Music Review: Partners In Kryme "Turtle Power"

Partners In Kryme

Turtle Power

Album: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sdtk

Year: 1990

            Partners In Kryme summarize the plot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in the detailed  “Turtle Power.”

          A vigilant synth opens the single, setting a responsive tone.  Part of the chorus starts the song.  James Alpern and Richard Usher says are excited for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to display their special powers. (“T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”)

              Just in case, though ***SPOILER ALERT*********

           They say the residents of New York City have been afraid to go out. They get held up and robbed. Law enforcement is tired of what is going on. They aren’t sure if it’s a gang or a random series of incidents. They say saw one of the robberies and confirm what they’ve read in the newspaper. April O’ Neill, a local reporter, has been covering the crime beat and has figured out who it is. They say the city needs someone like her awareness to the problem. It’s the Turtles that will save it, though. They will risk their lives. Otherwise, the city will become the Foot Clan’s.  (“In a half shell, they're the heroes four/In this day and age who could ask for more?/The crime wave is high with muggings mysterious/Our police and detectives are furious/'Cause they can't find the source/Of this lethally evil force/This is serious, so give me a quarter/I was a witness, get me a reporter/Call April O'Neil in on this case/And you'd better hurry up, there's no time to waste/We need help, like quick, on the double/Have pity on the city, man, it's in troubleWe need heroes like the Lone Ranger/When Tonto came pronto, when there was danger/They didn't say they'd be there in half an hour/'Cause they displayed 'Turtle.Power'”)

           The full chorus is sung. (“T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”)

           They explain O’Neill learned too much. She ended up being kidnapped by the Foot Clan. They are headed by Shredder who called for the hit. The Turtles who were the ones who rescued her, though.  (“Now our Miss Reporter was hot on the trail/Determined to put these crooks in jail/She spied the bad guys and saw what happened/But before she knew it, she fell in a trap and caught/Yeah, she was all alone/With no friends, and no phone/Now this was beyond her worst dreams/'Cause she was cornered by some wayward teens/Headed by Shredder they were anything but good/Misguided, unloved, they called them The Foot/They could terrorize and be angry youths/And they mugged the people, who needed proof?/Then from out of the dark came an awesome sound/Shouted 'Cowabunga', as they hit the ground/From the field of weeds the heroes rescued the flower/'Cause they possessed 'Turtle Power'”)

           The full chorus is sung again.

           In the bridge, he asks the citizens if they have morals and are able to do the right thing. ‘Turtle Power’ is something everyone can access if they find the power within themselves. (“Do you stand for what you believe in?/And find the strength to do what's right?/That's 'Turtle Power'”)

           Alpern continues to say that the thugs fear the Turtles. He explains they weren’t always that way, though. Toxic waste got into their systems and changed them all forever. Splinter, a mouse that lives in the sewer, taught them how to cope and use their powers for good. Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello & Raphael (all named after famous painters) live to eat pizza. Raphael calls shots in the group. Alpern explains the rest of the movie. Shredder takes Splinter, which set the Turtles off. He says the Turtle can do it. The Turtles decide to go after Shredder, leading to one final battle. (“Heroes in half shell, they're on a mission/When there's a battle got the enemy wishin'/That they stayed at home, instead of fightin'/These ninja masters with moves like lightnin'/They were once normal, but now they're mutants/Splinter's the teacher, so they are the students/Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Donatello/Make up the team and one other fellow/Raphael, he's the leader of the group/Transformed from the norm by the nuclear goop/Pizza's the food that's sure to please/These ninjas are into pepperoni and cheese/Back to the story, it's not hard to find/Ninjas not just of the body but of the mind/Those are the words that their master instructed/But a letter from Shredder has Splinter abducted/That was the last straw, spring into action/Step on The Foot, now they're gonna lose traction/Now this is for real, so you fight for justice/Your shell is hard so you shout/"They can't bust us four like some old coffee table"/Since you were born you've been willing and able/To defeat the sneak, protect the weak/Fight for rights and the freedom to speak/Now the villain is chillin', so you take a stand/Back to the wall, put your sword in you hand/Remember the words of your teacher, your master/"Evil moves fast, but good moves faster"/Then light, shining from your illumination/Good versus evil equals confrontation/So when you're in trouble don't give in and go sour/Try to rely on your, 'Turtle Power'.”)

             An extended chorus is sung to end the single. (“T U R T L E power… T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power/T U R T L E power.”)
 

          Alpern’s intelligent rap  gives the origin story, works in the catchphrase, explains the plot and manages to turn Turtle Power into a metaphor. There is only one fact wrong, though. Leonardo is actually leader and not Raphael, according to Wikipedia. Despite the error, it’s quite a feat. He is able to come across as a layman introducing people to the story instead of pitching a marketing gimmick.

           The excellent “Turtle Power” may be considered a novelty but  it should also be a guide for future soundtrack themes.