A Musical Mad Hatter
Some things in entertainment have always gone well together, so much so that we can’t imagine one without the other.
Star Wars with John Williams.
Edgar Wright with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Want anything? #IFKYK).
And one that is apropos for this time of year: Tim Burton and Danny Elfman.
Oh, Danny Boy!
Danny Elfman is probably best known for his association with director Tim Burton. The latter was a fan of the former’s work in the 1980s New Wave band Oingo Boingo, and Burton and Paul Reubens (who admired Elfman’s work on 1982’s The Forbidden Zone) gave the musician scoring duties for their 1985 film, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Elfman’s quirky style suited the film’s premise and characters perfectly, creating a new world of film scoring and a long-standing collaborative relationship with Tim Burton. He would go on to score most of Burton’s films, including Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, and Batman.
His work wasn't limited to Burton’s films, or films in general; he scored for several TV shows, including Tales From The Crypt, Desperate Housewives, as well as composing the iconic theme song to The Simpsons. He also continues to perform live with shows ranging from his orchestral works to alt-rock.
Listing his filmography would take up too much space, so if you want a complete picture of where his music has been heard, there’s always an ever-trusty Wikipedia page for that!
A Man For (F)all Seasons
Combining elements that are at times fantastic, whimsical, mysterious, absurd, and more, Elfman’s music is tailor-made for the Halloween season. Whether you’re setting up a haunted house in the yard for trick-or-treaters, or want to inject something fun between plays of “Monster Mash” and “Ghostbusters” at your Halloween party, here are some suggestions for your playlist:
“Stolen Bike” - Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siKWJHF2p5I
From the film that started it all, this piece does convey a sense of panic and dread with a twist of comedy. For many, it was the introduction to Elfman’s music and a perfect sample of what we could expect throughout his career.
“This Is Halloween” - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBeVDXx1bIQ
With what could be the unofficial theme song to Halloween, “This Is Halloween” is a centrepiece of the film and gives everyone an earworm all year, not just in October!
“Ice Dance” - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMfs1rlw4tc
Both melancholic and whimsical, this piece creates a magical moment in cinema, with Kim Boggs (played by Winona Ryder) dancing in the snow Edward carves (played by another long-time Burton collaborator, Johnny Depp).
“Main Titles” - Red Dragon (2002)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXJcMQpN4nc
There’s nothing whimsical here; the orchestra combines elements of industrial music, and the musical sense recalls Bernard Herrmann. This basically tells the audience you’re in for something horrible.
“The Batman Theme” - Batman (1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoaU3kRFvLg
Got a superhero costume for your party? Need entrance music? No worries, we've got you covered with this memorable piece from the movie that brought the Caped Crusader back to its darker roots.
These pieces should get you started on what could be the ultimate Halloween playlist for your party, haunted house, or just to set the tone for the season! This is also just a small sampling of Elfman’s work over the years and barely scratches the surface of the musical gems he's given us. So, get cozy with some popcorn, dim the lights, and turn up the sound on one of the many movies he’s scored; you’re guaranteed to have a spooky good time!
