When you hear the name Transformers, what instantly comes to mind? Thrilling action, powerful speeches from Optimus Prime, and the unmistakable sound of Linkin Park. Their partnership began in 2007 with the release of the first Transformers movie. That iconic final scene, where Optimus Prime raises his voice in a stirring speech, is forever coupled with Linkin Park’s unforgettable anthem, “What I’ve Done.”
Since that moment, “What I’ve Done” has claimed a special spot in my Spotify Wrapped. Recently, Mike Shinoda shed some light on an unexpectedly ironic backstory related to the song and its connection to Transformers.
What I’ve Done Was Never Meant for Optimus Prime
In a recent interview with Trackstarpresents, Mike Shinoda discussed the band’s foray into movie music, specifically for Transformers. He mentioned that while working on their album, Minutes to Midnight, they received initial frames from the first film.
At that time, they lacked a song. To address this, Mike composed four demo tracks, each inspired by a major Transformer, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Starscream, and Megatron. Interestingly, Shinoda revealed that “What I’ve Done” was originally intended for Megatron. He shared:
“We were in the studio working on Minutes of Midnight, our third record, and there were a couple of semi-finished frames with the robots and then a bunch of stuff where it looked like they were made out of clay. It was like the whole screen was gray, but you could see the shapes of them fighting or talking. We were like, Oh, this is going to be so sick. We didn’t have the song yet. I went back home and I wrote four demos, and each of them was named after a transformer. There was an Optimus, there was a Bumblebee, there was a Starscream, and there was a Megatron. What I’ve done was originally Megatron. So Megatron won the battle.”
This revelation is both exciting and ironic. A song crafted with Megatron in mind eventually became synonymous with one of Optimus Prime’s most memorable moments.
Although it’s been some time since we experienced a groundbreaking moment like this in the Transformers universe, with a new film now in development under Michael Bay, there’s potential for history to repeat itself. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another epic soundtrack moment.
How did Linkin Park get involved with the Transformers franchise? Linkin Park’s partnership with Transformers began in 2007, when their song “What I’ve Done” was featured in the first movie’s closing scene, cementing the band’s connection to the franchise.
Was “What I’ve Done” originally meant for another character? Yes, Mike Shinoda confirmed that “What I’ve Done” was initially intended for Megatron before it became associated with Optimus Prime.
How did the collaboration impact Linkin Park’s music career? The collaboration bolstered Linkin Park’s presence in mainstream media, linking their music to a blockbuster franchise and introducing them to a wider audience.
Are there other songs by Linkin Park featured in the Transformers films? Yes, in addition to “What I’ve Done,” Linkin Park contributed tracks like “New Divide” for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and “Iridescent” for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
What’s next for the Transformers franchise? A new Transformers film is in development under Michael Bay, promising more thrilling action and potentially more powerful music collaborations.
If you’re intrigued by the intersection of music and film, there’s plenty more to explore. Check out Moyens I/O for more insights and updates!