As Harley Quinn (as voiced by Tara Strong) says at some point in the video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, “Hear that? That’s the empowering feminist anthem of my internal soundtrack starting.” Begging the question, what anthem is she referring to? Compulsive pop-song-playlist-maker that I am, I have needledropping thoughts.
By the way, the recently-released Episode 5 confirms that Rocksteady Studios’ ambitious roadmap leads to the return of the killed Justice League heroes. Not a huge surprise, but we’ll never get to re-assemble the League unless all the planned SSKTJL seasons are released, will we?
Are all of these tunes empowering feminist anthems? Several are. They’re not all gimmes. In no special order, the pop songs that soundtrack the frenetic action loop of SSKTJL rather invigoratingly (I would love to hear differing suggestions):
1. BATDANCE, Prince
Yes you can. And if you are an adult, you can eat Cocoa Puffs for every meal, too.
2. ELECTRICITY, Dua Lipa
They play this one in Vegas a lot, or at least they do every time I’m there. And she’s kind of in Harley color scheme here, que no?
3. BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE, Paramore (Talking Heads cover)
The entire live album Stop Making Sense is also flawless video game music, if you ask me. Hayley Williams plays Punchline in the movie? (See also Paramore’s entire After Laughter album.)
4. TOP GUN ANTHEM, Harold Faltermeyer
See also “No Man’s Land” from Wonder Woman (2017) or “Nun with a Motherf**king Gun” from Reznor’s Watchmen score. They’re all of a similar vibe.
5. TEMPEST, Marrower
Readers of DC Comics know that the Justice League are heavily into Metal, of recent. I couldn’t choose the ultimately appropriate track from the metal band pantheon. Here’s indie metal band Marrower from the Bay Area with a propulsive tune about laying harsh judgement on one’s enemies.
6. CHIC MYSTIQUE, Chic
SSKTJL shouts the disco aesthetic in many respects.
7. DIRRTY, Christina Aguilera
See also the Aguilera deeper cut, “Birds of Prey.”
8. MY KINK IS KARMA, Chappell Roan
Tricky choice among Chappell Roan’s catchy tunes! This one wins due to the clown makeup-hookup scene in the video, really gives the Harley and Joker ambiance.
9. FORTUNATE SON, Credence Clearwater Revival
From CR to CCR, here’s that song about being conscripted into a shooting war, in conflict with your personal life goals. “…They point the cannon at you.”
10. SYMPATHY IS A KNIFE, Charli XCX
Another pop goddess of summer 2024. A Harley playthrough is, in my opinion, brat.
11. KEEP ON LIVIN’, Le Tigre
When people ask why I cape so hard for the Suicide Squad game, I volunteer that there’s something crucially punk rock about its aesthetic. Art punk, specifically.
12. BIRDS AND CATLADY, 12 Valentines
My own indie pop outfit 12 Valentines did this song. Yah, it’s in my listicle. Sue my journalistic-ethical face off.
And so if you string all those (highly subjective) ditties together, play them on the handy speaker gadget, and sit down for an extended SSKTJL session with Harley, Floyd, Boomer, Shark, Lawless and the gang, you might end up with something like this, that is, something partially blocked in some countries.
(Yes there’s shame-free self-promotion involved here. How ELSE would I let the world know I wrote a song about the flippin’ Suicide Squad video game?)
