"Partyman" is a song by Prince from his 1989 Batman album, and the follow-up to his number one hit, "Batdance". The song is one of the few on the album that is prominently featured in the film, accompanying the scene in which the Joker and his minions gleefully deface the exhibits in the Gotham City Art Museum before meeting Vicki Vale.
The song became the only Batman single to perform better in the UK charts, where it peaked at number 14, as opposed to the U.S. (where it peaked at number 18). The upbeat and humorous number features horn samples and Prince's sped-up "Camille" vocals, as well as a vocal performance by Anna Fantastic. The 12" single extends the song to about six minutes in length (labeled as the "Video Mix"), and features the B-side "Feel U Up", a previously unreleased Camille track which would later be available on The Hits/The B-Sides compilation.
"Feel U Up" was originally cut in 1981, but re-recorded in 1986 for the Camille album. Despite being intended for a totally different project, the horn arrangement and vocal style complement "Partyman" perfectly. The 12" single also included a "Purple Party Mix", which starts with a string of samples from Prince's earlier hits and contains different lyrics. A track identified as a "music mix" is an instrumental of the "Purple Party Mix".
y"Gentlemen, let's broaden our minds!
Lawrence"
(oh, yeah)
All hail - the new king in town
Young and old, gather 'round (yeah)
Black and white, red and green (funky)
The funkiest man U've ever seen
Tell U what his name is
Partyman, partyman
Rock a party like nobody can
Rules and regulations - no place in his nation
Partyman, partyman
Party people - say it now: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
Somebody holler if U wanna party
"Ladies and gentlemen, no pictures, please!"
Get it up, oh yeah
Partyman, partyman
Get it up, get it up
"Ooh, I love purple"
I rock the party, I rock the house
I rock the whole world, north, east and south
In the west - 17 horns blowin
Partyman, partyman
(Lose me now boy)
Get it up
All hail the new king in town
Ain't nothin' but a muffin
We gotta lotta butter 2 go
(Y'say aye, an' I like ya 'way, but don't come now)
And if it break when it bend
U better not put it in - uh
Giddy up
(Ride 'em boy)
Partyman, partyman
Partyman
Partyman, partyman