The highly anticipated animation show, Hazbin Hotel, is right around the corner. The animated series is scheduled to premiere on Amazon’s Prime Video on Jan. 19, and this adult musical comedy is setting up to be a show-stopper. Also a new music video for the song “Poison” has been released from the show’s original soundtrack!
RELATED: Prime Video Releases New HAZBIN HOTEL Trailer Ahead of 2024 Release
Hazbin Hotel was originally created by Vivienne Medrano, and it seems to be even more alluring with the help of A24 and Fox Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment. What started off as an Indie project that went viral might end up being one of the best musical series we have ever seen. And a lot of that has to do with the amazing songwriters, Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg.
HAZBIN HOTEL: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
The first season of Hazbin Hotel follows the princess of Hell, Charlie (Erika Henningsen) who is trying to work out a way that she can rehabilitate damned souls, in an effort to help reduce overpopulation. In an effort to stop the annual extermination carried out by angels, Charlie opens a hotel with the help of her girlfriend, Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz), the “Radio Demon” Alastor (Amir Talai), and their first guest, adult-film star Angel Dust (Blake Roman). Fans can expect eight episodes, with the first four episodes airing upon premier.
As we get closer to the release of the first season, fans have also been gifted with first looks of the original music. Before we even got the Hazbin Hotel trailer, Prime Video released on YouTube “Happy Day in Hell”, which was our first look at the music for the upcoming series. Last week, we got a second release with the song “Poison.”
THE SONGWRITERS ARE THE MVPS
It cannot be stressed enough that the bubbling excitement only grows more and more as songs are released for the upcoming series. Hazbin Hotel was always going to be a musical, with songs ready to go when it aired in 2019. However, with the new series, fans can expect new original songs. These songs are created by an amazing partnership between Sam Haft and Andrew Underberg, who both seem absolutely suited to take on this challenge.
Platinum-certified artist, singer, and songwriter Sam Haft is best known for being half of the duo The Living Tombstone. Known as “the internet’s biggest gaming band,” The Living Tombstone has over 40 billion global streams. Not only does he know music, but Sam also knows animation including doing voiceovers for some cartoons and iconic anime. Following the release of his solo EP, Bad Times, it was said by Mixdown Magazine, “Same Haft can really do it all.”
He might be able to do it all, but he’s not doing it alone. Partnering with Haft on Hazbin Hotel is Emmy-nominated songwriter and composer, Andrew Underberg. Having written and produced music for TV series (Hailey’s on It!, Bizaardvark, Team Kaylie), TV Movies (The J Team, Monster High, Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams), and pop artists (Twice, Stray Kids, Hailee Steinfield), it’s clear Underberg was an amazing match for this. Honestly, they both are.
THE SHOW IS A WELL-CRAFTED MUSICAL
Musicals are not easy to craft, which is a lesson many TV series have had to learn the hard way. Now while some shows or even episodes have risen far beyond the masses, most of the time they fall short of that meatiness that comes with the happy tunes. However, the release of “Poison” makes that concern obsolete.
“Poison” has everything needed to be a smash all on its own. The beat is catchy, the lyrics connect perfectly, and the vocals are great. But when you put it into context, when you isolate those lyrics, it hits on another level. Especially, if you are a fan of Six the Musical. Because it is hard not to start drawing parallels from Angel Dust to Katherine Howard.
RELATED: GOOD OMENS Renewed for Third and Final Season by Prime Video
The release of this song adds a whole new layer to what Hazbin Hotel is going to look like. Compared to the happy, go lucky, walking down the street vibe in “Happy Day in Hell” that leaves you more focused on the tongue-in-cheek humor; “Poison” adds real gritty context to why someone might be in hell. It focuses on an incredibly tough subject while making you just want to dance.
Finding the balance between the two creates this sweet spot for Hazbin Hotel to succeed and delivers on what made the original so appealing. As more and more clips and songs are released, there is no doubt that Hazbin Hotel might become one of the best musical series we have ever seen produced, especially as an adult animated comedy.
About Hazbin Hotel
Release Date: Jan. 19, 2024
Creator: Vivienne Medrano
Executive Producers: Vivienne Medrano, Joel Kuwahara, Dana Tafoya-Cameron, and Scott Greenberg
Distribution: Prime Video
Cast: Erika Henningsen, Jeremy Jordan, Stephanie Beatriz, Amir Talai, Christian Borle, Alex Brightman, Blake Roman, and Jill Harris
Synopsis: Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become reality.
What do you think of the news? Do you like the song and music video? Are you looking forward to Hazbin Hotel? Let us know your thoughts about the show on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: Prime Video
KEEP READING: WONKA REVIEW – MAGICAL AND DELICIOUS
