In the world of Transformers, it’s not just about the robotic aliens transforming into cars, weapons, and animals; a frequently underestimated aspect is its music. The 1986 film “The Transformers: The Movie” showcased some unforgettable songs, such as “The Touch” by Stan Bush, which gained popularity beyond the movie and was used in 1997’s “Boogie Nights”. However, when people think about music related to Transformers, they often associate it with the band that shares strong ties with the franchise: Linkin Park.
Established in 1996 and undergoing several name changes before becoming known as Linkin Park, the band consisted of lead vocalist Chester Bennington, lead guitarist Brad Delson, turntablist Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell, and drummer Rob Bourdon. In the 2000s, they gained popularity due to their unique blend of nu-metal, rock, and alternative music, making them a fitting choice for updating the Transformers franchise aimed at expanding its reach. The process started with the sampling of Linkin Park’s song “What I’ve Done,” marking the beginning of a year-long collaboration that ultimately resulted in some of the band’s most successful tracks.
This article explains how Linkin Park came to be the signature sound for the initial three Transformers movies, delves into why their partnership ended, and discusses how they shaped a particular era.
Linkin Park Released Songs for the First Three (and Most Successful) Transformers Movies
The journey of Linkin Park and Transformers intertwined when their song “What I’ve Done” was initially released as a single on April 1, 2007, prior to featuring on the band’s third album, Minutes to Midnight. Exactly 11 days later, the latest Transformers trailer emerged, incorporating the introductory notes of “What I’ve Done.” The song was subsequently added to the movie and its soundtrack. During the film’s closing moments, as Optimus Prime delivered his speech, “What I’ve Done” played, continuing through the end credits. This popular tune became indelibly linked with cinema history for a generation due to its success in the widely appreciated film, and it would later resurface as a meme in 2022 – a topic we’ll explore further down the line.
The band Linkin Park was invited back for the sequel to the movie Transformers, titled Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Instead of contributing an existing track, they were asked to create a new one specifically for the film. This original song, named “New Divide,” played a significant role in the movie; not only was it featured during the credits, but its main instrumental theme was integrated into the film’s musical score. To accomplish this seamless integration, Linkin Park collaborated with renowned and award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who reworked “New Divide” to become a part of the movie’s soundtrack. You can hear the instrumentals from the song scattered throughout the film.
On May 18, 2009, “New Divide” was launched as a solo track, and remarkably debuted at position six on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the band’s highest debut so far. Despite Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen receiving negative reviews from critics, “New Divide” was one of the movie’s rare bright spots, resonating with both critics and audiences. Initially nominated for Best Original Song at the 82nd Academy Awards, it unfortunately did not make the final list of nominees.
In 2011, I, as a fan, would have been thrilled if Michael Bay had invited Linkin Park to rejoin the Transformers franchise for the release of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” The band graciously contributed their song “Iridescent” on May 27, 2011. This track, a more subtle pop rock ballad, was described by co-founder Mike Shinoda as less aggressive and more introspective.
Just as a franchise moves on to introduce fresh characters, so does its soundtrack stop featuring Linkin Park.
Why Did Linkin Park Stop Making Music for Transformers
Contrary to Michael Bay’s earlier claim that Transformers: Dark of the Moon would be his last film in the series, he later directed the fourth installment, 2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. Given their previous three collaborations, fans expected Linkin Park to contribute an original song for this movie too. However, contrary to expectations, Linkin Park did not produce a new track for the fourth film. Instead, Imagine Dragons released the song “Battle Cry.
It’s generally believed that Linkin Park did not appear in Transformers: Age of Extinction because the film introduced a fresh narrative with a new human lead character who had no ties to the previous movies. As a result, director Michael Bay opted for a different sound for the theme song to distinguish the movie from its predecessors.
Released on June 2, 2014, “Battle Cry” came out 25 days prior to Transformers: Age of Extinction hitting theaters, but unfortunately, it didn’t resonate much with fans and critics. Despite being the highest-grossing movie of 2014 globally, “Battle Cry” failed to make a significant impact on the music charts, peaking at #24 on Billboard’s US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart but failing to appear in the top 200 of the main Billboard Chart.
The Conclusion of Transformers Soundtracks
Despite disbanding in 2013, Linkin Park found time to contribute music to the Transformers universe once more. On May 6, 2014, a song titled “Until It’s Gone” was released, specifically for the video game Transformers: Dark Spark. This game marked the end of the Cybertron series and was a blend of the game series and movie continuity. The unique aspect of this game was that it offered an alternative timeline to the events depicted in the live-action Transformers film, Age of Extinction, thereby preserving Linkin Park’s association with the franchise in 2014.
2017 saw the release of “Transformers: The Last Knight,” Michael Bay’s swansong in the Transformers franchise. Interestingly, this film deviated from the series norm by not incorporating an original soundtrack tune. Despite several potential factors contributing to its less-than-stellar box office performance, the absence of a Linkin Park song may have left many viewers feeling that the movie lacked the authentic Transformers vibe.
Rise of the Beast, Tobe Nwigwe with Nas and Jacob Banks performed “On My Soul.” The latest Transformers movie, Transformers One, features “If I Fall,” written by Brian Tyler and sung by Quavo and Ty Dolla Sign. While these songs are generally well-received, none have quite managed to capture the cultural moment like Linkin Park’s collaborations with the Transformers films did.
Sadly, that chapter of the Transformers franchise is over, at least in a specific form.
The Tragic Passing of Chester Bennington
On July 20, 2017, the lead vocalist of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, sadly passed away at the age of 41. This happened only a month after the release of Transformers: The Last Knight. His death left both fans and industry professionals in shock. Many fans reminisced about their cherished memories of the band’s music, with many recalling their favorite tracks like “What I’ve Done” and “New Divide” in particular.
After the death of Chester Bennington, Linkin Park took a break for seven years. On September 5, 2024, they declared their return, with Colin Brittain replacing Rob Bourdon on drums. Emily Armstrong joined as the band’s new co-vocalist, stepping into the position once held by Bennington. On that same date, they released their new song “The Emptiness Machine” and announced an upcoming album titled “From Zero”.
The inclusion of Armstrong in the band sparked debate among fans. Although some welcomed the idea of a female member, shortly after the announcement, Armstrong faced criticism due to her past association with the Church of Scientology and allegations of support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, as she was seen attending his trial in 2020.
It’s plausible that the reformed Linkin Park could be invited to create a new track for the upcoming Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover, yet this proposal might face challenges. Currently, Linkin Park is going through a transformative phase, characterized by controversy. However, associating the Linkin Park name with a Transformers movie would be significant, but it wouldn’t replicate the original essence. To clarify, this isn’t meant to diminish Armstrong as a singer, but rather it seems that this particular style or era might not be recreatable, given the extensive changes experienced by Linkin Park, Transformers, and popular culture at large.
Why Linkin Park Worked So Well With Transformers
A significant factor behind Linkin Park’s impact on the Transformers universe was their effective marketing strategy, rather than just the music itself. While modern blockbusters like the soundtracks for movies such as Twisters, Barbie, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse still incorporate popular songs, these are primarily aimed at selling entire albums with a few standout tracks. In contrast, the “tie-in” song from a major action blockbuster, which was a key feature of the film industry from the 1980s to the mid-2010s, seems less prevalent in today’s blockbusters.
It’s important to point out that much of it is symbolism, particularly in the song “What I’ve Done” that plays under Peter Cullen’s Optimus Prime voiceover. The voiceover of Cullen’s Optimus Prime conveys a sense of bravery, integrity, and nobility which are amplified by the music, yet it also lends an air of mythic significance to the tune.
On August 22, 2022, Twitter user CastCretaceous shared a video remixing the ending of the 2015 film “Jurassic World” to resemble the ending of the 2007 film “Transformers,” using the song “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park. The video sparked a viral meme titled “#IfXCameOutIn2007,” featuring various film endings from “Return of the Jedi” to “Knives Out” to “There Will Be Blood.” This trend showcased the versatility and impact of the song “What I’ve Done,” demonstrating its ability to fit seamlessly into different movie endings, making it an ideal final note for any film, and its use in “Transformers” is considered one of the greatest examples.
The song “What I’ve Done” might have resonated with audiences as it evoked a sense of nostalgia for what 2007 represented. With the housing market about to collapse in the year prior (leading to the great recession), rock bands like Linkin Park, Green Day, Tokyo Hotel, and Shinedown dominated the charts. In contrast, rock music had lost its popularity on the mainstream charts in recent years. The Transformers movies were a reflection of their era, and Linkin Park skillfully encapsulated that moment in time.
Although they’ve each embarked on separate journeys, these two entities have become indelibly tied in the memories of countless individuals. Hearing “What I’ve Done” or “New Divide” often brings to mind Transformers, while the image of Optimus Prime is likely to evoke the opening notes of “What I’ve Done.
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2024-09-28 21:02