"Gotham City" is a song by AmericanR&B singerR. Kelly based on the fictionalcity of the same name. It was featured on the soundtrack to the filmBatman & Robin, and it reached number nine on both the USBillboard Hot 100 andHot R&B Singles 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. Themusic video for the song was directed byHype Williams. A remix version for the song was released featuring rapperStrings with a video also directed by Williams.
Larry Flick fromBillboard complimented the singer for "his spiritual side, infusing this atmospheric acousticsoulballad 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] Pan-European magazineMusic & Media declared it "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 thatR&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 as soon as possible, because they were afraid that I'd change my mind if I found out it was R. Kelly". He also added: "The song is far less R&B than many of his previous efforts, and shows that he's able to broaden his potential audience a great deal without alienating his traditional fan base".[3] Alan Jones fromMusic Week described it as "a pretty, semi-acoustic ballad not a million miles away from some of the stuffBabyface does. It has a rousing chorus on which Kelly is aided and abetted by the soulful interjections of the Chi-Towne Gospel Machine and Tyrone's Kids. Another smash."[4]
Amusic video was produced to promote the single, directed by American directorHype Williams.[5] It features Kelly driving his motorcycle around New York City. He also passesTimes Square. Kelly also drives theBatmobile. SingerSparkle is featured in video as a dancer. Williams also directed the music video for the remix of the song.[6]
^abUnterberger, Andrew (June 29, 2017)."The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997: Critic's Picks".Billboard. RetrievedJanuary 15, 2025....but the straight-faced gospel-pop of the patently ridiculous "Gotham City" comes closer to the mark than you might remember...
