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Danny Elfman is the kind of artist who, even if you have never heard of him before, you are aware of his art… and boy, does he create art! Elfman has penned some of the most beloved, cherished and masterful movie music of our time, working with talented directors like Tim Burton, Sam Raimi and Gus Van Sant, and contributing to about 100 movie scores like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Corpse Bride (2005) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Danny Elfman has achieved a legacy ongoing in the hearts and minds of movie and music fans everywhere.
PopHorror would like to celebrate Danny Elfman on his 70th birthday-May 29th, 2023. Listen to the Batman theme (1989) below to get a sense of his full orchestral, awe-inspiring and award-winning creativity.
Danny Elfman was born on May 29, 1953, in Los Angeles, California. Being a genuine example of the term “never give up on your dreams,” he was labelled as having “no propensity for music” by his elementary school’s orchestra. To be fair, back then, Elfman was more interested in science.
In the 1950s and early 1960’s, Elfman was discovering horror and sci-fi films. It was during high school that he discovered jazz music and fell in love. In the 1970s, Elfman formed the prolific and theatrical new wave group, Oingo Boingo, and this is where he first achieved a name for himself. Oingo Boingo was influenced by everything from jazz to new wave to punk to ska to electro, and enjoyed a career lasting roughly 17 years, producing such hits as “Weird Science” (from the 1985 film of the same name), “Dead Man’s Party” (1985), “Private Life” (1982) and “We Close Our Eyes” (1987). Ultimately, the group disbanded in 1995, leaving a total of 8 revered records in their wake.
During the late 1980s, Danny Elfman began finding his ultimate success in scoring feature films and TV shows. Elfman has been able to use his brilliance and his ultimate “weirdness” to weave sonic story themes and emotions into the beautiful, creative scores we hear in our most favorite films and TV shows, no matter their themes.
What the hell would The Simpsons be without that boisterous and bouncy theme? Who would Lydia Dietz be without the slightly comical and gothic score to Beetlejuice (1989)? Could Bruce Wayne have noticed that bright bat in the sky if it weren’t for a devilish orchestra guiding the way? Most of the classic movies and movie characters we’ve grown to love are associated time and time again with their movie’s score, especially when created by the one, the only, Danny Elfman.
Danny Elfman will be returning once again in 2024 to that wonderful world where the dead and the living are separated only by sandworms and a spicy little man who laughs every time he sees The Exorcist. Teaming up with director Tim Burton once again, Elfman will compose the theme to Beetlejuice 2. We, as the proud horror fans we are, simply cannot wait!
The accomplishments of this man are far too much for me to even list in this article, and after all he has given us, all he has contributed, it is safe to say, there is only one Danny Elfman. His legacy shall never, ever expire. Thank you for your music and vision. Happy 70 years young to you, from all of us at PopHorror, Mr. Danny Elfman!
