiful Word - Pristine Figg and Lickboot, Tom and Jerry: The Movie.
- Blame Canada - Sheila Broflovski, The parents and the town of South Park, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.
- I Can Change - Saddam Hussein, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.
- Master of the Seas - Captain Gutt and his crew, Ice Age: Continental Drift.
- It's Good to Be Me - Farley, Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure.
- Brains - Brain Eating Meteor, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.
- The Grand Design - Niju, Nava, and the wolves, Balto II: Wolf Quest.
- When You're Big - Hyp, Mutt, and Nod, The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving.
- I Go Looney - The Joker, Batman: The Killing Joke.
- We Hate the Sun - The Grand Duke of Owls and the owls, Rock-A-Doodle.
- Queen of Mean - Queen Gnorga and the trolls, A Troll in Central Park.
- The Baddest - Scowl the Owl, Happily Ever After.
- Open Up Your Eyes - Tempest Shadow, My Little Pony: The Movie.
- Up There - Satan, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.
- The Bunny Song - Mr. Nezzer, VeggieTales: Rack, Shack & Benny.
- Mind Games - The Stingers, Jem.
Anime/Manga
- Bon~Karma~ - Miya Takano, Higurashi: When They Cry.
- Only a Chilling Elegy - Frieza, Dragon Ball Z.
Live-Action
- Little Shop of Horrors:
- Mean Green Mother From Outer Space - Audrey II.
- Dentist! Orin Scrivello.
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space:
- Killer Klowns Theme - The Dickies.
- Klown March - John Massari.
- The Inevitable - John Massari.
- Disney's Hocus Pocus:
- Come Little Children - Sarah Sanderson.
- I Put a Spell on You - Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Sanderson, and Mary Sanderson, Hocus Pocus.
- Sweet Transvestite - Dr. Frank N' Furter, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- Secret of Survival - The Weasels, Wind in the Willows.
- The Happiest Home in These Hills - The Gogans, Pete's Dragon.
- What You Feel - The Sweet, Buffy: Once More With Feeling.
- Ganglers Paradise - Akira Kushida, Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger.
- Wizeru's Greatest Last Showtime - Wizeru, Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger.
- Pandory's Pan Pizza Palace - Jack Bishop, Justin Michael, and Corey Clifford, The Hug.
- Magic Dance - King Jareth and Goblin Army, Labyrinth.
- Willy's Wonderland:
- It's Your Birthday - Emoi.
- Six Little Chickens - Emoi.
- At Willy’s Wonderland - Emoi.
Videogames
- Look Who's Laughing Now - The Joker, Batman: Arkham Knight.
- E.G.G.M.A.N. - Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, Sonic Adventure 2.
- I'm Alice Angel - Twisted Alice Angel / Susie Campbell, Bendy and the Ink Machine.
- Die House - King Dice, Cuphead.
- Bad Rabbit - Lucky the bunny, Dark Deception.
- The Notorious PIG - Hangry the pig, Dark Deception.
- Always Near - Penny the chicken, Dark Deception.
Other Examples
- Trouble - Adam Jensen.
- Ready to Die - Andrew W.K.
- Daisy - Ashnikko.
- No One Will Save You - Aviators.
- Evil - AVIVA.
- Kicks - Barns County.
- Child of Darkness/Child of Darkness II - Bedemon.
- All The Good Girls Go To Hell - Billie Eilish.
- Bad Guy - Billie Eilish.
- Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish.
- Cold Cold Cold - Cage the Elephant.
- About You - Caravan Palace.
- She Wants Me Dead - CAZZETTE vs. Aaronchupa ft. The High.
- Why Do You Love Me - Charlotte Lawrence.
- You Can't Hide - CK9C.
- Break My Mind - DaGames.
- The Devil Within - Digital Daggers.
- Bodies - Drowning Pool.
- Go Monkey Go! - Devo (aka. Mojo Jojo), Powerpuff Girls.
- I Wanna Be Evil - Eartha Kitt.
- Like Toy Soldiers - Eminem.
- Venom (From Marvel's Venom). - Eminem.
- Broken Bones - KALEO.
- Antichrist Superstar - Marilyn Manson.
- Milk and Cookies - Melanie Martinez.
- Tag, You're It - Melanie Martinez.
- The Principal - Melanie Martinez.
- Bad - Michael Jackson.
- Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson.
- Another Level - Oh The Larceny.
- Where Evil Grows - Poppy Family.
- Bad - Royal Deluxe.
- They Let Go (If Elsa Were The Villain of Frozen) - Rob Manion.
- The Devil's Den - Skrillex.
- Weight of the World - Shayfer James.
- Hotel California - The Eagles.
- Die In A Fire - The Living Tombstone.
- Rest Employed - The Stupendium.
- When You're Evil - Voltaire.