Transcript Listening guide for theme song from Beetlejuice

Danny Elfman
By Tabitha Finlinson
**Image from www.blogspot.com
Danny Elfman
 Most commonly known as the lead singer of Oingo Boingo, although
he wrote almost every song and lyric for the group
 Composer for many musical scores for both TV and movies
 Wrote a symphony
 Excellent use of timbre in his music with the use of unique and
uncommon percussion sounds
 Quoted best by BMI, “Danny Elfman is one of few who has managed
to make the transition from rock musician to orchestral score
composer.”
• Daniel Richard Elfman was born May 29, 1953 in
B
Amarillo, TX. He has one older brother, Richard.
• His father was a teacher and mother was a writer.
I
O
• Danny learned to read and write music on his own, and
most of this instruments he can play were self-taught.
• His love for music came from spending a lot of time in a
local movie theater where in fell in love with film
composers.
Danny dropped out of high school and moved
to France to work on becoming an actor. His
brother, Richard, lived there and was working
on becoming a director. Danny eventually got
a gig in a musical theater group, but it was
short lived.
After France, Danny toured Africa for about a year
with only his violin. This experience influenced
Danny greatly and can be heard in his music with
his common usage of African percussion
instruments, such as the balaphone and xylophone.
**Images from www.twitter.com and www.utexas.edu
After Africa, Danny returned to Los
Angeles to again work with his brother.
Richard was directing his first feature
film, Forbidden Zone, and hired Danny to
write the musical score and soundtrack.
The group that performed the music
was the band formed in 1972 by Danny
called “The Mystic Knights of Oingo
Boingo”. Eventually that name was
shortened to become “Oingo Boingo”.
**Image from www.erinholt.com
OIngo BoIngo
**Image from www.fanpop.com
OIngo BoIngo
In 1981, Oingo Boingo released their debut album called Only a Lad. The
group remained popular throughout the ‘80s releasing legendary hits such as
“Dead Man’s Party” and “Weird Science”. The band eventually split in the
mid ‘90s because Danny was beginning to experience hearing loss. He did
not want to continue performing live for fear of worsening his condition.
**Image from www.fanpop.com
Band discography includes:
(displayed in order of release)
Only a Lad
Good for Your Soul
Boi-ngo
Boingo
Dead Man’s
Party
Dark at the
End of the
Tunnel
**Images from www.wikipedia.com
Nothing to Fear
So-Lo
In addition to leading and founding a popular rock band, Danny Elfman
drew significant value to his name after becoming a successful writer for
movie scores. His biggest opportunity came when he met Tim Burton.
Tim asked Danny to write the musical score for his first major movie, Pee-Wee’s
Big Adventure. The movie and music were a hit and Danny continue to write
the musical score for every major film by Burton (except for two).
**Image from www.fanpop.com
Other famous TV and movie musical scores written by Danny
Elfman:
**Images from www.imdb.com
Other accomplishments:
 In addition to writing the soundtracks, Danny also
sang vocals in two of Burton’s animated films, The
Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride.
 In 2005, Danny wrote a symphony titled Serenada
Schizophrana, which was performed in Carnegie
Hall.
 Nominated for many awards; won a Grammy
Award for “The Batman Theme” from Batman;
won an Emmy Award for the theme from Desperate
Housewives
Danny Elfman is currently living in
Malibu, CA with his wife Bridget Fonda.
They have been married for almost ten
years and have one son, Oliver. Danny
also has two other daughters, Lola and
Mali, from an earlier relationship.
**Image from www.zimbio.com
Compositions by Danny Elfman
(followed by a listening guide for each song)
For the composition history for Danny Elfman, I selected a mix of
songs that not only captured some of, what I think, are the best songs
by Oingo Boingo, but also a few of the musical scores by Danny that
demonstrate his unique and pleasant sounding melodies.
Song #1 - “Try to Believe”
 This song is 4:31 in length and is the last track on
the sixth studio album from Oingo Boingo, Dark at
the End of the Tunnel, which was released on
February 20, 1990. The album was labeled by MCA
Records and was produced by Danny Elfman, Steve
Bartek, and John Avila (all members of Oingo
Boingo).
 For anyone not familiar with Oingo Boingo or for
anyone who assumes Elfman only writes gothictype music, I think this song proves that wrong and
demonstrates Elfman’s diversity. It is a very upbeat
song with a strong jazz influence, and also has
beautiful lyrics and vocals by Danny Elfman.
Listening guide for “Try to Believe”
0:00 - Strong introduction of guitars, drums, trumpets and a harpsichord.
0:46 - Verse One –
“Well I wish real hard when I close my eyes
If I could change the world--would I even try
If I found a reason to regain my pride
Oh if I try to believe--try to believe”
1:06 - Chorus
“It's so hard to find an answer
It's so hard to stand alone
It's so hard to find a feeling
That was buried long ago
It's so hard to trust another
When it's easier to hide
It's so hard to believe
Unless we try baby try “
1:26 - Verse Two–
“If I had a dream and it got away
If I found the words would I know what to say
If I had a chance to be someone else
Yeah if I try to believe, try to believe”
Listening guide for “Try to Believe”
1:46 - Chorus
The chorus sung is the same lyrics as the first chorus break. The melody and instruments
playing are also the same.
2:07 - Chorus add-on
“try to believe one more time
And I try baby try baby try”
The above lines are repeated three times to create of kind of extension of the chorus.
Elfman sings along with first two rounds, and then only the background vocals sing the
final round. There is also a strong user of the trumpets during this part of the melody.
2:37 - Verse three –
“If I found a door that I've never been through
Would I have the courage to go in without you
And if time runs short would I recognize
The things I couldn't see
If I try to believe--try to believe”
2:57 – Chorus
3:18 - Chorus add-on
Listening guide for “Try to Believe”
3:48 - Bridge
“If we listen to the voices that were silent for so long
If you thought they went away, well you couldn't be more wrong
If I tell you there is something that we've lost but can retrieve
If I tell you there is hope, if we try to believe
Do you remember there's a dream that we long since put aside
With the toys that we discarded
And the tears we never cried
We could have had it once again, if we try baby try”
This is my favorite part of the song. The beautiful bridge lyrics wrap up with song with
perfect resolution.
The melody during the bridge is also completely different. Its softer and slower with only a
clarinet and keyboard playing the melody. You can hear the keyboard duplicating a piano
sound, playing a set of three distinct ascending then descending notes, in an alternating
pattern. Elfman voice also accentuates the mood when he sings each word more softly and
in a higher pitch. It’s a beautiful, non-typical ending to a song as it doesn’t just fade out.
Elfman’s final note closes out together with the clarinet.
Song #2 - “Flesh ‘N Blood”
 This song is 4:18 in length and is the sixth track
from the same album referenced above by Oingo
Boingo, Dark at the End of the Tunnel.
 I think it demonstrates well the unique sound of
this band due to the heavy use of instruments such
as the trumpet and xylophone.
 There are actually a few different variations of this
song. The best is the album version, and not the
version of this song that was released on the
Ghostbusters II soundtrack nor the version on the
greatest hits album released by Oingo Boingo in
1991.
Listening guide for “Flesh ‘N Blood”
0:00 – A drum beat introduction, followed by a “crying” guitar, with a xylophone adding to
the melody.
0:13 - Verse One –
“Over time I've come to feel
That everything must come apart it seems
From the little child to the man of power
From the beggar to the angel of my dreams
From the thinnest thread we are sewn together
From the finest string we dangle over time
From the highest wire do we walk through fire
Should our balance ever falter, Should our steps be unaligned
Such a big storm yeah such a strong wind blowing
Such a loud voice calling for me to cross the line”
0:56 - Chorus
“But I'm not gonna give up the ghost
No, not gonna give up the ghost
I'm not gonna give up the ghost, no not gonna give it up
'Cause I haven't the strength to hold out too long
If we both hold on together we can make each other strong
Listening guide for “Flesh ‘N Blood”
1:14 - Chorus add-on
“After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all we're flesh
After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all we're flesh 'n' blood
After all”
1:31 - Verse two
“Drop the mask take away the house
And forget about the income and the car
We're all the same underneath our shell
We've all been to hell and we know what it's like, and we've shared each other's sins
We all know what it's like to give up the fight
We've all been ashamed at one time or another
We all have dreams and nightmares too
When it all comes down we'll look out for each other (no one else will)
But when I hear the call when I feel the thirst
When the catcher comes to take my soul
He's gonna have to fight me first”
Listening guide for “Flesh ‘N Blood”
2:14 - Chorus
The same chorus lyrics from before are sung. The same instruments come in to
add to the melody. A descending string of notes are played at the end as an
entrance to the chorus add-on.
2:33 - Chorus add-on
The same add-on is sung again, exactly like the first.
2:50 - Verse three
“Every cloud has a silver lining
And every soul is tender to the touch
We are made of stone, we are made of steel
And we're all the same when we return to dust
But when I hear the call when I feel the thirst
When the catcher comes to take my soul
He's gonna have to fight me first”
3:16 - Chorus
3:34 – Bridge
3:51 - Chorus
Song #3 – Theme song from Beetlejuice
 This movie was directed by Tim Burton and
released on March 30, 1988. Danny Elfman wrote
and arranged the musical score for this movie. The
soundtrack was produced by Geffen Studios and
released later in the year. The theme song is 2:27 in
length and is played at the opening of the movie
during the introductory credits.
 I think it is a strong demonstration of the alluring
yet slightly haunting sounds that Elfman is famous
for. His style of timbre is also illustrated well in this
piece with his various uses of instruments.
Listening guide for theme song from Beetlejuice
0:00 - A percussion instrument (I think it’s a balaphone) starts off a simple repeating
melody with a very fast tempo. It carries the base beat of the beginning of this song by
continuously playing in the background of the first 35 seconds.
0:05 - The soft sound of a chime is heard.
0:11 - A single loud drum beat is heard and you hear Elfman’s voice softly sing the words of
the song “Day-O” by Harry Belafonte. This is a key reference to the movie as this song is
used later in its entirety.
0:18 - A tuba enters playing its own very low melody.
0:28 - A soft drum sound plays adding tension, indicating an upcoming change in melody.
0:31 - A very unique organ sound enters.
0:36 - A harmonium starts, which replaces the earlier percussion instrument. Again, it is a
simple repeating melody with a very fast tempo. It becomes the base of the song for the
next, approx., 70 seconds.
0:51 - The French horn starts the main melody and becomes the dominant instrument.
Listening guide for theme song from Beetlejuice
0:58 - A violin enters with its own fast tempo and becomes dominant while the French
horn fades out.
1:05 - The French horn comes back, repeating its previous melody and it is replaced again
by the melody of the violin.
1:21 - A saxophone melody is played and again combined with a violin melody, similar to
the French horn and violin duet played earlier.
1:34 - The saxophone fades out and is replaced by a clarinet. It plays its own melody and
goes back and forth with the melody of the violin, again like a duet as previously done with
the horn and saxophone.
1:47 - A dramatic change now occurs in the music. The harmonium stops and is replaced
by a snare drum. Several brass instruments now play a melody in sync. A violin plays at
opposite sounding times so it is also distinctly heard. You can also hear the triangle softly in
the background. It starts to build up tension in the song and the resolution is the new
repetition of the familiar melody with more intensity.
Listening guide for theme song from Beetlejuice
1:59 - The French horn starts again with the same original melody. It is played louder and
stronger, in sync with more brass instruments in the background, and also joined by some
cymbals and drums. There is a singing “aaaah” also added to the melody. The overall tone
of the song is very intense at this point.
2:15 - A drum beat cuts in, putting an end to all the prior melodies playing. The
harmonium comes back with its familiar melody and fast tempo, and a tuba is played in
sync with the harmonium.
2:19 - A harp is played and when its played, the sound of the tuba and harmonium is put
far in the background. The instruments go back and forth with the harp, as they fade in
volume, ending the song, with the tuba playing the final note.
Song #4 – “The Piano Duet”
 “The Piano Duet” is from the movie Corpse Bride. This is
an animated movie directed by Tim Burton and Mike
Johnson, and was released in the United States on
September 23, 2005. Danny Elfman did the music score
for the movie and also wrote the soundtrack with the help
of John August. Elfman also sings vocals on a few of the
songs from the movie. The soundtrack was released the
same year, and although labeled by Warner Bros., it was
produced by Danny Elfman. “The Piano Duet” was
written and performed by Danny, and is 1:49 in length.
Listening guide for “The Piano Duet”
0:00 - The first piano starts with a simple conjunct melody in the major scale, triple meter
with simple division. This part of the song is just single notes, no chords.
0:20 - The first piano is still playing but begins using chords.
0:51 - The second piano enters playing two octaves higher. It is also a conjunct melody in
the major scale. Here’s where the duet actually starts. Each piano takes turns playing
various lengths. On this round, the second piano plays only single notes.
0:56 - The first piano plays again, this time only 12 notes and using a few chords.
1:01 - The second piano plays 10 notes and begins playing chords.
1:05 - The first piano plays again, this time for 16 notes and using more chords.
1:14 - The second piano begins playing a more complex melody with an allegro tempo.
1:31 - Both pianos now play together in the beautiful allegro tempo, with the higher piano
(the second one) playing more notes per measure than the lower octave piano (the first).
1:41 - The lower piano (the first) begins to climb the scales eventually ending the song in the
octave that the other piano was playing in.
The End
Works Cited
Basile, Nancy. "Danny Elfman." About.com Animated TV. About.com. Web. 10 June 2013.
<http://animatedtv.about.com/od/musicandsongs/p/elfmanprofile.htm>
"Danny Elfman." Lyricsfreak.com. LyricsFreak, n.d. Web. 10 June 2013.
"Danny Elfman Bio." www.bmi.com. Broadcast Music, Inc., 15 May 2002. Web. 10 June 2013.
<http://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534698>
"Danny Elfman- Biography." Yahoo! Movies. Yahoo! Inc. Web. 10 June 2013.
<http://movies.yahoo.com/person/danny-elfman/biography.html>
"Danny Elfman Talks Tim Burton Scores, Bernard Herrmann's Influence and More."ARTISTdirect. Rogue
Digital, LLC, 14 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 June 2013.
Leach, Ryan. "Orchestration in the Style of Danny Elfman." Composer Focus. Composer Focus, 2012. Web. 11 June
2013. <http://composerfocus.com/orchestration-in-the-style-of-danny-elfman/>
Lustig, Jessica. "An Interview with Composer Danny Elfman.” American Composers Orchestra, Feb. 2005. Web. 10
June 2013. <http://www.americancomposers.org/elfman_interview.htm>