The Quirky Musical World of Danny Elfman
If you have been alive for the past 30 years, chances are you can hum at least one of his tunes.
Aside from his first career in the pop music industry, Danny’s ubiquitous scores have been featured in commercials, TV series, and films worldwide.
Few musicians have had such a diverse, long and successful career.
In 2016, he composed "Rabbit and Rogue", a six part ballet score created specifically for Twyla Tharp. The ballet premiered at the Met Opera House in 2008, and in 2016 a limited free license was offered in the ‘Danny Elfman Challenge’ for independent film makers to create shorts inspired by the music. (Link: http://indi.com/laffdannyelfmanproject)
As time goes on, Danny Elfman seems to find more and newer horizons for his fascinating musical explorations.
Aside from his first career in the pop music industry, Danny’s ubiquitous scores have been featured in commercials, TV series, and films worldwide.
Few musicians have had such a diverse, long and successful career.
In his nearly 50 years in the music business, Danny Elfman has been a songwriter, vocalist and front man for a new wave band, composer of scores for some of the most successful films in popular culture, producer and conductor.
A magnificent career for someone with no formal training in music.
Daniel Robert Elfman was born in Texas in 1953, but grew up in California.
Daniel Robert Elfman was born in Texas in 1953, but grew up in California.
Far from any theatres or concert halls, Danny’s musical education came from listening to LPs and the radio, and their weekly trips to the local movie theatre. In high school, he started a ska band, but the rhythm wasn’t too popular at the time, and the group disbanded.
After dropping out from High School, Danny followed his older brother Richard to Paris. There, he joined an experimental theatre group and joined his brother’s new wave/ performance band "Mystic Knights of Oingo-Boingo".
After dropping out from High School, Danny followed his older brother Richard to Paris. There, he joined an experimental theatre group and joined his brother’s new wave/ performance band "Mystic Knights of Oingo-Boingo".
When Richard left the band to pursue his film career, Danny became the composer and lead vocalist, infusing its rock style with touches of Ska and synth pop.
Danny’s first opportunity in film came from his own brother, who commissioned him to compose the score for his first film, "Forbidden Zone".
Danny’s first opportunity in film came from his own brother, who commissioned him to compose the score for his first film, "Forbidden Zone".
By the time the film was released in 1980, the band’s name had been trimmed to "Oingo-Boingo", touring the country and gaining widespread popularity.
The use of some of their songs in the teen film "Weird Science" engrossed even further their fan base.
One of those fans was Tim Burton. He managed to meet Danny and both forged a friendship.
One of those fans was Tim Burton. He managed to meet Danny and both forged a friendship.
However, when Tim commissioned Danny to write to score for his film "Pee-Wee Herman’s Big Adventure", he hesitated. One thing was writing ditties for pop music and another entirely to compose for a film - without any formal training in music.
He sought the advice and support of his band mate Steve Bartek, and with his help he managed to complete the score.
From this first score, Elfman experimented with a variety of percussion instruments, as well as his characteristic explosions of sound, seemingly chaotic instrumentation, and sustained tempo, which would become his trademarks in later compositions.
From this first score, Elfman experimented with a variety of percussion instruments, as well as his characteristic explosions of sound, seemingly chaotic instrumentation, and sustained tempo, which would become his trademarks in later compositions.
By the time he composed the "Batman" score, in 1990, he had refined refine these elements, adding the subtle sound of celesta for eerie contrast, as well a broader spectrum of new harmonies, always aiming at the lower keys.
Elfman’s score was a perfect companion to Burton’s dark remake of the 1960's cartoon hero, and not only helped to carry the film and enhance its mysterious appeal, but also provided a standard from which a new generation of composers began to draw inspiration ever since.
In 1995, Danny Elfman left ‘Oingo-Boingo’ due to hearing loss problems, and focused on composing for film.
Elfman’s score was a perfect companion to Burton’s dark remake of the 1960's cartoon hero, and not only helped to carry the film and enhance its mysterious appeal, but also provided a standard from which a new generation of composers began to draw inspiration ever since.
In 1995, Danny Elfman left ‘Oingo-Boingo’ due to hearing loss problems, and focused on composing for film.
Since then, he’s been at the helm of some of the most instantly recognizable soundtracks in modern film history, ranging from comics (‘The Simpsons’ theme), to mystery (’Tales from the Crypt’ theme), dramas (‘Dolores Clairbone’, ‘Milk’), children’s films (‘Charlotte’s Web’, ‘Epic’), romantic films (‘Sommersby’), series (‘Desperate Housewives’ theme) and adventures (‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’), in addition to all but three of Tim Burton’s films.
Aside from composing scores for film, Danny was the singing voice behind Jack Skellington, Barrel and the Tear-away-face clown in ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’, the Oompa-Loompas in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, and Bonejangles the Skeleton in ‘The Corpse Bride’.
Aside from composing scores for film, Danny was the singing voice behind Jack Skellington, Barrel and the Tear-away-face clown in ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’, the Oompa-Loompas in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, and Bonejangles the Skeleton in ‘The Corpse Bride’.
Other memorable film scores composed by Elfman include 'Men in Black', 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Corpse Bride', 'Big Eyes', and 'Spider-man: No Way Home', among many others.
Video: 10 of the Best Danny Elfman Film Scores (8:38)
Danny Elfman’s film scores have been nominated to 4 Academy Awards, as well as 11 Grammy, 5 Emmy, and 3 Golden Globe nominations, being the winner of multiple other awards.
In spite of his successful career in film, Danny’s talent has also expanded to other areas in the entertainment business.
In spite of his successful career in film, Danny’s talent has also expanded to other areas in the entertainment business.
In 2006 he composed ‘Serenada Schizophrana’ for the American Composers Orchestra, a series of compositions in six movements: Pianos, Blue Strings, A Brass Thing, The Quadruped Patrol, the song "I forget", Bells and Whistles, all bearing his well-known trademarks.
In 2011 he composed the score for the Cirque du Soleil’s LA-based show "Iris: A Journey Through the World of Cinema".
In 2011 he composed the score for the Cirque du Soleil’s LA-based show "Iris: A Journey Through the World of Cinema".
The show explored events from the history of cinema, and threaded along Elfman’s inimitable style, one could notice the distinctive influence of the minimalistic style of Philip Glass.
Cirque du Soleil ‘Iris’ Clip:
In 2016, he composed "Rabbit and Rogue", a six part ballet score created specifically for Twyla Tharp. The ballet premiered at the Met Opera House in 2008, and in 2016 a limited free license was offered in the ‘Danny Elfman Challenge’ for independent film makers to create shorts inspired by the music. (Link: http://indi.com/laffdannyelfmanproject)
'Rabbit and Rogue' clip:
As time goes on, Danny Elfman seems to find more and newer horizons for his fascinating musical explorations.
We can't wait to listen to his next musical adventure!
Sources: IMBD, AllMusic, Wikipedia.
Sources: IMBD, AllMusic, Wikipedia.
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