Danny Elfman
 

I loved him in Oingo Boingo, and I also liked his musical scores. Usually to my ear they were Oingo Boingo songs without the lyrics such as Midnight Run's main theme which was in the last Oingo Boingo album set to words.

What is your favorite score from him?

My all out favorite was Beetlejuice. I do think that his music lends to such a different mood then say John Williams.

Heads and above is Nightmare Before Christmas. It is a beautiful movie, and has a great score. He really did it right, and probably after that comes Edward Scissorhands. Another great movie, and not because Winona is in it. ;) Its all about suburbia!!

I think the dude's a crazy crazy genius. My personal fav is the Oingo Boingo song "Who do you want to be?"

MISERY!!!!!

might have to go with batman here

I agree with Nightmare Before Christmas. The music is melancholy, perfect for the setting, plus he sings.

"What is the law? No spill blood...
What happens when you break the law?
We all know where we go from there...to the house of pain."

Batmans Returns and Sleepy Hollow :D

I really loved the Witches of Eastwick score - first time I heard it, before I knew, I said "THAT'S Elfman."

And, of course, the main theme for AoD. I mean... duh. ;)

I love Danny Elfman. Espically his musical scores and his band "The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo" which came before his second band, "Oingo Boing".

Out of all his scores, I have to say Edward Scissorhands stands out the most.

Has to be Nightmare Before Christmas. It is awesome.

some of the stuff on his "solo" album was pretty good

OMG.. fellow OINGO BOINGO and DANNY ELFMAN fanz.. wow!

this guy is just amazing, fantastic, and .. u never hear anything about him. He does all the scores for the killer movies. I hope that he does one more tour with boingo.. wow.. pick a favorite score.. thats about as easy as picking a favorite oingo boingo song.. heh.

NBC is an obvious fav. Batman was awesome, Beatlejuice I believe was his first and it was fantastic.. there have just been so many over the years.. and then of course Planet of the Apes, Spiderman, The Hulk. what a fuckn career this guy has had... and it is not even close to the end I am sure... Great post!!!!

There is an Oingo Boingo tribute band that plays at a club nearby and I go from time to time and just dance till I cannot stand up.. GOOD TIMES.

How has no one mentioned The Simpsons theme yet? It's so great.

If I had to pick a fave Oingo Boingo song it would have to be "Just Another Day" or "Goodbye"

Grey matter, insects, Controller, nothing to fear, no spill blood, change, ..... this list really could go on and on .. lol.

Wow. This is an education.
(Tho' I did know about The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo ;) .

looks like someone needs to go back into the video collection and listen real carefully. Maybe you should just by the CD Music For A Darkened Theater.... it's like a Best of CD of his scores.

Movie Scores

2002

Men In Black 2
Spider-Man
Red Dragon
Chicago

2001

Planet of The Apes
Novocaine
Spy Kids
Heartbreakers (themes)

2000

The Family Man
Proof of Life

1999

Sleepy Hollow
Anywhere But Here
Instinct
A Civil Action
My Favorite Martian

1998

A Simple Plan
Psycho

1997

Good Will Hunting
Scream 2 "Cassandra Aria"
Flubber
Men In Black

1996

Mars Attacks!
Extreme Measures
Freeway
The Frighteners
Mission: Impossible

1995

Dead Presidents
To Die For

1994

Black Beauty
Dolores Claiborne
Shrunken Heads

1993

Army of Darkness
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Sommersby

1992

Batman Returns

1991

Article 99
Pure Luck

1990

Darkman
Dick Tracy
Edward Scissorhands
Nightbreed

1989

Batman

1988

Beetlejuice
Big Top Pee Wee
Hot to Trot
Midnight Run
Scrooged

1987

Summer School

1986

Back to School
Wisdom

1985

Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Forbidden Zone



Television Credits

The Dilbert Zone w/Steve Bartek (1999)
Lincoln/Mercury Campaign (1998/1999)
Perversions Of Science (1997)
Nissan Television Campaign (1996/97)
Batman: Animated Series (1992)
The Flash (1990)
The Simpsons (1989)
Tales from the Crypt (1989)
Fast Times (1986)
Pee Wee's Playhouse (1986)
Sledge Hammer! (1986)
Amazing Stories (1985)


there ya go.. heh.

Add to that: 2003 - HULK

Probably Nightmare. Danny Elfman owns all.

doh.. yeah..


2003

HULK

TBA. hehehe *inside joke.

Definately nightmare before christmas. That movie rules, due to no small part played by Danny Elfman"

Nightmare is definitely a great soundtrack. Not only does Danny get the character spot on but he gets to do the vocal performance. Truly awesome.

Of his new stuff I'd have to say that one of my favorites has been from Red Dragon. I was surprised that he did the music. It didn't stand out and say "hey this is a Danny Elfman score" like some of the other movies mentioned above. Red Dragon had all the great character melodies that helped to create the mood and atmosphere of the movie but the music never intruded. Sometimes I find myself watching a movie that Danny Elfman has done and find myself listening more to the movie than watching the film. I'm not sure if thats a compliment to Danny or an insult to the director for not keeping my attention better. The music to Red Dragon help make the movie whole without detracting from what is being displayed on screen.

My personal favorites are Nightmare Before Christmas and the Forbidden Zone, but that might have a lot to do with the fact that those are my two favorite movies of the bunch as well.

If you haven't seen the Forbidden Zone, you might want to check it out. It's a very bizarre black and white film directed by Danny's brother Richard. Danny plays Satan in the film. Good stuff.

Danny Elfman is a hack. The people who work under him do all the work while he takes all the credit.

having known Steve Bartek and some of the other Boingo members... I find that very hard to believe...care to elaborate with some facts?

My music professor from college had worked in LA with Elfman before teaching. He told us that all Elfman does is sit around and tell people what to do. He's more of a producer than a composer. Then he takes all the credit while people actually composing and performing the music get no credit. That's hollywood for you.

interesting... i know from his Boingo days he didn't write the music as he wasn't capable of doing so. He had the tune in his head and had to work with Bartek to get it out.

it sounds along the same lines...

sounds like a music proffesor that is just a jealous p.o.s.. heh.

RE
 

Pee Wee's Big adventure for sure!!

I had a greatest hits collection of his scores back in high school and would use it as mood music for my D&D games... heh

I also Loved the beetlejuice them...

But PeeWees Big adventure wow... the whole opeing credits is great...


DB

He's good, but he steals a lot from Wagner and Herrmann, among many others. But that's okay, I guess, since he does it well.

The Pee Wee soundtrack was definitely excellent.

If I had to choose one, it would be the score from Edward Scissorhands (particularly for the Ice Dance track). Elfman has a very distinct style, and I can always tell that he's reponsible for the score of a movie before I even see his name in the credits; his music tends to be very melancholy and playful at the same time. He's an absolute genius.

Well, I guess I shouldn't be suprised that there are so many tfp'ers that know and respect Danny Elfman, but I still was!
I just want to remind everyone of Wierd Science, Wild Sex (of the working class), Dead Man's Party, and Just a Lad- those are just some of the songs that I think everyone should here.