Deals with the Devil

Throughout popular culture, it seems that people are fascinated with the idea of challenging the devil to competitions in order to win prizes or abilities. This may stem from the allure of trying to outsmart someone who cannot easily be fooled, or trying to escape a contract that is binding. Deals with the devil also give writers the liberty to deal with supernatural themes and powers that don't require the involvement of God of Jesus, but rather an individual with an adversarial role.

In the novel Reservation Blues by Shrman Alexie, Robert Johnson, a real-life guitar player of great skill, makes a deal with the Devil, referred to in the book as "The Gentleman", in exchange for his musical ability. In a similar scenario, Tommy Johnson from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? also traded his soul to the Devil in order to play the guitar, and joins with the three protagonists to perform a song that became very popular, allowing the group to escape arrest and be pardoned following a run in with the Ku Klux Klan. Tommy Johnson in real-life was also a popular guitar player like Robert Johnson (the two are unrelated), with similar rumors about a deal with the devil, though most stories about the deal today are attributed to Robert Johnson.

The Charlie Daniels band released The Devil Went Down to Georgia in 1979, a story of the Devil challenging a young man named Johnny to a fiddle competition. Johnny would receive a gold fiddle if he were to win, otherwise the Devil would get his soul. The Devil takes his turn first, followed by Johnny, who plays to well that the Devil conceded defeats and gives him the golden fiddle. The song is very popular and has been covered by many musicians over the years.

Finally, in Futurama, Bender is sent to Robot Hell for his sins, and Fry and Leela try to get him back. The Robot Devil points out that the only way to do so is to win a fiddle competition, as outlined in the "Fairness in Hell Act of 2275", referencing the aforementioned Charlie Daniels song. Neither can play the fiddle though, so Leela hits the Robot Devil over the head with it instead, allowing them and Bender to escape.